FlixSearch: what it is and how to remove it

FlixSearch - the potentially unwanted program that categorizes as a fake search engine or browser hijacker because it manipulates preferences and settings to control the traffic.

The intruder can change the default search engine, start page, new tab settings, so each time the person tries to search for a particular thing online the search engine can redirect the traffic to sponsored sites or inject the list of results with advertisements, links to commercial pages.

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.

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Screenshot of FlixSearch: virus
FlixSearch as our 2020 report showed it.

FlixSearch: summary

DistributionFreeware installations can lead to PUP downloads because various developers create these software bundles and spread shady programs around the internet. You can also notice the browser hijacker on the system when other PUPs already run on the computer
DamagePotentially unwanted programs have the function that allows creators and third-party advertisers or sponsors to access, record, track, and misuse the information about users' activity online. This third-party involvement creates problems with privacy and exposure to possibly malicious content[2]
NameFlixSearch
TypeBrowser hijacker[1]/ Potentially unwanted program
IssuesThe application creates redirects to unwanted sites and advertising services, this program triggers pop-ups, banner, other browser windows to appear with promotional material and possibly dangerous content
Detection namesNo Microsoft detection name is known
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
SymptomsAn unknown program in Installed apps
Evidence4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited
ProgramFlixSearch
First seen21 September 2020
Facts checked7 October 2026

Is FlixSearch dangerous? What it collects

From our report of Sep 2020 · not reviewed since

FlixSearch is the search hijacker that creates issues with the browsing online when alters preferences

FlixSearch - the potentially unwanted program that categorizes as a fake search engine or browser hijacker because it manipulates preferences and settings to control the traffic.

The intruder can change the default search engine, start page, new tab settings, so each time the person tries to search for a particular thing online the search engine can redirect the traffic to sponsored sites or inject the list of results with advertisements, links to commercial pages.

This questionable program affects web browsers and redirects to possibly dangerous sites that promote other programs or services and can affect the system significantly. FlixSearch virus gets this name because it is extremely intrusive and annoying, even though it is not malicious or dangerous.

The program itself that causes these changes resides deep in system folders and can be persistent enough to create difficulty while the user tries to clear the machine. You should employ proper anti-malware tools and clean the machine fully. There is no reason to use this search engine as a normal service.

FlixSearch intruder closes your search tabs and gets to alter the default engine, sets other preferences to promotional pages, or its own site, so the new tab automatically goes to that page, and all the search queries go through the shady engine that injects the list of results with advertisements.

This program triggers various changes on the web browser directly but also manages to affect functions of the machine too. FlixSearch can appear on the system as a web browser extension that directly affects the performance of the infected device.

Experts often note that such intruders can trigger additional installs and inject other PUPs without your permission. If you give this program more time on the machine, you can suffer from those other infections and have a difficult time while trying to remove FlixSearch from your system.

In some cases, these programs trigger direct installation from promotional content, so the installation process is somewhat controlled by the user. However, during that time, there are many statements about shady FlixSearch activities in the future. Some of the warnings state about browsing history access, setting configurations, and other alterations that the rogue extension aims to do.

FlixSearch uses the extension and pop-ups, banners, other commercial content to deliver various advertisements on the screen, so the user is exposed to third-party material and possibly malicious sites that lead to issues with cyber infections or even direct malware download.

The browser hijacker can use various methods to ensure the persistent and further distribution, this is why it gets to a point where the FlixSearch removal becomes very difficult. You might try to eliminate web browser components and uninstall extensions, add-ons, change settings. This is not the best technique in such cases.

FlixSearch PUP is possibly related to other programs and browser hijackers, redirecting sites:

The best way to avoid additional damage created by this potentially unwanted program would be to get the system security program and run that on your machine, so the particular PUP that triggers all the redirects and pop-ups can be eliminated properly.

You should also remember that some issues get triggered in Windows Registry and other folders, so manage to fix virus damage by running that can repair parts of the device that FlixSearch alters.

  • 4KSportSearch;
  • SearchConverterz;
  • SearchZone;
  • Sealoid.
Screenshot of FlixSearch: virus
FlixSearch in our 2020 report.
Screenshot of FlixSearch: browsing hijacker
FlixSearch in our 2020 report.

From our report of Sep 2020 · not reviewed since

Browsing activities get affected by PUPs running in the background

Browser-based threats come to the system without any permissions or particular warnings, alerts about the installation process.

It is because PUPs mainly get distributed via freeware installation packages, otherwise called bundles. This technique is borrowed from marketing and allows a few products to get installed at the same time.

In most cases, these programs - PUPs get pre-bundled with freeware applications and installed automatically when the user selects recommended or quick options instead of Advanced or Custom installs. These later methods allow the person to control what gets installed and what is not.

From our report of Sep 2020 · not reviewed since

FlixSearch virus termination procedures require attention

To remove FlixSearch from the system, you should focus on the general system cleaning that allows you to eliminate all potential threats from the machine.

This intruder creates various issues with the system, so until those get fixed, redirects and pop-ups continue to keep you from accessing needed material.

It is possible to stop all the activities related to browsing functions and other experiences online, but you need to get proper tools like anti-malware programs and try to fix those issues by performing a FlixSearch removal. Running the full system scan that indicates possible danger can improve the performance of the machine.

If you terminate FlixSearch virus during the full scan of the machine, you can also eliminate all the possible threats, so the machine starts working smoother, without any interruptions. Also, you should note that the PUP triggers some damage to the system and affects the device significantly. Rely on PC repair tools when the programs terminated.

From our report of Sep 2020 · not reviewed since

More from our earlier report on FlixSearch

  • FlixSearch removal process should involve the anti-malware tools or system security applications that can check the machine fully for any intruders
  • The system gets affected, and various functions get altered or even damaged.
  • You should rely on PC repair tools like or similar optimization programs compatible with your device.
  • Such virus damage should get automatically fixed

How to remove FlixSearch

Remove the extension first.

The search settings only stay fixed once nothing on the PC can change them again.

  1. Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add

    In Chrome open chrome://extensions, in Edge edge://extensions, and in Firefox the menu > Extensions and themes.

    Remove every extension you do not remember adding, especially search, new tab, coupon, PDF, weather or video downloader add-ons. Check every browser and every profile, because each keeps its own list.

    If an extension has no Remove button or comes back, a browser policy holds it (see "Managed by your organization" in the procedure below). The pages are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

    Chrome menu with Extensions and Manage extensions highlighted
    Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension

  2. Step 2: Put the search engine back

    In Chrome open Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, make an engine you trust the default, and delete entries you did not add.

    In Edge type search engine into the search box at the top of Settings and open Manage search engines; in Firefox use Settings > Search. Then check the homepage and the new tab page in the same settings, because hijackers change all three.

    If the wrong engine is back after a restart, an extension, a program or a policy still sets it, so finish the other steps and check again. The settings are the same on 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

  3. Step 3: Uninstall FlixSearch

    FlixSearch is removed like any other program, from the list of installed apps. In Windows 11 that is Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and in both you can also use Control Panel > Programs and Features.

    Select FlixSearch, click Uninstall and follow the uninstaller to the end. Then look at the entries just above and below it when the list is sorted by date: bundled programs install at the same minute.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix

  4. Step 4: Reset the browser

    A reset removes what the steps above could miss:

    • changed start pages
    • site permissions
    • hidden settings

    In Chrome open Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; in Edge Settings > Reset settings; in Firefox Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.

    Tip: Bookmarks and saved passwords stay, while extensions are turned off and the search engine and start page return to the defaults.

    Reset every browser on the PC, including Edge, which Windows 11 and Windows 10 always have.

    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

    A scan finds the parts of FlixSearch that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.

    Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.

    It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.

    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

Get rid of the program from your system by following these steps

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

FlixSearch can inject various programs on the Chron browser besides the initial extension. Reset the browser to default

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

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)

Your device might bet affected more when you leave particular programs on the web browser or the system directly

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

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

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.

Questions about FlixSearch

What is FlixSearch and why is it on my PC?

FlixSearch is a program that was installed on the PC, most likely together with something else you downloaded. Free software sites and many installers add extra programs on setup pages with pre-ticked boxes, so the extra install looks like your choice even though nobody read the page.

Check the install date in Settings, Apps, Installed apps: the program you installed that day is the probable carrier. If you do not need FlixSearch, uninstall it. If it belongs to your hardware or to a program you use, search its exact name and publisher first, because drivers and their tools can have unfamiliar names.

FlixSearch will not uninstall. What can I do?

First restart the PC and try again, because the program may have been running and locked its own files. If the uninstaller is missing or fails, start Windows in Safe Mode, where most third-party programs do not start, and remove FlixSearch from Installed apps there.

If it still refuses, delete its startup entry and its scheduled task, restart, and try once more. A program that actively prevents removal is behaving like malware, so finish with a Microsoft Defender offline scan. Avoid third-party uninstallers offered on search ads; several of them are unwanted programs themselves.

Why can't I change my search engine back?

Because something keeps setting it. If an extension controls the search engine, Chrome and Edge show a note that an extension is controlling this setting, and your change is reverted. If a policy controls it, the field is greyed out and the browser shows Managed by your organization.

Remove the extension first, then the policies, and only then change the search engine; the change will stay. If it still reverts, look for a program in Installed apps or a scheduled task that reinstalls the extension.

What do I lose if I reset Chrome or Edge?

Less than you might think. A reset turns off all extensions, which you can turn back on one by one, restores the default search engine, home page, new tab and pinned tabs, and clears cookies, so you are signed out of most sites.

Bookmarks, history, saved passwords and autofill data stay. Firefox's equivalent, Refresh Firefox, keeps the same essentials but removes add-ons completely. Before you reset, make sure you know your main passwords or have them saved, since you will need to sign in again.

Is only one browser affected?

Often not. Programs that install hijackers tend to change every browser they find, and sync can carry the extension to other computers signed in to the same browser account. Check Chrome, Edge and Firefox, even the ones you rarely use, and look at the shortcut targets on the desktop and taskbar for each.

If you use sync, remove the extension while signed in so the removal syncs too. Also check the On startup setting and the new tab page, because hijackers change those as well as the search engine.

Is FlixSearch a virus?

Not in the strict sense: FlixSearch is unwanted software, classed here as a search hijacker extension, not a self-copying virus. Our report lists this damage: Potentially unwanted programs have the function that allows creators and third-party advertisers or sponsors to access, record, track, and misuse the information about users' activity online.

This third-party involvement creates problems with privacy and exposure to possibly malicious content[2]. Security programs often label such software as adware, a potentially unwanted program or a browser hijacker. It still needs removal, because it changes browser settings, shows ads and can lead you to unsafe pages.

How did FlixSearch get on my computer?

Our report lists the distribution as freeware installations can lead to PUP downloads because various developers create these software bundles and spread shady programs around the internet. You can also notice the browser hijacker on the system when other PUPs already run on the computer.

Software of this kind often comes bundled with free programs, fake updates or downloads from unofficial sites. It can also arrive through a browser extension or a notification you allowed on a spam page. Think back to what you installed or allowed just before the first ad or redirect appeared.

Will my antivirus detect FlixSearch?

Not always, because our check found no Microsoft Defender detection name for it. Our check found no Microsoft Defender detection name for it, so a scan may not name it. Update the security program first, then run a full scan instead of a quick one.

Also scan with a second on-demand scanner, because one program can miss what another finds. A clean scan does not prove the signs are gone, so check the browser extensions and installed programs by hand too.

Will Fortect remove FlixSearch?

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 FlixSearch, 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

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