If you are not careful enough and download/install every software without looking, then there is a good chance you have already met Ask Toolbar. While downloading software you might give a software permission to add Ask toolbar as well. So installing Ask toolbar is not an issue at all, but removing it can be a little headache.
Ask.com will not only install the Ask Toolbar, but also other things that are difficult to get rid of. They will add an extension and change your search engine that will not be removed with the standard removal process.
Although, Ask.com do offer a removal software after being criticized so much, but still there is a chance that it might not be removed, so you need to know both manual and automatic methods.
Tip: While installing, try to read everything before clicking on “Next”, “OK” or “Install”. Ask toolbar is not the only software that can get in your system like this, uncheck any added software if you don’t need it. Furthermore, if there is an option of “Custom Installation” in any installer, select it, instead of going for the “Recommended”.
Remove Ask Toolbar using Removal Software
The process is quite simple, all you need to do is get the software and launch it to uninstall Ask toolbar and its other contents from your PC. You can click here to download the software and once downloaded just launch it and click on “Run” from the prompt.
Now, check every checkbox to delete Ask.com contents completely from your PC. After that, click on “Remove” and your PC will immediately restart and Ask.com content will be deleted completely. Before starting the process, make sure everything is saved so you won’t lose any data when the PC restarts.
Remove Ask Toolbar and its Content Manually
If the software didn’t work for any reason, then you can also delete the annoying toolbar manually.
To start with, you need to delete the Ask Toolbar from your PC just like you delete other programs.
Click on Start and from there click on “Control Panel”.
In the Control Panel, click on “Uninstall a program” and you will see all the programs installed in your PC.
Look for Ask Toolbar there and everything that has “Ask.com” next to it under the heading “Publisher”. Delete everything related to Ask.com by double clicking on it and following the uninstallation process.
Remove Ask.com Content From Your Browser
After Deleting Ask toolbar from your PC you need to get rid of it in your Browser as well. This is the main reason why it is so hated, even if you delete from your programs, it still lurks around in your browser.
Remove From Chrome
Click on the Menu located at the top right corner of the screen (it’s the three horizontal lines) and from there hover your mouse cursor over “More Tools”. From the Side menu that opens, click on “Extensions”.
In there, look for Ask.com extension and click on “Trash can” icon next to it. From the prompt, click on “Remove” to remove the extension.
Removing the Search extension should also remove Ask.com from default search engine.
Remove From Firefox
Click on Menu on the top right corner of the screen and from there click on “Add-ons”.
On the next page, click on “Extensions” located in the left menu and you should see all extensions installed in your browser.
Now, look for all the extensions that are related to “Ask.com” and click on “Remove”. When you will restart Firefox again the extension will be deleted.
Remove From Internet Explorer
Click on Tools located at the top right corner of the screen and from there click on “Manage Add-ons”.
There you will see all the Toolbars and Extensions, look for extensions that are related to Ask.com.
Click on each extension and from the below window, click on “Disable” and it will be disabled. Do same with all the extensions associated with Ask.com.
Clear Traces
Now, Ask toolbar and Search engine should be deleted completely, but there is still a chance that some bit of data might be left in the registry. So it is better to Run a good adware cleaner to get rid of everything related to Ask.com.
AdwCleaner is a good software for this purpose and should be able to detect all the data left behind by Ask toolbar. Just download the software and scan your PC, and when finished, delete the files which you would like to delete.
Do let us know about your experience with Ask Toolbar in the comments below.
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