The Ask Toolbar has been developed by the makers of the Ask Search engine to allow easier access to the search engine’s search functionality. The toolbar is infamous for its inclusion in freeware applications. Many users install a bundled version of the toolbar accidentally, especially if they do not pay attention to software installation dialogs that include the toolbar in the setup. The Ask Toolbar is usually selected for installation by default, which means that users need to disable it during the setup to avoid ending up with it.
When installed, the Ask Toolbar adds not only the toolbar to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer on the system but changes the home page setup in the browser and the default search provider as well. The homepage is set to the Ask search homepage, the search provider to Ask.
Installation of the Ask Toolbar can happen to anyone, even tech savvy users, as some application developers use deceptive techniques to make users install the toolbar.
Users who do not want to use the Ask Toolbar should consider uninstalling it. This is however a technical process that some users may have troubles with.
This guide explains three different methods that both lead to the uninstallation of the Ask Toolbar. The first is manual, the second uses a now-outdated tool called Ask Toolbar Remover and the third the popular Revo Uninstaller.
Uninstalling the Ask Toolbar Manually
A manual removal of the Ask Toolbar has the advantage that no third party software needs to be downloaded to uninstall it from the system. The process itself is not complicated at all, provided that the user knows how to uninstall software in Windows.
Close Internet Explorer and Firefox if either web browser is open. To access the built-in Windows program uninstaller users needs to click on the start orb and select control panel from the available options.
The click on Control Panel opens a list of tools and programs. Locate uninstall a program under Programs and open it with a left-click.
Please note that the terminology may be different if you are not running Windows 7.
Windows XP users need to follow the path Start menu > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs
Windows Vista users Start menu > Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a Program
Windows populates a list of all installed applications on the system. Locate the entry Ask Toolbar under the Name column. Right-click the entry and select uninstall from the menu.
Follow the uninstallation dialog. The Ask Toolbar is removed from Windows and should not appear in the uninstall a program window once the process has completed fully.
Please note that it is possible to remove the Ask Toolbar directly from the toolbar Options. Open Internet Explorer and locate the Ask Toolbar. Notice the little down arrow next to Options? Click on it and the following menu should appear.
Select Uninstall from the context menu and Yes when asked if you are sure that you want to uninstall the product. Close all browser windows when asked to and continue with the uninstallation from this point on.
Ask Toolbar Remover
Ask Toolbar Remover is a third party software that can be freely downloaded from the developer website. The free software supports the removal of Ask Toolbar 4.0, 4.1 and OEM 1000 series. Please note that it appears to be not compatible with the latest versions of the Ask Toolbar.
The portable program needs to be unpacked before it can be started. The interface displays three buttons, Execute Removal, Quit Program and About.
The program can be used if an older version of the Ask Toolbar is installed on the system but appears to do nothing for recent versions of the Ask Toolbar (even though it displays that the removal has been successful).
Troubleshooting the uninstallation
Sometimes the Ask Toolbar cannot be uninstalled because of errors that are displayed when trying to do so. The most common error message is that a browser window is still open. Users should close all browser windows before they start the removal of the Ask Toolbar from their Windows PC.
I suggest a free tool called Revo Uninstaller if the toolbar cannot be uninstalled via the Windows uninstall a program Control Panel applet. Just download the free version of the uninstaller from the developer website and start it. I recommend that you download the portable version of the program.
It displays a listing that looks fairly similar to the Windows uninstallation applet. Locate the Ask Toolbar in the listing and right-click the entry. Select Uninstall from the context menu and confirm the alert that you want to uninstall the Ask Jeeves Toolbar.
Keep the default uninstall mode (Moderate) and click Next. Another alert appears asking if you want to uninstall the product, click Yes once again.
Revo Uninstaller tries to uninstall the toolbar via its built-in uninstaller. This will fail again with the same error message. Revo Uninstaller will however scan the system for leftovers. It displays files and Registry entries of the Ask Toolbar in a listing. It is now up to the user to select those entries and delete them from the system.
This completes the removal of the Ask Toolbar from the system.
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I hope Ghacks could also published method to remove other toolbar such as Google Toolbar of Yahoo Toolbar (just to name a few)
Sure I can do that, even though the uninstallation itself is pretty similar in all regards.
these tool bars are really a headache
worst add ons any software can have is a tool bar :@
thanks you very much, good blog
Ccleaner has a list of all the programs on their tools tab, its very easy to select one and delete it.
Re. “The most common error message is that a browser window is still open. Users should close all browser windows before they start the removal of the Ask Toolbar from their Windows PC.”
I keep on getting the above message even though IE and Firefox are closed. The ask entry in add or remove programs seems to be crazy glued there.
I found Toolbar Uninstaller from Decomputer.
I keep it in my ‘Damage Control’ USB dongle.
I haven’t used it, yet, so I can’t say much about it
Thank you very much…the ask toolbar has been driving me crazy…gone now!
to remove the ask toolbar in google chrome
click on the wrench
select tools
select extensions
delete the toolbar
Good to know. Thanks!
click on the wrench
select tools
select extensions
(this presumes the Ask toolbar is visible. IT IS NOT. Nor does it appear in the Control Panel under programs.)
Thank you for publishing this! Ive been trying to get rid of that piece of crap toolbar for several weeks! I as much respect for Ask as I do Kim Jong Il :P
Thank you sooooo much!! ask sux, and I couldn’t get rid of it! thank you!
I have the Ask tool bar in my browser and it will not uninstall I have tried everything. Is there a tool I can down load to get it off my firefox browser?
Thank You
Please guys just update me with a vacancy
I found that neither the Ask toolbar remover nor the Revo uninstaller worked so still trying to find an answer. I have tried many other ideas so anything that works would be appreciated at my Kaspersky 2012 virus checker will not scan due to it. I have come across others with the same problem.
I downloaded the Revo Uninstaller but that doesn’t show Ask. It doesn’t show up anywhere. I have tried to find it under Revo, CCleaner and Windows uninstaller. It simply doesn’t show up anywhere and it is driving me NUTS! Everytime I open Google Chrome it brings me to the Ask page. Any other ideas?
I see that for us Chrome users, the directions (which I mentioned are not accurate) do not work. I am still waiting for a solution, Geeks! Ghacks!
thank u so much… :)
I have used the Control Panel uninstall and had pieces of the Ask toolbar remain.
(BTW Ask got installed despite my unchecking the proper boxes on a freeware’s installers!)
Then parts of Ask persisted after the use of T-Tools Antiseptic v1.1.2.0, which I generally like.
Finally this little utility got it all out, or at least I think it did: Toolbar Cleaner 1.0.1.42.
Ask.com has turned into to the “Cool” nightmare-junkware (remember all those obnoxious invaders?) of the 2010s. What we need is some expert developer to contribute a free user-friendly systems inoculation, something that blocks the Ask toolbar(s) from getting on board, no matter what.
Nice one. When I downloaded your virus/malware-ridden Toolbar Cleaner it crashed my computer. Folks, don’t trust this guy’s posts. I had to take my CPU to my guy to be recleaned thanks to “Toolbar cleaner”.
It’s caused no problems on my system and passed multiple scans before I ever used it.
re: “your…” – neither this nor any other software is mine. I’m not a software developer at all.
Okay, I was having this problem and it’s driving me nuts. I’m using Google Spreadsheet and all my tabs are pushed down the bottom, I can’t see them anymore.
Thanks for the Revo Uninstaller tip. I HATE toolbars with a passion. Not sure how ask got theirs onto my computer. But, thanks!