How to Fix a Browser Hijack on Google Chrome
Introduction

What About Pop-Ups?
This guide focuses on hijacked browsers. Pop-ups are another beast entirely and covered in another guide.
1 OS Choice
To continue, we need to know what Operating System your computer is using.
There are 2 main Operating Systems for personal computers currently available, Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS.
Microsoft Windows | Apple macOS |
---|---|
Microsoft Windows runs on computers produced by multiple companies, such as Lenovo, Asus, Dell, Toshiba, Hewlett Packard, Acer, and Sony. | Apple is the only company that makes macOS computers. |
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? What Operating System are you using?

What About Pop-Ups?
This guide focuses on hijacked browsers. Pop-ups are another beast entirely and covered in another guide.
To continue, we need to know what Operating System your computer is using.
There are 2 main Operating Systems for personal computers currently available, Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS.
Microsoft Windows | Apple macOS |
---|---|
Microsoft Windows runs on computers produced by multiple companies, such as Lenovo, Asus, Dell, Toshiba, Hewlett Packard, Acer, and Sony. | Apple is the only company that makes macOS computers. |
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- Open the Windows Task Manager.
Using the Taskbar
- Using your right mouse button, right-click on your Taskbar. Then select Task Manager from the menu.
Using a Keyboard Shortcut
- On your keyboard use Ctrl+Shit+Esc.
Using the Lock Screen
- You can do Ctrl+Alt+Del on your keyboard, then click on Task Manager.
- Using your right mouse button, right-click on your Taskbar. Then select Task Manager from the menu.
- Select your browser, then select End Task.
Basic View Advanced View
- Open Google Chrome.
- Select the Menu button located in the top right corner of the window.
- Select Settings.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page, then select Advanced.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- For Time range, select All time. Make sure all three check boxes are checked, then select Clear data.
Some browser extensions / addons can cause your browser to behave abnormally. Removing any unwanted, unnecessary, or unused browser extensions/addons can get your web browser running properly again.
- Click on the three dots in the upper right hand corner.
- Click on (1) More tools then (2) Extensions.
- The following steps can be repeated to remove multiple browser extensions.
- Find the extension you want to remove, and click on REMOVE.
- You will get a confirmation window. Click Remove to confirm removal.
- You might get a new tab pop up upon removal, close the tab by hitting the X.
- Find the extension you want to remove, and click on REMOVE.
- Extensions are now gone, you may have to restart your browser for it to take effect. If you removed a malicious extension, it might have changed your homepage.
- Open Google Chrome.
- Enter chrome://extensions into address bar and hit Enter.
- Review the list of plug-ins and remove any that you do not recognize. You may need to research the add-ons before removing.
- Click the three dots menu icon at the top right.
- Open Settings.
- Scroll down and verify Homepage is not malicious and change it if it is.
- Click on Manage Search Engines.
- Verify no search hijackers are present.
- Click Start.
- Search for "Chrome".
- Right-click on the Chrome result, then click on Open File Location.
- Right-click Chrome, then select Properties.
- Verify that the Target only contains the path "C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" with nothing after it.
- Open Chrome and verify your homepage is correct.
- Open your browser and take note if it shows your normal home page or search page.
- Test your ability to search the web like you normally would.
Potentially unwanted programs, or "PUPs", often arrive bundled with your computer or can tag along with another software program you meant to install. Most times, they are snuck into the EULA as a "Recommended Offer" that many of us are so accustomed to just click right through. Lots of these types of programs end up being junkware that your computer will not benefit from. Unfortunately, some of these programs can add unwanted browser toolbars or extensions that can clutter your browser, track your web browsing, show additional advertisements, or change your search page and other related settings. Usually, unless these types of programs are removed, they will continue causing issues with your web browsing experience.
Remove PUPs via Windows 10 Settings
- Click Start (1), then click Settings (2).
- Next, Select Apps.
- Scroll down and locate the app you wish to remove, and click on Uninstall.
- Carefully read any prompts in case there are special instructions. Proceed until the application is removed.
- Some applications may require that you reboot.
Remove PUPs via the Control Panel
- On your keyboard push and release the Windows Key and R at the same time.
- You will see a Run window open up. Type in appwiz.cpl then click on OK.
- Locate a program you wish to remove within the list, click once on it to highlight it, then click on Uninstall.
- Carefully read any prompts in case there are special instructions. Proceed until the application is removed.
- Some applications may require that your computer be restarted to complete the uninstallation.
Test your browser after removing any PUPs from your machine. This may require you to restart your browser or your computer beforehand depending on what was removed.
You may need to remove an app or program because you need the space, simply don't need it anymore, or it is malicious. The following steps show you how to easily remove an app. The first method is exclusive to Windows 10, the second method will work with all Windows versions.
Windows 10 - Using Windows Settings
- Click Start (1), then click Settings (2).
- Next, Select Apps.
- Scroll down and locate the app you wish to remove, and click on Uninstall.
- Carefully read any prompts in case there are special instructions. Proceed until the application is removed.
- Some applications may require that you reboot.
All Windows Versions - Using Control Panel
- On your keyboard push and release the Windows Key and R at the same time.
- You will see a Run window open up. Type in appwiz.cpl then click on OK.
- Locate a program you wish to remove within the list, click once on it to highlight it, then click on Uninstall.
- Carefully read any prompts in case there are special instructions. Proceed until the application is removed.
- Some applications may require that your computer be restarted to complete the uninstallation.
Before your restart or shut down your PC, make sure to save all necessary work to prevent data loss.
-
Using the Mouse
- Select the Start menu.
By default it is in the lower left corner of your screen.
- Select Power, then select Restart.
- Select the Start menu.
-
Using the Keyboard
- Press the Windows and X keys at the same time. This minimizes any open windows you may have.
- Press the Alt and F4 keys at the same time. This tells Windows to close the desktop.
- Select Restart, then OK.
- Press the Windows and X keys at the same time. This minimizes any open windows you may have.
- Open your browser and take note if it shows your normal home page or search page.
- On a Desktop or Laptop, look for one of these icons:
- On a Smartphone or Tablet, look for one of these icons:
- On a Desktop or Laptop, look for one of these icons:
- Make sure the page loads properly, and try following a few of the links from the page.
Sometimes Chrome can get stuck as it launches. Forcing it to quit and restarting it usually fixes this problem.
- Select the Apple menu, then Force Quit.
- Highlight Google Chrome in the list, and select Force Quit.
- You'll be prompted if you're sure, select Force Quit.
Your web browser's homepage settings dictate the websites that are loaded when it is opened up.
- Click on the three dots in the upper right hand corner.
- Click on Settings.
- Scroll down to you get to On Startup. You will see three options. If you want to set a custom page, select Open a specific page or set of pages.
- If you see one that you want to remove or change click on the 3 dots next to it. Click on Edit or Remove to change it.
- If you see one that you want to remove or change click on the 3 dots next to it. Click on Edit or Remove to change it.
Some browser extensions / addons can cause your browser to behave abnormally. Removing any unwanted, unnecessary, or unused browser extensions/addons can get your web browser running properly again.
- Click on the three dots in the upper right hand corner.
- Click on (1) More tools then (2) Extensions.
- The following steps can be repeated to remove multiple browser extensions.
- Find the extension you want to remove, and click on REMOVE.
- You will get a confirmation window. Click Remove to confirm removal.
- You might get a new tab pop up upon removal, close the tab by hitting the X.
- Find the extension you want to remove, and click on REMOVE.
- Extensions are now gone, you may have to restart your browser for it to take effect. If you removed a malicious extension, it might have changed your homepage.
- Open Google Chrome.
- Select the Menu button located in the top right corner of the window.
- Select Settings.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page, then select Advanced.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- For Time range, select All time. Make sure all three check boxes are checked, then select Clear data.
- Open your browser and take note if it shows your normal home page or search page.
- Test your ability to search the web like you normally would.
Potentially unwanted programs, or "PUPs", often arrive bundled with your computer or can tag along with another software program you meant to install. Most times, they are snuck into the EULA as a "Recommended Offer" that many of us are so accustomed to just click right through. Lots of these types of programs end up being junkware that your computer will not benefit from. Unfortunately, some of these programs can add unwanted browser toolbars or extensions that can clutter your browser, track your web browsing, show additional advertisements, or change your search page and other related settings. Usually, unless these types of programs are removed, they will continue causing issues with your web browsing experience.
Remove PUPs via Windows 10 Settings
- Click Start (1), then click Settings (2).
- Next, Select Apps.
- Scroll down and locate the app you wish to remove, and click on Uninstall.
- Carefully read any prompts in case there are special instructions. Proceed until the application is removed.
- Some applications may require that you reboot.
Remove PUPs via the Control Panel
- On your keyboard push and release the Windows Key and R at the same time.
- You will see a Run window open up. Type in appwiz.cpl then click on OK.
- Locate a program you wish to remove within the list, click once on it to highlight it, then click on Uninstall.
- Carefully read any prompts in case there are special instructions. Proceed until the application is removed.
- Some applications may require that your computer be restarted to complete the uninstallation.
Test your browser after removing any PUPs from your machine. This may require you to restart your browser or your computer beforehand depending on what was removed.
Removing an app may also remove all data for that app. Make sure you have any information you need backed up before removing an app for your Mac.
To Remove an App Installed from the App Store
- Open the Launchpad from the dock.
- Click and hold on an icon until all icons start to jiggle.
- Click the "x" on the top left of the icon you want to remove.
- Click Delete to confirm removal.
To Remove All Other Apps
- Open the Finder from the dock.
- Click on Applications on the left.
- Drag the app you wish to remove to the trash can.
- Right click on the trashcan and click Empty Trash.
- From the menu bar across the top of the screen, select the Apple menu (1), then select Restart... (2).
Any unsaved work will be lost.
- Open your browser and take note if it shows your normal home page or search page.
- On a Desktop or Laptop, look for one of these icons:
- On a Smartphone or Tablet, look for one of these icons:
- On a Desktop or Laptop, look for one of these icons:
- Make sure the page loads properly, and try following a few of the links from the page.