App Discovery Tools: what it is and how to remove it
App Discovery Tools is a browser extension compatible with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, and MS Edge web browsers. While the application can be downloaded and installed from various official sources, it is also often bundled with third-party applications, also known as freeware.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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App Discovery Tools: summary
| Distribution | Official web stores (Google, Mozilla, Opera, Edge), software bundle packages downloaded from third-party sites |
|---|---|
| Name | App Discovery Tools |
| Type | Browser hijacker, potentially unwanted program |
| Associated website | Tappdiscovery.tools |
| Bundled with | users might be deceptively offered to install Encrypted Search along the application |
| Symptoms | The new tab address, homepage, and a new search engine assigned to the web browser; All searches lead users to https://search.yahoo.com/ Search results are filled with sponsored links The homepage is filled with links leading to suspicious websites Search terms are pre-determined based on popular keywords |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 7 more facts
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | search.yahoo.com |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 6 February 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What App Discovery Tools changes in your browser
We may collect information from you based on information collected resulting from your use of our Services and information that you provide to us. The information collected may include both Non-Personal Information and Personal Information.
Is App Discovery Tools dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
App Discovery Tools is a browser hijacker that might lead to to sites you wouldn't initially visit
App Discovery Tools is a browser extension compatible with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, and MS Edge web browsers.
While the application can be downloaded and installed from various official sources, it is also often bundled with third-party applications, also known as freeware. Software bundles often operate deceptively, as they do not adequately disclose all the apps that will be installed, making users miss the point of entry of browser hijackers, adware, and other potentially unwanted programs - including App Discovery Tools.
As soon as the browser hijacker is installed, the web browsers will warn about the changes it is trying to make to the homepage, new tab URL, and the search engine. If approved, App Discovery Tools hijack will be successful, and users will notice changes performed to browser components instantly.
The browser hijacker will redirect their searches to Yahoo (although they will be populated with sponsored links coming from the App Discovery Tools), track users' web browsing information, record browsing history, share personal data with third-parties and lead to potentially unsafe sites.
Browser hijackers like App Discovery Tools are deceptively dangerous. While they are allowed into the system by users themselves, there are many aspects to these PUPs that make them potentially unsafe, although most don't bother reading lengthy policies, so, essentially, they don't know what they sign up for.
Nevertheless, there are many useful browser extensions that do provide useful functionality, such as anonymous browsing, ad-blocking feature, etc. Unfortunately, App Discovery Tools is not one such app, and you should not use it.
In general, there are very few browser hijackers that will not track your online activities, so their usage is highly discouraged by security advocates. Thus, if you found the app on your system unexpectedly, remove App Discovery Tools as soon as possible.
When it comes to App Discovery Tools, it states in the privacy policy that, if you install the app, you agree that your personal (if provided) and anonymous information will be collected:
App Discovery Tools collects and shares the following information with third-parties:
Exerts highly discourage personal information (email, name, home address, etc.) sharing with third-parties, as these details can be sold for marketing purposes. As a result, you might be targeted by ad campaigns that promote various services, products, and other goods to you.
Because App Discovery Tools PUP will change your homepage, it is highly likely that you will remain on it when looking for the information on the internet. However, the search results that will be returned to you will not be organic, which means that they have been paid to stay at the top.
As a result, you might start visiting sites that you never intended to in the first place, changing the way you browse the internet altogether. Note that even though App Discovery Tools redirects to Yahoo (legitimate search tool), the sponsored links do not come from it, but rather profit the browser hijacker authors for each click made.
To sum up, you should proceed with App Discovery Tools removal and rather pick well-established companies to guide you through the web, such as Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc. If you want more privacy, there are plenty of alternatives that can be trusted - for example, DuckDuckGo.
Note that you might want to reset the web browser that the App Discovery Tools plugin was installed on - it is not necessary but highly recommended.
- IP address;
- Geo-location;
- Browser type and browser's user agent;
- Various technical data: hardware settings, browser language, system activity, crashes, timestamp of request and referral URL;
- Diagnostic information about installed extensions;
- Internet Service provide information, including its domain name;
- Time and date of certain browser events.
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
Choose extensions that don't share your information with third parties
With the rise of the internet, users' privacy has been put at risk, as people do many things online:
- purchase products online
- share their daily stories on social networks
- enter their very sensitive data online to be able to use various services
Data is extremely valuable, as it can be used for various purposes that can earn third parties money.
Unfortunately, we have seen more and more data breaches that access this information, and many outrages were also caused by inadequate information-sharing practices. Thus, keeping in mind that your browsing history an tell a lot about you, you should think twice before tantalizing extensions that actively track you and read the information you type on particular websites.
To avoid being deceived by companies who seek to your data for profit, you should always take a peek at the Privacy Policy before you agree to install browser extensions, media players, PDF converters, download managers, and other useless applications.
You should also be aware of unfair software distribution practices that PUP developers like so much - software bundle packages.
These are typically acquired from third-party and torrent sites; the installers are often deceptive, as they incorporate such tricks as fine print text, pre-ticked boxes, misleading offers, etc. Also, make sure you always opt for Advanced/Custom settings when prompted, as it could be the only chance of stopping unwanted apps from being installed with software you initially wanted.
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on App Discovery Tools
- Follow our manual guide provided at the bottom of the article; some anti-virus programs might detect the extension and get rid of it for you
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
search.yahoo.com
How to remove App Discovery Tools
How to remove App Discovery Tools and get your search engine back
Remove the extension first.
The search settings only stay fixed once nothing on the PC can change them again.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
App Discovery Tools often works through an extension, so go through the extension list of each browser:
chrome://extensionsedge://extensions- Extensions and themes in Firefox
Switch suspicious extensions off one at a time and reload the page where the problem shows, then remove the one that stops it, and any other you did not add.
Remember the other browsers and profiles on the PC. If Remove is missing or greyed out, a policy forces the extension, which the policy step deals with. Windows 11 and Windows 10 show the same pages.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Put the search engine back and delete search.yahoo.com
Searches that pass through
search.yahoo.commean the browser's default search engine was replaced. Chrome: Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, then Make default on Google, Bing or another engine you chose, and Delete on search.yahoo.com.Edge has the same list under Manage search engines (search the Settings page for it), and Firefox under Settings > Search.
Look at On startup and the homepage settings too and remove the hijacker's address there. Nothing in this step differs between Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: check Search engine and On startup. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 3: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features in Windows 10, and sort the list by install date. Look at what appeared around the day the problem started and uninstall every program you do not recognise or did not choose.
Free converters, PDF and video tools, "system optimizers" and unknown browsers are the usual carriers of App Discovery Tools. If a name is unclear, search for it before you remove it, so you do not uninstall a driver or a Windows component.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 4: Reset the browser
Finish the browser part with a reset, which puts the search engine, start page, new tab page and site permissions back to their defaults and switches extensions off. Chrome: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults.
Edge: Settings > Reset settings. Firefox: Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox, which also removes its extensions. Your bookmarks and saved passwords are kept, and the menus are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan and remove everything it finds. Then select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now: the PC restarts and scans before Windows loads, which finds files that hide while Windows runs.
Save your work first, because the offline scan takes about 15 minutes. Both scans are built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, and a second scanner from another vendor is a useful extra opinion.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Uninstall from Windows
Get rid of App Discovery Tools app from Windows via the Control Panel:
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.
Remove from Google Chrome
Reset Google Chrome if you are having troubles with termination of unwanted extensions:
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.
Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.
Delete from macOS
macOS users should follow these steps:
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).
Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.
Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.
Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.
Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.
Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool
Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online.
One of the basic means to add a layer of security - choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features.
However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful VPN - it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.
Lost your files? Use data recovery software
While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable.
Family photos, work documents, school projects - these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur:
- power cuts
- Blue Screen of Death errors
- hardware failures
- crypto-malware attack
- even accidental deletion
To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
Get rid of App Discovery Tools hijack
It is important to note that the App Discovery Tools browser extension might not be the only culprit related to the hijacking of your browser.
Quite often, users have multiple PUPs installed on their system, and they are usually clueless to knowing where they came from. Thus, if you are a less proficient computer user, we highly recommend scanning the machine with reputable anti-malware software for automatic App Discovery Tools removal, as well as the termination of other apps that are considered to be PUPs.
If you do not have any other unwanted programs or malware installed on your system, you should be able to remove App Discovery Tools easily via the web browser. If you are not successful for some reason, you might want to reset the installed browser - it will get rid of all the extensions installed. If you are not sure how to do that, please follow the instructions provided below.
Questions about App Discovery Tools
Is it safe to keep search.yahoo.com as my search engine?
It is not recommended. Searches through search.yahoo.com usually still return results, but the operator sees every query, often stores it with an identifier for your browser and shows extra ads or paid links. Some hijacked results lead to fake downloads or scam pages.
You also did not choose it, which means something changed your settings without asking and may still be installed. Set your own search engine back, remove the extension or program that set search.yahoo.com, and check the browser's other settings, such as the start page and notification permissions, for further changes made at the same time.
Did search.yahoo.com come with a program I installed?
Most likely, yes. Search hijackers such as search.yahoo.com usually arrive with free software, where an extra offer is pre-ticked in the installer, or as an extension that promises something useful, such as file conversion, maps, recipes or streaming.
Look at Settings, Apps, Installed apps sorted by install date: whatever was installed just before the search engine changed is the main suspect. Uninstall it, then remove any extension you do not recognise. In future, choose the custom or advanced option in installers and untick extra offers, and install extensions only from the official store pages of publishers you know.
Why do my searches go to search.yahoo.com?
Because the browser's default search engine was changed to it. App Discovery Tools did that through an extension, a program or a browser policy, and as long as that source remains, the setting points to search.yahoo.com.
The page then passes your query to a real search provider, so the results look almost normal, with extra sponsored links on top. Changing the search engine back on its own does not last, because the source resets it. Remove the extension or program first, then the policies if any, then set your own search engine.
Is it safe to keep searching with search.yahoo.com?
We would not. Every query you type is logged by its operators and shared with their advertising partners, and the sponsored links at the top are chosen for payment, not relevance. Results that look like a download page or a support site may lead to scams.
The page will not damage Windows by itself, but there is no benefit in keeping it: the results come from another search engine anyway. Remove App Discovery Tools and use that search engine directly, by typing its address or choosing it in the browser settings.
Which browsers does App Discovery Tools affect?
We saw it in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. That does not mean the other browsers on your PC are safe: hijacker installers usually change every browser they find, and browser sync can carry an extension to other computers signed in to the same account.
Check the search engine, home page, new tab, extensions and policies in each browser you have, including ones you rarely open. Chrome and Edge profiles count separately, so switch to each profile and check it as well before you call the job done.
What does search.yahoo.com know about me?
It knows what you searched for while it was your search engine, when, from which IP address and with which browser, and usually which results you opened. Tracking cookies let it connect those searches into a profile. It does not see your saved passwords or files.
After removing App Discovery Tools, delete the cookies and site data for search.yahoo.com so the profile cannot be continued, and remove it from the browser's list of saved search engines. Signing out of important sites and back in also replaces session cookies.
The results look like Google or Bing. Is that real?
Partly. Many hijacker search pages pass your query to a real search engine and show its results, so the list looks familiar. What changes is the frame around it:
- extra sponsored links at the top
- the hijacker's own tracking
- sometimes a design that copies a known search engine
You can tell by the address bar. If it shows search.yahoo.com or another unfamiliar domain instead of the search engine you know, the results come through a middleman. Remove App Discovery Tools and search directly.
Would an ad blocker stop App Discovery Tools?
Not really. An ad blocker can hide some of the sponsored results on search.yahoo.com, but it does not change your search engine back or remove the extension that set it. Your searches would still pass through the hijacker's servers and be logged.
Some ad blockers include tracking filters that block parts of the redirect chain, which can break searches altogether. Remove App Discovery Tools with the plan above; an ad blocker is a reasonable extra afterwards, from the official store only and from a developer with a long track record.
I changed the search engine, but it switched back. Why?
The hijacker is still installed, and it rewrites the setting whenever the browser starts or the extension updates. Changing the setting is the last step, not the first. Find what controls it: the search settings page usually names the extension, and a greyed-out field means a policy.
Remove that source, restart the browser, then pick your search engine and delete the hijacker's entry from the list of saved search engines so it cannot be chosen by accident. Check again after a day, when extensions have had a chance to update.
Will Fortect remove App Discovery Tools?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For App Discovery Tools, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- How-To Geek: PUPs Explained: What is a "Potentially Unwanted Program"? (read October 6, 2026)
- TappDiscovery: PRIVACY PRACTICES (read October 6, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Malware (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)