How to remove FlexibleOrigin (Mac)

What is FlexibleOrigin

FlexibleOrigin is a browser extension for Google Chrome that may get installed on a Mac after a user installs a free app, a pirated program, or opens a file downloaded from an untrustworthy site. It alters the default search engine on Chrome, and users end up getting their searches redirected to Yahoo. The browser may also become “managed by your organization” and not allow users to uninstall FlexibleOrigin. FlexibleOrigin is categorized as adware and has browser hijacker qualities. Once installed, FlexibleOrigin runs intrusive advertisement campaigns and promotes fake search engines through modifications to browser settings. It may also have data tracking abilities, which can lead to privacy issues. Adware like FlexibleOrigin can deliver various pop-ups, banners, surveys, coupons, and other intrusive ads, severely diminishing the browsing experience. To remove FlexibleOrigin from your Mac, you can follow manual removal instructions provided in various sources, or use an advanced anti-malware software for Mac.

How FlexibleOrigin infects Mac computers

FlexibleOrigin is often installed on a Mac without the user’s knowledge or consent, typically bundled with free apps, pirated programs, or files downloaded from untrustworthy sites. It has been observed being proliferated via fake Adobe Flash Player updates. To prevent FlexibleOrigin from infecting your Mac, avoid downloading unlicensed or pirated software, and only use apps from known and trusted sources. Be cautious about what and where you download, and avoid clicking banners and installing apps in a bundle.

1. Download FlexibleOrigin Removal Tool
2. Remove FlexibleOrigin from Login Items
3. Remove/Uninstall FlexibleOrigin from Applications
4. Remove FlexibleOrigin from browsers
5. Reset browser settings
6. Remove FlexibleOrigin files and folders
7. Block FlexibleOrigin ads and pop-ups
8. How to protect from threats, like FlexibleOrigin

Remove FlexibleOrigin manually for free

Note: FlexibleOrigin sets up to start on macOS startup. Therefore, before starting the removal, perform these steps:

1. Open System Preferences, choose Users & Groups.
2. Choose your account (set up as Current User).
3. Click Login Items tab.
4. Find “FlexibleOrigin” entry. Select it, and click the “-“ (minus) button to remove it.

Note 2: FlexibleOrigin won’t quit just by closing it, therefor use Force Quit to end the process.

1. Press 3 buttons at the same time: Option, Command, and Esc (Escape). This is similar to Control-Alt-Delete on a Windows PC.
2. Choose FlexibleOrigin in the list.
3. Click Force Quit button.

Here is a manual step-by-step tutorial for full FlexibleOrigin removal from your computer. This works 99% and was checked with the latest versions of FlexibleOrigin installer on operating systems with the latest updates and browser versions.

Remove FlexibleOrigin from Applications

Remove FlexibleOrigin from Mac:

1. In the Finder sidebar, click Applications.
2. FlexibleOrigin might have an Uninstaller. If you see Uninstall FlexibleOrigin or FlexibleOrigin Uninstaller, double-click it and follow the onscreen instructions.
3. Otherwise, drag FlexibleOrigin from the Applications folder to the Trash (located at the end of the Dock).
4. Then choose Finder > Empty Trash.

Cannot uninstall FlexibleOrigin

If you can’t uninstall FlexibleOrigin using instructions above, or it keeps coming back, you can use free AppCleaner for Mac to remove all residual data and libraries of FlexibleOrigin. Follow instructions below:

1. Download free AppCleaner.
2. Drag FlexibleOrigin from Applications folder to AppCleaner window.
3. Choose files and folders you want to remove along with FlexibleOrigin.
4. Click Delete button.

Remove FlexibleOrigin add-on from your browsers

Removing FlexibleOrigin from Applications often does not bring the desired effect. It is a browser extension, and it may still be active in Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Here are instructions on how to remove the FlexibleOrigin extension from your browsers manually.

Safari:

1. Start Safari on your Mac, click Safari to open drop-down menu and choose Preferences
2. Click Extensions tab.
3. Find FlexibleOrigin extension.
4. Click Uninstall button to remove it.

Google Chrome:

1. Start Google Chrome browser
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://extensions.
3. Find FlexibleOrigin extension.
4. Click the trash can icon to remove it.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:addons.
3. Choose FlexibleOrigin extension.
4. Click Disable or Remove button.

Reset browser settings

To finish FlexibleOrigin removal, reset your browser settings to make sure, there are no leftover items in browser folders.

Reset Safari:

1. Start Safari on your Mac, click Safari to open drop-down menu and choose Preferences
2. Go to the Privacy section of Safari’s preferences.
3. Click Remove All Website Data button.
4. In opened window click Remove Now button to remove data stored by websites in Safari.
5. Go to the Advanced section of Safari’s preferences.
6. Click the Show Develop menu in menu bar option.
7. In the menu click Develop and select Empty Caches from this menu.
8. Again, go to Safari menu and choose Clear History….
9. Choose to clear all history and click Clear History button.

Reset Google Chrome:

1. Start Google Chrome browser
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://settings.
3. Scroll down and find Show advanced settings link.
4. Click on it and scroll down to the bottom again.
5. Click Reset settings button and click Reset to confirm.

Reset Mozilla Firefox:

1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:support.
3. Click Refresh Firefox… button.
4. Click Refresh Firefox to confirm.

Remove following files and folders of FlexibleOrigin


~/Library/Application Support/.[random_string]/Services/com.FlexibleOrigin.service.app
~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.FlexibleOrigin.service.plist
/Library/Application Support/.[random_string]/System/com.FlexibleOrigin.system
/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.FlexibleOrigin.system.plist


Download AdGuard for Mac to block malicious pop-ups, that promote FlexibleOrigin

AdGuard is the best ad-blocker, internet filtering, and internet security application for macOS. It can cut out unwanted banners from site pages, block pop-ups, stop redirects, and prevent users from visiting potentially dangerous resources. Use it to stop ads promoting FlexibleOrigin in browsers.

How to protect Mac OSX from adware, like FlexibleOrigin

Mac OSX is known to be one of the safest operating systems, and for a long time, there was no need for antivirus products for Mac. But with the growing popularity of Mac computers and notebooks and evolving technology, viruses, trojans, adware, toolbars, hijackers, and other malware paved the way for Mac users. We recommend you to use one of the best anti-malware for Mac available — Malwarebytes for Mac.