Dogpile.com: what it is and how to remove it

Dogpile.com is a suspicious search engine that might hijack your web browser if you do not install freeware or shareware carefully. Due to its sneaky distribution method, ability to alter browser's settings and other nasty activities, this program is known as a browser hijacker.

Facts checked October 7, 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.

Automatic

Get a free scan and check if your PC is infected.

Fortect finds malware, unwanted programs and the Windows damage they leave behind, and repairs it in one pass.

If dogpile.com returns after you change the search engine back, a free scan can find the program that keeps setting it.

Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free.

Do it yourself · free Remove Dogpile.com yourself 5 steps, about 15 minutes, no software needed.

Start the steps
Dogpile.com: dogpile com browser hijacker
Dogpile.com as our 2017 report showed it.

Dogpile.com: summary

Detection namesNo Microsoft detection name is known
DistributionNot recorded in the old report
DamageNot recorded in the old report
NameDogpile.com
TypeFake search engine
SymptomsA changed search engine
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 5 more facts
Evidence6 write-ups by security sites; details still limited
Search pagedogpile.com
BrowsersChrome, Edge and Firefox
First seen5 October 2017
Facts checked7 October 2026

Is Dogpile.com dangerous? What it collects

From our report of Oct 2017 · not reviewed since

Dogpile search engine should not be trusted

Dogpile.com is a suspicious search engine that might hijack your web browser if you do not install freeware or shareware carefully.

Due to its sneaky distribution method, ability to alter browser's settings and other nasty activities, this program is known as a browser hijacker.

After the infiltration, the hijacker might change browser's homepage or/and the default search engine to dogpile.com or private.dogpile.com. Then, this program may change some part of your browser settings without your approval and then may start showing altered search results.

These results are typically filled with predetermined links, banners and pop-up ads that are displayed for one big reason - trying to redirect people to affiliate websites and then help them to increase their page rank or sales. However, there is one big problem with this Dogpile.com redirect issue. You can never know what kind of website is promoted with the help of such technique.

The research team from Croatia points out that Dogpile might redirect to really suspicious websites that may be used for spreading other questionable programs. Besides, you might also end up on phishing, tech support scam or infected websites. Therefore, using this program is not recommended.

Thus, if you have been using this search site during your browsing, you should stop doing that and remove Dogpile.com from the system.

Finally, Dogpile.com virus may try to collect data that is related to your browsing. Typically, such programs are interested in people's search terms, most visited websites and data that they enter when visiting them. Based on the aggregated information, this potentially unwanted program (PUP) might deliver targeted ads as well.

Besides, some of the aggregated information might also be shared with advertising networks and other third-parties. Therefore, you should hurry up with Dogpile.com removal to protect your privacy and browser from annoying ads attack.

Dogpile.com: dogpile com browser hijacker
Dogpile.com in our 2017 report.
Dogpile.com: dogpile com virus
Dogpile.com in our 2017 report.

Check your browser and PC

  • Address: dogpile.com

How to remove Dogpile.com

How to stop Dogpile.com from opening

The search page is only the end point.

These steps remove what sends the browser there, then put the search engine back.

  1. Step 1: Put the search engine back and delete dogpile.com

    Searches that pass through dogpile.com mean 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 dogpile.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 Settings with the Search engine and On startup sections
    Chrome on Windows 11: check Search engine and On startup.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine

  2. Step 2: Remove extensions you did not add

    Dogpile.com often works through an extension, so go through the extension list of each browser:

    • chrome://extensions
    • edge://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 menu with Extensions and Manage extensions highlighted
    Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension

  3. 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 Dogpile.com. 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

  4. 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 Settings page with the Reset settings section open
    Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine

  5. 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 Security Scan options with Microsoft Defender Antivirus offline scan selected
    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

Below you can find manual Dogpile.com elimination guidelines. Please follow them carefully.

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP

Remove the unwanted program:

  1. In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
  2. If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.Uninstall the unwanted program from Windows
Remove from Google Chrome

These guidelines will help you to wipe out browser hijacker from Google Chrome:

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. 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:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2
Remove from Microsoft Edge

After the hijack, follow these steps to fix Microsoft Edge:

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. 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.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. 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.Reset MS Edge
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Dobile Toolbar is repsonsibel for hijacking your browser. So, you have remove it together with other suspicious components.

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2
Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari
Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer

Uninstall Dogpile and other suspicious extensions. Then reset Internet Explorer.

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
  2. Select Reset.
  3. In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.Reset Internet Explorer

Protect your privacy - employ a VPN

There are several ways how to make your online time more private - you can access an incognito tab.

However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise.

Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.

No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool

If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers - human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence.

In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.

If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market - it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.

From our report of Oct 2017 · not reviewed since

Tips to avoid browser hijack

Security experts noticed that this PUP spreads as a Dogpile Toolbar which is added in the freeware or shareware packages.

Therefore, in order to avoid this search engine, you should try to keep an eye on the installation process of the freeware.

For that, we always recommend choosing custom or advanced installation process of the freeware. Also, find these check marks that say "I agree to make Dogpile.com my homepage" and untick them. Keep in mind that you should never agree to install unknown third-party programs in this way.

If it infiltrates a computer, it affects all web browsers that are installed there, including Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. After that, it may start displaying its pop-up ads that should make people visit specific sites and increase their sales.

From our report of Oct 2017 · not reviewed since

Important steps to take after Dogpile.com hijack

If Dogpile appeared on your computer, it means that you downloaded it in a bundle with freeware and shareware.

In most of the cases, it infiltrates systems in a bundle with pdf creators, download managers, and similar programs. Thus, you might need to get rid of these programs and the hijacker itself.

There are two ways how you can remove Dogpile.com from the system - manual and automatic. You will find detailed and illustrated information how to perform this task successfully.

However, automatic Dogpile.com removal is quicker and easier solution. Once you run a full system scan and let security program to eliminate malicious components, you just have to reset your web browsers and continue browsing the web without any problems.

Questions about Dogpile.com

How do I change my search engine back from dogpile.com?

Open the browser's search engine settings, choose the search engine you want and set it as default, then remove dogpile.com from the list.

If the option is greyed out or a note says it is controlled by an extension, remove that extension first and try again. If the browser says it is managed by your organization, a policy holds the setting, and the policy steps in this guide apply.

When the change will not stick, reset the browser: it restores the default search engine and start page and turns off extensions, but keeps bookmarks and saved passwords. Then check Installed apps for a program that may put dogpile.com back.

Did dogpile.com come with a program I installed?

Most likely, yes. Search hijackers such as dogpile.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 dogpile.com?

Because the browser's default search engine was changed to it. Dogpile.com did that through an extension, a program or a browser policy, and as long as that source remains, the setting points to dogpile.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 dogpile.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 Dogpile.com and use that search engine directly, by typing its address or choosing it in the browser settings.

Which browsers does Dogpile.com 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 dogpile.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 Dogpile.com, delete the cookies and site data for dogpile.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 dogpile.com or another unfamiliar domain instead of the search engine you know, the results come through a middleman. Remove Dogpile.com and search directly.

Would an ad blocker stop Dogpile.com?

Not really. An ad blocker can hide some of the sponsored results on dogpile.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 Dogpile.com 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.

Will resetting the browser remove Dogpile.com?

A reset disables extensions, restores the default search engine, start page and new tab, and clears temporary data and cookies. It keeps bookmarks, history and saved passwords. For many hijackers that is enough.

It does not remove a program installed in Windows, policies in the registry, changes to the hosts file or DNS, or edited shortcuts, so Dogpile.com can come back after a reset if one of those remains. Do the reset after removing the program and policies, not instead of it.

Will Fortect remove Dogpile.com?

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 Dogpile.com, 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

More removal guides

Remove Zippyshare virus

Zippyshare - a file sharing site which may cause some problems Zippyshare is a legitimate website that people use to upload files up to 500MB in size and share links.Browser HijackersMedium riskJake Doevan ·

Remove Nebula Search browser hijacker

Nebula Search - a potentially unwanted program that changes your browser settings to serve you sponsored content regularly Nebula Search is yet another browser hijacker that can be downloadedBrowser HijackersMedium riskGabriel E. Hall ·

Remove Is Wave Browser malware? What it is and how to remove it from Windows

Wave Browser (WaveBrowser, from Wavesor Software) is not a classic virus, but Malwarebytes detects it as a potentially unwanted program, PUP.Optional.Wave, and says some copies are installed without the user's...BHMedium riskUgnius Kiguolis ·

Remove Omni-search.net virus

Omni-search.net - a browser hijacker that aims at Chrome and Firefox users Omni-search.net is a domain that leads to BlaSearch. It’s a suspicious search engine that redirects searches to YahooBrowser HijackersHigh riskAlice Woods ·

Questions and experiences: Dogpile.com

Still seeing it, or found something we did not cover? Ask here: members and our editors answer. Reading is open; writing needs a free account.

0 comments

…

5,523 members already hereReading, writing, commenting and voting. 0 verified · 248 joined this year