What is your homepage and what are you search settings like in the browser settings?

The installed Win10 uses the default Microsoft Edge (I mistakenly called it MSExplorer because it's the same thing to me). The homepage is the MS Edge homepage whatever that default is.

I'm not sure why it matters what my homepage is, since the homepage doesn't have any effect on which browser opens on a search from the Win10 search block, and both browsers have a different page.

If I open a link in Outlook mail (or any other app) the link opens FireFox, so clearly the system recognizes FF as my default browser. It's only when I use the Win10 search block (next to the Windows button on bottom/left screen) that the system opens MSEdge and Bing. I could change the default search engine in Edge to Google, but that doesn't explain why Edge continues to open when I've selected FF as default.

FireFox Homepage is https://login.live.com/

This is from my options/search: Choose the default search engine to use in the address bar and search bar.: Google

One-Click Search EnginesChoose the alternative search engines that appear below the address bar and search bar when you start to enter a keyword. Google is the only engine checked

MS Edge homepage is the MS Edge Edge search option is: Search in the address block with Bing

thanks for any advice

Some applications, like Cortana, may be hardwired to particular browsers. I do think there used to be a way to intercept those searches, but Microsoft may have taken that away. I think if you want to make sure you get results in Firefox, you'll have to fire up a Firefox tab to do you searching.

It appears you are correct that Cortana is hardwired to Edge.

I've found a fix to change Cortana's browser requires installing EdgeDeflector. So to stop using Edge, one has to install additional software. Still trying to find out how to stop Cortana returning results with Bing. Apparently there's a Chrome extention fix but I cannot yet find a fix for FF.

Clearly a first world problem, but it's just frustrating to have to do work-arounds for less than stellar built-ins.

You may notice that Cortana adds some unique characters to the URL it sends to Bing. Some versions of Firefox used to look for that code and switch the query to your default search engine, but I don't think that was maintained because the searches were no longer going to your default browser by default. Still, there could be an add-on for that.

I have this problem on a Mac. I don't have Cortana.. but if Firefox gets shutdown or crashes, which seems to be often, it always switches my default browser to "BrowserDefault", which is apparently Bing.

Hi kshanti, it's a very different problem on Mac. You have a hijacker.

Does your Preferences page mention that "your organization" or "an extension" is controlling any settings?

Could you share a sample results URL for "BrowserDefault" / Bing to see whether any of the parameters in the URL point toward a culprit?

More generally:

(A) Extensions are a common source of search engine changes.

(B) Malware on your system could inject changes into Firefox's settings. A popular scanning/cleaning tool is: https://www.malwarebytes.com/mac/

(C) Beware of autoconfig files. This thread has an example of how to track that down: https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1256067

Thanks.. I did find another post that talked about this and removed a custom URL. So far I haven't had any issues.

I'm not sure what you are asking for here.. "Could you share a sample results URL for "BrowserDefault" / Bing to see whether any of the parameters in the URL point toward a culprit?"

Do you mean when Bing is the search engine, provide the URL from a search?

kshanti said

I'm not sure what you are asking for here.. "Could you share a sample results URL for "BrowserDefault" / Bing to see whether any of the parameters in the URL point toward a culprit?" Do you mean when Bing is the search engine, provide the URL from a search?

Yes, if you submit a search and it goes to "BrowserDefault" what is the final URL of the results page?

I switched to BrowserDefault. Here is the URL.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=goldfinch&pc=cosp&ptag=G6C999N10860D060619AA6B84BBD86&form=CONBDF&conlogo=CT3210127

I did remove some malware though, so not sure if this is suspicious.

Hi kshanti, back in 2014, a Bing URL with conlogo=CT3210127 was associated with hijacked desktop shortcuts. However, I don't know if that is a thing on Mac:

• https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/protect/forum/all/bing-search-deeply-embedded-starts-through-www/5cb2ab98-0dff-420b-9e32-f1c81e0cdbc5
• https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/bing/forum/bing_other-bing_users/i-have-brand-new-feature-opening-with-all-my/63d57a25-aea8-4f10-a31c-a957d1dc93fc

If you select BrowserDefault in the One-Click Search Engines box on the Preferences page and use the Remove button below the box, does it return in your next Firefox session?

It did before but no longer does. Thanks for your help!

I don't see the fix for my problem, other than I have already removed Bing from the One Click Search Engines section.

When I open Firefox, Google is my Search Engine. All search "RESULTS" open in Bing. I have looked everywhere and I have no idea to get rid of it. There is no Bing in my start menu. I am using Windows 10. And again, have removed it from the One Click Search Engine section...and rebooted, it's not there, but still happening. This is VERY frustrating!!

Hi ladygdiver70, are you saying that your Firefox is ignoring your default search engine setting? That's the one described in this article:

Change your default search settings in Firefox

One possible culprit would be an extension. You can view, disable, and often remove unwanted or unknown extensions on the Add-ons page. Either:

• Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Command+Shift+a)
• "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
• type or paste about:addons in the address bar and press Enter/Return

In the left column of the Add-ons page, click Extensions.

Then cast a critical eye over the list on the right side. Any extensions Firefox installs for built-in features are hidden from this page, so everything listed here is your choice (and your responsibility) to manage. Anything that mentions "search" or looks suspicious or that you just do not remember installing or why? If in doubt, disable (or remove).

Any improvement?

I have the same problem. When I go to goggle.com and try to do a search, it does not use Google, but Bing instead. Interestingly, the problem does not appear in Edge, only Firefox.

It is as if Bing has hijacked Google in Firefox.

My default search engine is Google.

godol said

I have the same problem. When I go to goggle.com and try to do a search, it does not use Google, but Bing instead.

Hi godol, hopefully you went to google.com and not goggle.com!

One possible culprit would be an extension. You can view, disable, and often remove unwanted or unknown extensions on the Add-ons page. Either:

• Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Command+Shift+a)
• "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
• type or paste about:addons in the address bar and press Enter/Return

In the left column of the Add-ons page, click Extensions.

Then cast a critical eye over the list on the right side. Any extensions Firefox installs for built-in features are hidden from this page, so everything listed here is your choice (and your responsibility) to manage. Anything that mentions "search" or looks suspicious or that you just do not remember installing or why? If in doubt, disable (or remove).

Any improvement?

The only active extension is "Windows Tab." There are no other.

godol said

The only active extension is "Windows Tab." There are no other.

What is that? I can't find it in a search. Where did you get it? Did you try disabling it?

Disabling it solved the problem!!!

I do not recall ever asking for this extension.

Thanks for your help!!

Hi godol, possibly that extension rode along with some free software you installed. It's a common hazard and you have to be very vigilant about avoid bundled crap that you may not even have been told about.