• Set your default search engine. On your computer, open Chrome. At the top right, click More Settings. Under 'Search engine,' next to 'Search engine used in the address bar,' click the Down arrow. Select a new default search engine. If you've tried to set your search engine.
• Settings Manage Search Engines in Google Chrome and you can add Google Search Engine again. Here's how: In the bottom you will find Other Search Engines and below that text boxes for adding a new search engine. Give Name - Google Keyword - google.com.
• Among the many features Chromium's Omnibox offers is the ability to search a site without navigating to the sites homepage. Once Chromium has determined it can search a site, any time the user types the URL of the site into the Omnibox the user is offered the ability to search the site.
• How to remove Yahoo search from your Chrome browser? In this tutorial, I show you how to fix Google Chrome default search engine changing to Yahoo search.

• Google Chrome Search Engine
• Google Chrome Search Engine Bar
• Google Chrome Search Engine Bug
• Change Default Search Engine Chrome
• Google Chrome Search Engine Google

Search.xyz redirect removal instructions

Get more done with the new Google Chrome. A more simple, secure, and faster web browser than ever, with Google’s smarts built-in.

What is search.xyz?

search.xyz is another fake search engine identical to spicystart.com. According to the developers, search.xyz significantly enhances the Internet browsing experience by generating improved results. Judging on appearance alone, search.xyz may seem legitimate and useful, however, this site is promoted using a deceptive browser hijacker called SearchXYZ. Furthermore, search.xyz (and SearchXYZ) continually records information relating to users' Internet browsing activity.

Immediately after infiltration, SearchXYZ hijacks Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, stealthily assigning the new tab URL, homepage, and default search engine options to search.xyz. These changes may seem insignificant, however, returning browsers to their previous states becomes impossible - SearchXYZ continually reassigns browser options when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, users are unable to revert changes performed by this browser hijacker and are forced to visit search.xyz when they open a new browser tab and/or search via the URL bar. This significantly diminishes the web browsing experience. Furthermore, search.xyz and SearchXYZ continually record user-system information relating to web browsing activity. Collected data is likely to contain personal details that developers sell to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals who misuse private data to generate revenue). Therefore, data tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. In addition, some browser-hijacking apps run various unwanted processes (e.g., cryptocurrency mining) in the background. In doing so, potentially unwanted programs significantly reduce overall system performance. For these reasons, we strongly advise you to uninstall the SearchXYZ browser hijacker and never return to search.xyz.

There are dozens of fake search engines that share similarities with search.xyz. The list of examples includes (but is not limited to) chromesearch.net, newtab.review, ewoss.com, and snitou.com. By offering various 'useful features' (improved search results, weather forecasts, currency exchange rates, shortcuts to popular websites, etc.), fake search engines attempt to give the impression of legitimacy, however, these websites are designed only to generate revenue for the developers. Rather than giving any real value for regular users, fake search engines cause unwanted redirects and gather various information. In addition, some generate false search results and/or intrusive ads (coupons, banners, pop-ups, etc.) that typically lead to dubious websites. In addition, the ads might run scripts that download and install malware. Therefore, using fake search engines risks various computer infections.

How did search.xyz install on my computer?

As mentioned above, search.xyz is promoted using SearchXYZ. Although this browser hijacker has an official download website, it typically infiltrates systems without permission. Developers promote it using a deceptive marketing method called 'bundling', and intrusive ads. Developers hide 'bundled' apps within 'Custom/Advanced' options of the download/installation processes. Furthermore, many users rush download/installation procedures, skip steps, and click intrusive advertisements. This leads to inadvertent installation of rogue programs.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

The main reasons for computer infections are poor knowledge and careless behavior. The key to safety is caution. Therefore, pay close attention when downloading/installing software, and when browsing the Internet in general. Carefully analyze each download/installation step to opt-out of all additionally-included programs. Note that criminals invest many resources into intrusive ad design and, thus, most look legitimate, however, they redirect to gambling, adult dating, pornography, and other dubious websites. If you encounter these redirects, immediately eliminate all suspicious applications/browser plug-ins.

Website promoting SearchXYZ browser hijacker:

IMPORTANT NOTE! This deceptive site asks to enable web browser notifications:

Therefore, before commencing, perform these steps:

Google Chrome (PC):

• Click the Menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the screen
• Select 'Settings', scroll down to the bottom and click 'Advanced'
• Scroll down to the 'Privacy and security' section, select 'Content settings' and then 'Notifications'
• Click three dots on the right hand side of each suspicious URL and click 'Block' or 'Remove' (if you click 'Remove' and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again)

Google Chrome (Android):

• Click on the Menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the screen and click 'Settings'
• Scroll down, click on 'Site settings' and then 'Notifications'
• In the opened window, locate all suspicious URLs and click on them one-by-one
• Select 'Notifications' in the 'Permissions' section and set the toggle button to 'OFF'

Mozilla Firefox:

• Click the Menu button (three bars) on the right upper corner of the screen
• Select 'Options' and click on 'Privacy & Security' in the toolbar on the left hand side of the screen
• Scroll down to the 'Permissions' section and click the 'Settings' button next to 'Notifications'
• In the opened window, locate all suspicious URLs, click the drop-down menu and select 'Block'

Internet Explorer:

• Click the Gear button on the right upper corner of the IE window
• Select 'Internet options'
• Select the 'Privacy' tab and click 'Settings' under 'Pop-up Blocker' section
• Select suspicious URLs under and remove them one by one by clicking the 'Remove' button

Microsoft Edge:

• Click the menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the Edge window and select 'Settings'
• Click on 'Site permissions' in the toolbar on the left hand side of the screen and select 'Notifications'
• Click three dots on the right hand side of each suspicious URL under 'Allow' section and click 'Block' or 'Remove' (if you click 'Remove' and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again)

Safari (Mac):

• Click 'Safari' button on the left upper corner of the screen and select 'Preferences...'
• Select the 'Websites' tab and then select 'Notifications' section on the left pane
• Check for suspicious URLs and apply the 'Deny' option for each

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Quick menu:

• STEP 1. Uninstall SearchXYZ application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove search.xyz redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove SearchXYZ browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove search.xyz homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove search.xyz redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

SearchXYZ browser hijacker removal:

Windows 7 users:

Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.

Windows XP users:

Click Start, choose Settings and click Control Panel. Locate and click Add or Remove Programs.

Windows 10 and Windows 8 users:

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.

Mac OSX users:

Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently-installed suspicious applications (for example, 'SearchXYZ'), select these entries and click 'Uninstall' or 'Remove'.

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the search.xyz website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Malwarebytes checks if your computer is infected with malware. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Malwarebytes. 14 days free trial available.

SearchXYZ browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser redirects:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click the 'gear' icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select 'Manage Add-ons'. Look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click 'Remove'.

Change your homepage:

Click the 'gear' icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select 'Internet Options', in the opened window, remove hxxp://search.xyz and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.

Change your default search engine:

Click the 'gear' icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select 'Manage Add-ons'. In the opened window, select 'Search Providers', set 'Google', 'Bing', or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove 'search xyz'.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the searchxyz browser hijacker, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.

Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Click the Reset button.

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select 'More tools' and click 'Extensions'. Locate 'SearchXYZ' and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Change your homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select 'Settings'. In the 'On startup' section, look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.xyz) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click the three vertical dots icon and select “Remove”.

Change your default search engine:

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select 'Settings', in the 'Search engine' section, click 'Manage search engines...', in the opened list, look for 'SearchXYZ', and when located, click the three vertical dots near this URL and select 'Remove from list'.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the searchxyz browser hijacker, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select 'Add-ons'. Click 'Extensions' and remove 'SearchXYZ', as well as all other recently-installed browser plug-ins.

Change your homepage:

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select 'Options', in the opened window, remove hxxp://search.xyz and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change your default search engine:

In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click 'I'll be careful, I promise!'.
In the search filter at the top, type: 'search.xyz'
Right-click on the found preferences and select 'Reset' to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with searchxyz browser hijacker removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.

Select Troubleshooting Information.

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...

In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.

In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.

In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.

Optional method:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select 'Extensions'. Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.

Change your homepage and new tab settings:

Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select 'Settings'. In the 'On startup' section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click 'Disable'.

Change your default Internet search engine:

To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select 'Privacy and services', scroll to bottom of the page and select 'Address bar'. In the 'Search engines used in address bar' section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the 'Disable' button near it. Alternatively you can click on 'Manage search engines', in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon near it and select 'Disable'.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the searchxyz browser hijacker, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

• If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free. software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.

Removal assistance:
If you are experiencing problems while trying to remove searchxyz browser hijacker from your Internet browsers, please ask for assistance in our malware support forum.

Post a comment:
If you have additional information on searchxyz browser hijacker or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

Microsoft Search in Bing helps the users in your organization quickly find work-related information, including people, files, internal sites, and more. Searching for this information is as easy as searching the web. For more information, see What is Microsoft Search in Bing?

To help your users take advantage of the benefits of Microsoft Search in Bing, we're making an extension available for the Google Chrome web browser. This optional extension will be available only in specific locations for domain-joined devices running Windows. If you decide to deploy this extension, it sets Bing as the default search engine for Google Chrome and provides easier access to Microsoft Search capabilities. If Bing is already the default search engine, the extension doesn't get installed. Even after the extension is installed, an On/Off toggle easily allows your users to stop using Bing as the default search engine.

Deployment of this optional extension relies on a background service, which we're making available with Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise (previously named Office 365 ProPlus). Even with the background service installed, you have control over the deployment of the extension. For example, the extension won't get installed on devices in your organization unless you opt in. You can opt in by selecting a specific setting in the Microsoft Search section of the Microsoft 365 admin center. For more information, see How does the Microsoft Search in Bing extension for Google Chrome get installed?

The background service is included with Version 2005 or later of Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise, for both new installations and for updates to existing installations. For more information, review this table.

What is Microsoft Search in Bing?

Microsoft Search in Bing enables your users to use the familiar browser address bar and search box to find workplace information more easily. For example, documents, internal sites and business tools, people and org charts, and other relevant information from within your organization. Microsoft Search in Bing searches across files, SharePoint sites, OneDrive content, Teams and Yammer conversations, and other shared data sources in your organization, as well as the web.

Microsoft Search is the native search experience in Microsoft 365, so no initial setup is required for access within Office apps. Microsoft Search in Bing enables easier access through the address bar. You can improve the search experience for your users by adding content, such as bookmarks, Q&As, acronyms, building locations, and floor plans. For more information, see How to enhance Microsoft Search in Bing results for your organization.

Users must be signed in with their work or school account to receive results from Microsoft Search in Bing. For more information, see Security and Privacy for Microsoft Search in Bing.

For more information about features and capabilities, see the following resources:

• Microsoft Search and How to Set it Up(Microsoft Mechanics video)
• Overview of Microsoft Search(documentation)

How does the Microsoft Search in Bing extension for Google Chrome get installed?

Several things have to happen for the Microsoft Search in Bing extension to be installed for Google Chrome on the user's device.

• You must opt in by configuring a setting in the Microsoft Search section of the Microsoft 365 admin center.
• A background service for Microsoft Search in Bing must be installed on the user's device. This background service is included with Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise.
• The device must meet specific criteria for the extension to be installed.

For more information, see the following sections.

Configure the setting in the Microsoft 365 admin center to allow the extension to be installed

To allow the extension to be installed, sign in to the Microsoft 365 admin center with your admin account. Then, go to Show all > Settings > Search & intelligence > Configurations, and then choose Edit.

Note

Search & intelligence was previously named Microsoft Search.

There you'll see the Install extension and set Bing as the default search engine check box. The check box is not selected by default, as shown in the following screenshot.

To allow the extension to be installed, select the check box, and then choose Save.

If the extension has been installed on devices in your organization, and you clear the check box and choose Save, the extension is removed and Bing is no longer the default search engine on those devices. These changes might take up to 24 hours to take effect on those devices.

Assign the extension to groups of users

You can choose to provide the extension to everyone in your organization or specific groups of users. The option to provide the extension only to specific groups of users allows you to do the following in your organization:

• Pilot the use of Microsoft Search in Bing to a subset of users before deploying more broadly.
• Deploy the extension only to groups of users that will benefit most from using Microsoft Search in Bing.

Changes that you make to which users get the extension can take up to 24 hours to take effect on their devices.

Install the background service for Microsoft Search in Bing on the user's device

Another requirement is that a background service for Microsoft Search in Bing needs to be installed on the user's device. This background service is included with Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise, starting with Version 2005. For more information, review this table.

Once the background service is installed, it checks whether the setting in the Microsoft 365 admin center is selected. That check is made once a day.

Google Chrome Search Engine

This background service gets installed automatically on the user's device only if all of the following criteria are met:

• You're installing or updating to Version 2005 or later of Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise.
• The device is running Windows.
• The device is joined to an Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) domain in Windows Server.

Note

The background service is not installed if the device is joined only to an Azure Active Directory (AAD) domain.

Also, the background service is not included with any of the following types of Office:

• Microsoft 365 Apps for business (previously named Office 365 Business)
• Office for Mac
• Volume licensed versions of Office 2019, such as Office Professional Plus 2019

You can also manually download and install the background service.

If you don't want the background service installed, see How to prevent the background service for Microsoft Search in Bing from being installed.

Criteria that need to be met to install the extension

If the check box is selected in the Microsoft 365 admin center and the background service is installed on the user's device, the background service then looks to see if the following criteria are met:

Google Chrome Search Engine Bar

• The device is located in one of the specified locations.
• Google Chrome is installed on the device.
• Bing is not already the default search engine for Google Chrome.

If all those criteria are met, then the extension is installed on the user's device and Bing is made the default search engine for Google Chrome with easier access to Microsoft Search capabilities.

Note

The extension won't be installed on the user's device if Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise is deployed in an Office 365 (or Microsoft 365) GCC, GCC High, or DoD environment.

For what happens next, see What your users will see with Microsoft Search in Bing.

Tip

If you're expecting the extension to be installed, but it isn't getting installed, check to make sure that you haven't done anything to prevent the background service from being installed with Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise. Also, using a policy setting to enforce a different default search engine or to control extensions on Google Chrome will prevent the extension from being installed. For example, if you're using the ExtensionInstallForceList policy.

Which versions of Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise include the background service for Microsoft Search in Bing?

Version 2005 is the first version of Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise that installs this background service on domain-joined devices running Windows. The background service is included with new installations and with updates to existing installations of Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise.

The following table shows, for each update channel, the initial version of Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise in which the background service is included.

Which locations will receive the Microsoft Search in Bing extension?

At this time, the Microsoft Search in Bing extension for Google Chrome will only be installed on devices in the following locations, based on the IP address of the device:

• Australia
• Canada
• France
• Germany
• India
• United Kingdom
• United States

The location of the device is checked once every month. At that time, if the device has moved to a location listed above, and you've selected the setting in the Microsoft 365 admin center, then the extension for Google Chrome will be installed and Bing will be made the default search engine.

Other locations might be added over time. Before any new locations are added, we'll notify you through the Message Center in the Microsoft 365 admin center and we'll update the list of locations accordingly.

Tip

If you want to set Bing as the default search engine for Google Chrome for locations that aren't listed, you can follow these steps.

How to prevent the background service for Microsoft Search in Bing from being installed with Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise

If you don't want the background service for Microsoft Search in Bing to be installed with Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise, you can use the Office Deployment Tool or Group Policy. There are also ways to prevent the background service from being installed if you're using Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (current branch) or Microsoft Intune.

Whichever method you use, be sure to implement it before you install or update to a version of Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise that includes the background service. If you implement the method after the background service has been installed, the background service won't be removed from the device. To remove the background service, see How to remove the background service for Microsoft Search in Bing after it's been installed.

Office Deployment Tool

If you use the Office Deployment Tool, you can use the ExcludeApp element in your configuration.xml file, as shown in the following example. This method is probably best used for new installations of Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise.

Note

• Be sure to download the most current version of the Office Deployment Tool.
• We recommend that you use the Office Customization Tool to help you create your configuration.xml file with the appropriate settings.

Group Policy

If you use Group Policy in your organization, you can enable the Don't install a background service for Microsoft Search in Bing policy setting. This method is probably best used for existing installations of Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise.

You can find this policy setting under Computer ConfigurationPoliciesAdministrative TemplatesMicrosoft Office 2016 (Machine)Updates. This policy setting is available in the Administrative Template files (ADMX/ADML) download starting with version 5011.1000, which was released on May 5, 2020.

Note

In previous releases of the Administrative Template files, this policy setting was named Don't install extension for Microsoft Search in Bing that makes Bing the default the search engine.

If you configured the previously named policy setting, the setting you chose still applies.

Google Chrome Search Engine Bug

Configuration Manager (current branch)

If you're deploying Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise by using the Office 365 Client Installation wizard in Configuration Manager, you can set the Background service for Microsoft Search in Bing toggle to Off in the Features section.

Microsoft Intune

If you're deploying Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise by using Intune, on the Configure app suite page, you can set the Install background service for Microsoft Search in Bing toggle to No in the Properties section.

How to enhance Microsoft Search in Bing results for your organization

If your organization is new to Microsoft Search in Bing, we suggest reviewing the Microsoft Search in Bing Admin Essentials Guide for configuration and deployment information. To help increase your user's awareness of Microsoft Search in Bing, our adoption kit includes training and communication resources.

There are tools for Microsoft Search that you can use to provide a better search experience for your users so that your users can find the content that they're looking for more easily. For example, you can do the following:

• Create bookmarks for frequently searched internal web sites and tools, such as employee benefits, time and expense reporting, and self-help IT services.
• Create Q&As to instantly answer frequently asked questions in your company, such as 'How do I change my password?' or 'How do I create a purchase order?'
• Add building locations or upload office floor plans to help your users navigate large company campuses with ease.
• Define acronyms that are commonly used within your organization.

For more information, see Plan your content.

What your users will see with Microsoft Search in Bing

After the extension for Microsoft Search in Bing is installed and Bing is set as the default search engine, your users will see a Welcome screen similar to the following screenshot:

As they use Microsoft Search in Bing, your users will see work-related information in their search results when searching from the address bar, similar to what is shown in the following screenshot:

Change whether Bing is the default search engine for Google Chrome

Change Default Search Engine Chrome

If your users decide they want to stop using Bing as their default search engine, they can select the magnifying glass icon next to the address bar in Google Chrome and move the Use Bing as your default search engine toggle to the Off position. For the change to take effect, they need to close Google Chrome and then open it again. Selecting Off doesn't remove the extension. This allows your users to still easily search work content through the extension flyout.

If your users want to go back to using Bing as their default search engine and access Microsoft Search capabilities, they can move the toggle in Google Chrome to the On position. For the change to take effect, they need to close Google Chrome and then open it again.

How to remove the background service for Microsoft Search in Bing after it's been installed

You don't need to remove the background service to revert back to the original search engine settings. Your users can use the On/Off toggle or you can clear the setting in the Microsoft 365 admin center that affects all users in your organization.

But if you want, you can remove the background service from the device. If the extension is installed on the device, then uninstalling the background service also removes the extension. Bing will no longer be set as the default search engine. Also, the background service won't be installed again in a future update of Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise.

To remove the background service from an individual device, go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features. Then, under the list of installed programs, right-click on Microsoft Search in Bing and choose Uninstall.

If you want to remove the background service from multiple devices in your organization, you can run the following command as an administrator in a script:

Additional information about Microsoft Search in Bing and Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise

Manually download and install the background service

You can manually download the background service for Microsoft Search in Bing and then deploy it to devices in your organization. For example, on devices running a version of Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise earlier than Version 2005 or on devices with Microsoft 365 Apps for business. Even if manually deployed, the background service will use the same criteria to determine whether to install the extension on the device.

ExtensionInstallForceList policy for Google Chrome

If you use the Configure the list of force-installed apps and extensions(ExtensionInstallForcelist) policy to restrict which Chrome extensions are installed on devices in your organization, then you need to include the following value when you configure the policy:

obdappnhkfoejojnmcohppfnoeagadna;https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx

If you don't include this value, the extension for Microsoft Search in Bing will be removed from devices.

Support for Firefox web browser

Google Chrome Search Engine Google

Support for the Firefox web browser is planned for a later date. We'll keep you informed about support for Firefox through the Microsoft 365 Admin Center and this article.