How to Remove Yahoo from Safari: A Comprehensive Guide

Yahoo, while a well-established search engine and web portal, can sometimes become the default search engine in Safari without the user’s explicit consent. This often happens due to bundled software installations, browser hijackers, or inadvertently clicking on misleading advertisements. If you find yourself stuck with Yahoo as your Safari’s default search engine and want to switch back to Google, DuckDuckGo, or any other search provider, this comprehensive guide will walk you through the necessary steps to completely remove Yahoo from Safari and restore your preferred settings.

This guide is divided into several sections to ensure a thorough removal of Yahoo, covering everything from changing your default search engine to uninstalling potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) and resetting Safari’s settings. Follow these instructions carefully to regain control over your browsing experience.

## Why is Yahoo My Default Search Engine?

Before diving into the removal process, it’s important to understand why Yahoo might have become your default search engine in the first place. The most common reasons include:

* **Bundled Software:** Many software applications, especially freeware and shareware, bundle browser extensions or toolbars during installation. These bundled programs might change your default search engine to Yahoo without clearly informing you.
* **Browser Hijackers:** Browser hijackers are malicious programs designed to modify browser settings, including the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page. They often redirect your searches to Yahoo or other search engines to generate revenue through advertising.
* **Misleading Advertisements:** Some advertisements might trick you into installing browser extensions or changing your browser settings. Clicking on such ads can unintentionally lead to Yahoo becoming your default search engine.
* **Accidental Changes:** It’s also possible that you accidentally changed your search engine settings while browsing Safari’s preferences or installing a new application.

Regardless of the reason, removing Yahoo from Safari and restoring your preferred search engine is crucial for a smooth and secure browsing experience.

## Step-by-Step Guide to Remove Yahoo from Safari

Follow these steps in order to completely remove Yahoo from Safari:

### Step 1: Change Your Default Search Engine in Safari Preferences

The first and most straightforward step is to change your default search engine directly within Safari’s preferences. This will prevent Yahoo from being used for your search queries.

1. **Open Safari:** Launch the Safari browser on your Mac.
2. **Access Preferences:** Click on “Safari” in the menu bar at the top of the screen and select “Preferences.” Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Command + , (comma).
3. **Navigate to the Search Tab:** In the Preferences window, click on the “Search” tab.
4. **Choose Your Preferred Search Engine:** In the “Search engine” dropdown menu, select your preferred search engine. Options typically include Google, DuckDuckGo, Bing, and others. Choose the one you want to use as your default.
5. **Close Preferences:** Close the Preferences window. Your new default search engine will be applied immediately.

By completing these steps, you’ve prevented Safari from using Yahoo for your search queries. However, this might not completely remove Yahoo from your browser, as it could still be present in other settings, such as your homepage or new tab page.

### Step 2: Check and Modify Your Homepage

Even if you’ve changed your default search engine, Yahoo might still be set as your homepage. To change your homepage to your preferred website, follow these steps:

1. **Open Safari Preferences:** If you don’t have the Preferences window open, go to “Safari” > “Preferences” (or use Command + ,).
2. **Navigate to the General Tab:** Click on the “General” tab in the Preferences window.
3. **Change the Homepage:** In the “Homepage” field, enter the URL of your preferred homepage. This could be Google ([https://www.google.com](https://www.google.com)), your favorite news website, or any other page you want to see when you open a new Safari window.
4. **Set New Windows Open With:** Choose what you want new windows to open with. Options include:
* **Homepage:** Opens the page you specified in the Homepage field.
* **New Tab Page:** Opens the default new tab page, which might still be affected by Yahoo-related extensions.
* **Empty Page:** Opens a blank page.
* **Same Page:** Opens with the last visited webpage
5. **Set New Tabs Open With:** Similar to new windows, choose what new tabs should open with. The options are the same as for new windows.
6. **Close Preferences:** Close the Preferences window.

By modifying your homepage settings, you can ensure that Yahoo doesn’t appear when you open a new Safari window.

### Step 3: Remove Suspicious Extensions

Browser extensions can significantly impact your browsing experience, and some extensions might be responsible for redirecting your searches to Yahoo. To remove suspicious extensions from Safari, follow these steps:

1. **Open Safari Preferences:** Go to “Safari” > “Preferences” (or use Command + ,).
2. **Navigate to the Extensions Tab:** Click on the “Extensions” tab in the Preferences window. This tab lists all the extensions installed in your Safari browser.
3. **Identify Suspicious Extensions:** Carefully review the list of extensions and look for any that you don’t recognize or that seem suspicious. Pay attention to extensions with names that sound generic, vague, or unrelated to your browsing habits. Also, look for extensions that you don’t remember installing.
4. **Uninstall Suspicious Extensions:** Select the suspicious extension and click the “Uninstall” button. Safari will prompt you to confirm the uninstallation. Click “Uninstall” again to remove the extension from your browser.
5. **Repeat for All Suspicious Extensions:** Repeat steps 3 and 4 for all extensions that you suspect might be causing the Yahoo redirection.
6. **Restart Safari:** After removing the suspicious extensions, restart Safari to ensure that the changes take effect.

It’s crucial to be cautious when installing browser extensions. Only install extensions from trusted sources, such as the Mac App Store or the developer’s official website. Read reviews and descriptions carefully before installing any extension, and avoid installing extensions that request excessive permissions or seem unnecessary.

### Step 4: Check for and Remove Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs)

Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs) are applications that might be installed on your computer without your knowledge or consent. These programs can often modify your browser settings and redirect your searches to Yahoo. To check for and remove PUPs from your Mac, follow these steps:

1. **Open Finder:** Click on the Finder icon in your Dock.
2. **Navigate to the Applications Folder:** Click on “Applications” in the Finder sidebar.
3. **Review the List of Applications:** Carefully review the list of applications installed on your Mac and look for any that you don’t recognize or that seem suspicious. Pay attention to applications that you don’t remember installing or that have names that sound generic or vague.
4. **Uninstall Suspicious Applications:** To uninstall a suspicious application, drag its icon from the Applications folder to the Trash icon in your Dock. Alternatively, you can right-click on the application’s icon and select “Move to Trash.”
5. **Empty the Trash:** After moving the suspicious applications to the Trash, right-click on the Trash icon in your Dock and select “Empty Trash.” This will permanently remove the applications from your Mac.

**Important:** Before uninstalling any application, make sure you know what it is and what it does. If you’re unsure about an application, you can search for it online to learn more about its purpose. Avoid uninstalling essential system applications, as this could cause problems with your Mac’s functionality.

### Step 5: Reset Safari to its Default Settings (Advanced)

If you’ve tried the previous steps and Yahoo is still affecting your Safari browser, you might need to reset Safari to its default settings. This will remove all your browsing data, including cookies, history, and website data, and restore Safari to its original state.

**Warning:** Resetting Safari will erase all your browsing data, so make sure to back up any important information before proceeding. This is a drastic step and should only be taken if all other methods have failed.

Unfortunately, Safari does not have a built-in “reset” button like some other browsers. Therefore, you will need to manually clear various data stores to achieve a similar result. Here’s how:

1. **Clear History:**
* Click on “History” in the Safari menu bar.
* Select “Clear History…”
* In the dialog box, choose a timeframe from the “Clear” dropdown menu. Options include “the last hour,” “today,” “today and yesterday,” or “all history.”
* Click “Clear History.”

2. **Clear Cookies and Website Data:**
* Open Safari Preferences: Go to “Safari” > “Preferences” (or use Command + ,).
* Click on the “Privacy” tab.
* Click on “Manage Website Data…”
* Click “Remove All” to remove all cookies and website data. Confirm your action by clicking “Remove Now”. Alternatively, you can individually remove data from specific websites if you prefer.

3. **Clear Caches:**

Safari’s cache stores temporary files from websites to speed up browsing. Clearing the cache can sometimes resolve issues related to unwanted search engine redirects. This process requires enabling the Develop menu in Safari.

* **Enable the Develop Menu:**
* Open Safari Preferences: Go to “Safari” > “Preferences” (or use Command + ,).
* Click on the “Advanced” tab.
* Check the box next to “Show Develop menu in menu bar.”
* **Clear Caches:**
* Click on “Develop” in the Safari menu bar.
* Select “Empty Caches.” Safari will clear its cached files.

4. **Remove Website Icons (Favicons):**

Sometimes, remnants of website data can persist in the form of favicons. While not directly related to search engine redirection, cleaning this up contributes to a thorough reset.

* Quit Safari.
* Open Finder. Press Command+Shift+G to open the “Go to Folder” dialog.
* Enter the following path: `~/Library/Safari/`
* Locate the file named `favicon.ico`. If you see a folder named `Favicon Cache`, delete that folder instead of a single file.
* Move the `favicon.ico` file (or the `Favicon Cache` folder) to the Trash.
* Empty the Trash.

5. **Remove Safari’s State Saved Information**
* Quit Safari.
* Open Finder. Press Command+Shift+G to open the “Go to Folder” dialog.
* Enter the following path: `~/Library/Saved Application State/`
* Locate the folder named `com.apple.Safari.savedState`
* Move the `com.apple.Safari.savedState` folder to the Trash.
* Empty the Trash.

6. **Review Launch Services database:** Sometimes applications can add startup items that change browser settings. Removing those is often an overlooked step.
* Open terminal
* run: `/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Support/lsregister -dump | grep -i yahoo`
* Look for any items with a path or URL that are launching yahoo.
* If found then remove the culprit application from Applications folder, /Library/LaunchAgents, /Library/LaunchDaemons, ~/Library/LaunchAgents.

7. **Restart Your Mac:** After completing these steps, restart your Mac to ensure that the changes take effect.

After resetting Safari, you’ll need to reconfigure your preferred settings, such as your homepage, default search engine, and privacy preferences. You’ll also need to re-enter your login credentials for websites that you frequently visit.

### Step 6: Scan Your Mac for Malware (Optional but Recommended)

Even if you’ve removed Yahoo from Safari using the previous steps, it’s still a good idea to scan your Mac for malware. Malware can cause a variety of problems, including browser hijacking, data theft, and system instability. There are many reputable antivirus programs available for macOS, such as:

* **Malwarebytes:** A popular and effective anti-malware tool that can detect and remove a wide range of threats.
* **Bitdefender:** A comprehensive security suite that offers real-time protection against malware, phishing attacks, and other online threats.
* **Norton:** Another well-known security suite that provides robust protection against malware and other security threats.

Download and install a reputable antivirus program and run a full system scan to detect and remove any malware that might be present on your Mac.

## Preventing Future Yahoo Redirections

To prevent Yahoo from becoming your default search engine again in the future, follow these tips:

* **Be Cautious When Installing Software:** Pay close attention to the installation process of any software you download and install. Read the terms and conditions carefully and uncheck any boxes that offer to install bundled software or change your browser settings.
* **Download Software from Trusted Sources:** Only download software from trusted sources, such as the Mac App Store or the developer’s official website. Avoid downloading software from third-party websites or file-sharing networks.
* **Keep Your Software Up to Date:** Keep your operating system, browser, and other software up to date with the latest security patches. Software updates often include fixes for security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malware.
* **Use a Reputable Antivirus Program:** Install and run a reputable antivirus program to protect your Mac from malware and other security threats. Keep your antivirus program up to date with the latest virus definitions.
* **Be Wary of Suspicious Links and Attachments:** Avoid clicking on suspicious links or opening attachments from unknown senders. These links and attachments could contain malware or lead to phishing websites.
* **Use a Browser Extension to Block Tracking and Adware:** Consider using a browser extension like uBlock Origin or Privacy Badger to block tracking scripts and adware that can contribute to unwanted browser modifications.

## Conclusion

Removing Yahoo from Safari can be a frustrating experience, but by following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully restore your preferred search engine and regain control over your browsing experience. Remember to be cautious when installing software, keep your software up to date, and use a reputable antivirus program to protect your Mac from malware and other security threats. By taking these precautions, you can prevent Yahoo from becoming your default search engine again in the future and enjoy a safe and secure browsing experience.
If you continue to experience problems after following these steps, consider seeking help from a qualified computer technician or contacting Apple Support for assistance.