The fastest way to remove Bing

You can remove Bing from your computer by uninstalling it through Windows Settings, removing it from your web browser, or both—depending on whether Bing is installed as a standalone app or set as your default search engine. Most people have Bing in their browser rather than as a separate program, so the quickest fix is usually to change your search engine settings and remove Bing-related extensions.

If Bing came preinstalled on your computer as part of Windows, you can uninstall it like any other app. If Bing is your default search engine in Edge, Chrome, or Firefox, you'll need to change that setting separately. The steps differ slightly depending on which browser you use and how Bing got there in the first place.

Key Takeaways

  • Bing can be removed from Windows Settings by going to Apps, then Apps & Features, finding Bing, and selecting Uninstall.
  • If Bing is your default search engine in Microsoft Edge, go to Settings, Privacy & Security, and change the search engine to Google, DuckDuckGo, or another option.
  • In Chrome and Firefox, you can remove Bing by going to Settings, then Search Engine, and selecting a different default.
  • Bing-related browser extensions should be removed separately through your browser's extension or add-ons menu.
  • After removing Bing, clear your browser cache and cookies to may support the change takes effect completely.

Uninstall Bing from Windows Settings

Open Windows Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then press Enter. Click on Apps in the left sidebar, then select Apps & Features. Scroll down through the list of installed programs until you find Bing or "Microsoft Bing" listed.

Click on the Bing entry, then click the Uninstall button that appears. Windows will ask you to confirm the removal. Click Uninstall again, and the program will be removed from your computer. You may need to restart your computer for the change to take full effect.

If you don't see Bing listed in Apps & Features, it may not be installed as a standalone program—it's likely only present in your browser settings instead. In that case, skip to the browser-specific sections below.

Remove Bing as your default search engine in Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and click the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner. Select Settings from the dropdown menu. In the left sidebar, click Privacy, search, and services.

Scroll down to the Search engine section. You'll see your current default search engine listed. Click the dropdown menu next to it and select a different search engine—Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, or Ecosia are common alternatives. Once you select a new default, Bing will no longer appear as your primary search option.

If you see Bing-related extensions in your browser, remove those too. Click the three-dot menu, go to Extensions, find any Bing extensions, click the three dots next to them, and select Remove from Microsoft Edge.

Remove Bing from Google Chrome

Open Google Chrome and click the three-dot menu in the top right corner. Select Settings. In the left sidebar, click Search engine.

You'll see a list of search engines with your current default highlighted. Click on a different search engine—Google, DuckDuckGo, or another option—to make it your default. Bing will no longer be used when you search from the address bar.

Check for Bing extensions by clicking the puzzle-piece icon in the top right of Chrome, then clicking the three dots next to any Bing-related extensions and selecting Remove from Chrome. If you don't see the puzzle-piece icon, click the three-dot menu, go to More tools, then Extensions, and remove Bing extensions from there.

Remove Bing from Mozilla Firefox

Open Mozilla Firefox and click the three-line menu icon in the top right corner. Select Settings. In the left sidebar, click Search.

Under Default Search Engine, click the dropdown menu and select a different search engine. Firefox will when ready switch to your new default. Bing will no longer be your primary search option.

To remove Bing extensions, click the three-line menu, go to Add-ons and extensions, find any Bing-related add-ons, click the three dots next to them, and select Remove.

Clear your browser cache and cookies

After removing Bing, clear your browser's cached data to may support the change takes effect completely. In most browsers, you can do this by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows) or Command + Shift + Delete (Mac).

A window will open asking what data you want to clear. Make sure Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files are both checked. Set the time range to All time, then click the button to clear your data (the button name varies by browser—it may say "Clear data," "Clear now," or "Delete").

After clearing the cache, close and reopen your browser. Your new search engine should now be the default, and any Bing-related settings should be gone.

What to do if Bing keeps coming back

If Bing reappears after you've removed it, a browser extension or program may be resetting your settings. Check your installed programs and browser extensions again, looking specifically for anything you don't recognize or didn't install yourself. Unwanted programs sometimes use names that don't mention Bing directly—look for unfamiliar toolbars, search assistants, or browser helper objects.

You can also run a malware scan using Windows Defender (built into Windows) or a third-party scanner like Malwarebytes to check for programs that might be forcing Bing back onto your system. Open Windows Defender by typing "Windows Defender" in the search bar, click Virus & threat protection, then Scan options, select Full scan, and click Scan now. The scan may take 30 minutes or longer depending on your computer's size and speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will removing Bing slow down my computer?

Removing Bing will not slow down your computer. If anything, uninstalling unused programs and extensions can free up a small amount of disk space and memory. The main reason to remove Bing is personal preference about which search engine you use.

Can I remove Bing without removing Microsoft Edge?

Yes. You can keep Microsoft Edge installed and straightforward change your default search engine to something other than Bing, or remove Bing extensions while keeping the browser itself. Bing and Edge are separate—Edge is the browser, and Bing is the search engine.

What if I want to use Bing again later?

You can always change your default search engine back to Bing at any time by going to your browser settings and selecting Bing from the search engine dropdown menu. You can also reinstall Bing from the Microsoft Store if you removed it as a standalone app.

Is Bing a virus or malware?

Bing itself is not a virus or malware—it's a legitimate search engine made by Microsoft. However, some unwanted programs pretend to be Bing or use Bing-like names to hide their presence. If Bing keeps reappearing after you remove it, run a malware scan to check for unwanted software.