How to Uninstall the Google Toolbar

The Google Toolbar adds some very useful functions to your Internet browser, including smarter searches, weather updates, newsfeeds and more. If, however, you tire of having so much information at your fingertips, it’s good to know that you can uninstall the toolbar just as easily as you installed it.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet connection
• Latest version of Internet Explorer or Firefox
• Google Toolbar
• Operating System: Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows ME or Windows 98

Uninstall the Toolbar in Internet Explorer

1. Click the Settings button on the Google Toolbar. Choose the Help option then select Uninstall. You will be directed to a feedback window.

2. Choose any of the listed options if they apply, and comment in the text box if you want. Note that you do not have to give any feedback—it is completely optional and you will still be able to uninstall the toolbar if you do not give feedback.

3. Click the Uninstall button to begin.

4. Close all Internet Explorer browser windows that are open to complete the process—the next time you open a browser window, the Google Toolbar will be gone.

Uninstall the Toolbar in Firefox

5. Click the Google icon at the left of the Google Toolbar and choose the Help option.

6. Select Uninstall. If you want to leave feedback about the toolbar, you can do so in the window that pops up (giving feedback is completely optional and you will still be able to uninstall the toolbar if you choose not to comment).

7. Click the Uninstall button then click OK to remove the Google Toolbar from your browser.

8. Close all Firefox browser windows to complete the process—the next time you open a browser window, the Google Toolbar will be gone.

Tips & Warnings

• If you’re uninstalling the Google Toolbar because it contains features for which you don’t have any use, note that the toolbar is highly customizable—you can remove any features and buttons you don’t use via the Options menu (access this through the Settings button).
• If you’re uninstalling it because you want a feature that it doesn’t have, check the custom buttons gallery to see if you can find what you need. Click the Custom Buttons button on your toolbar to be directed to the gallery.
• Note that you do not need to uninstall the Google Toolbar if a new version becomes available—the toolbar will take care of this for you, and download and install new versions of the program as they are released.
• You can always download the toolbar again if you decide you can’t live without all the functionality it adds to your Internet browser—just see the Resources section of this article for addresses where you can download it.