How To Stop McAfee From Changing Search Engine [Step-by-Step]

Turn off secure search to stop the antivirus from changing your search engine

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by Radu Tyrsina 

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How To Stop McAfee From Changing Search Engine
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Is McAfee changing the search engine in your browser for no apparent reason? You’re not alone. Many users have the same problem.

It’s most commonly changing Chrome engine to Yahoo, but it might be another search engine too.

Regardless, here’s how to stop it:

How do I stop McAfee from changing my default search engine?

1. Disable McAfee Web advisor extension

  1. Navigate to your browser (in this case, Chrome).
  2. Click on the three vertical ellipses in the top right corner, select More tools, and click on Extensions.chrome extensions settings
  3. Find McAfee WebAdvisor and toggle off the disable button.disabling mcafee web advisor
  4. Remember, when you turn it off, you may get the McAfee secure search is off – be careful message which warns you that your system may be at risk. you don't have secure search mcafee

This is because it won’t be able to detect any malicious sites. However, you should be fine as long as you activate other protective means.

2. Uninstall McAfee WebAdvisor

  1. Hit the Windows key, type in Control Panel, and click Open.control panel
  2. Select Programs, then click on Uninstall a program.uninstall a program
  3. Locate McAfee WebAdvisor or McAfee SiteAdvisor from the programs list and click Uninstall.uninstall mcafee web advisor

3. Reset your browser to default settings

  1. Navigate to your browser (in this case, Chrome).
  2. Click on the three vertical ellipses in the top right corner and select Settings.google settings
  3. Select Advanced, then click on Reset and clean up.google settings reset and clean up
  4. Click on Restore settings to their original defaults and select Reset settings.reset browser settings

If McAfee is changing your search engine, it’s likely due to the WebAdvisor browser extension or the search protection feature.

You can adjust these settings to prevent future changes. For users of Windows 11, McAfee offers added security, but built-in tools like Windows Defender may be enough for basic protection.

Hopefully, you have successfully changed to your preferred search engine using one or more of the above solutions. 

Keeping your antivirus up to date can also help with this and related problems like McAfee errors communicating with event log.

If the problem is more persistent on your PC, we have a dedicated guide on what to do when your browser keeps switching to Yahoo.

Let us know what solution worked for you in the comments section below.

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina Shield

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time). For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web. Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they're looking for.

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