Google’s idiot-proof guide shows Firefox users how to dump Yahoo search

Following yesterday’s report that Yahoo had stolen some of its search market share, Google today posted a guide showing Firefox users how they can easily switch back to Google Search. The whole process should take just a handful of clicks, which Google has broken down into just two steps.

Here is what Google is instructing Firefox users to do:

1. Click the magnifying glass icon on the left side of the search bar. Then select Change Search Settings
2. Select Google from the default search engine drop down menu. Close the dialog box and you’re all set.

This is not a secret, of course, as Firefox lets you change your default search engine very easily. This works on Windows, OS X, and Linux.

In addition to publishing a dedicated page just for Firefox users with Yahoo search as the default, Google has also sent out messages on Twitter and Google+, with a GIF that shows them exactly what to do, step-by-step:

This one's for all the Google Search-loving Firefox fans out there → http://t.co/c3C0D9SC8v pic.twitter.com/ocZAOWTrvf

— Google (@Google) January 21, 2015

The Google+ post isn’t quite so simple to embed, but you can view it here.

On November 19, Yahoo struck a five-year deal with Mozilla to become Firefox’s default search engine in the U.S., ending’s Google’s reign in that browser. On December 1, Firefox 34 was released with Yahoo as the default search engine in North America.

Given that not all Firefox users are yet on version 34, we suspect Google will be sharing this page multiple times as more and more users upgrade. Yahoo, meanwhile, is trying to get Chrome and IE users to “upgrade” to Firefox.

While Google’s market share crown isn’t at all under threat, it’s nonetheless interesting the company has gone out of its way to help Firefox users switch back from Yahoo. Search and ads are still its bread and butter, meaning any decline, however small, directly affects its bottom line. When you look at it from that angle, today’s guide really isn’t much of a surprise.