What Is trackid=sp-006? Remove It From Google Search

If ?trackid=sp-006 appears after every Google search, a custom search-provider URL, synced browser setting, or extension is usually adding it. It is a URL parameter, not a virus name. One copied link is usually harmless; repeated appearances after you delete the parameter point to a browser setting, sync problem, extension, or bundled adware that needs cleanup.

Why does trackid=sp-006 appear in Google searches?

The parameter usually appears because something is adding extra tracking data to a search URL. That “something” can be harmless, such as a copied link, but it can also be a browser setting or extension that rewrites searches before they reach Google. Google Chrome Help treats unwanted ads, changed search behavior, and suspicious extensions as browser cleanup symptoms, while browser reset is a recovery step when settings keep changing unexpectedly.¹²

• Copied or shared URL: the parameter appears once, only in one link, and does not return.
• Modified search provider: browser searches go through a custom URL template that appends trackid=sp-006.
• Suspicious extension: a search, coupon, download, PDF, or “helper” extension changes searches or injects redirects.
• Browser sync: the same unwanted extension or setting returns after signing in on a new computer.
• Adware or PUA bundle: a recently installed app restores the redirect after each cleanup.

Is trackid=sp-006 dangerous?

How to remove trackid=sp-006 redirects

For recurring unwanted redirects on Windows, use Gridinsoft Anti-Malware as the main malware and potentially unwanted app cleanup route. You do not need to hunt for files, registry keys, scheduled tasks, or startup entries before choosing this route. A one-off copied URL or a known search-provider setting can still be corrected in the browser without assuming an infection.

1. Download and install Gridinsoft Anti-Malware using the button below, then update its detection database.
2. Run a Full Scan, review the detections, and apply cleanup to the detected threats.
3. Restart Windows and repeat the search that originally added trackid=sp-006. If an unwanted setting or redirect remains, use the relevant optional checks below.

A scan cannot guarantee that every unwanted component is detected or prove that no compromise occurred. Browser preferences may still need restoring. If you entered account details on an unfamiliar page, handle password and session recovery separately; a local scan cannot recover an account.

Optional browser and app checks

Use these checks if symptoms remain after scanning, to restore your preferred settings, or if you choose manual troubleshooting. They are not an additional required cleanup sequence.

1. Remove suspicious extensions. In Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, disable extensions you do not recognize, especially search helpers, shopping/coupon add-ons, video downloaders, PDF converters, and “new tab” extensions. If you are unsure, compare them with our browser extension safety guide.
2. Restore the default search engine manually. Open browser settings and set Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, or your preferred provider directly. Delete custom search engines that contain trackid=sp-006, unfamiliar domains, or long redirect URLs.
3. Check homepage and new-tab settings. Remove unknown pages from the startup page, homepage, and new-tab controls.
4. Inspect browser shortcuts on Windows. Right-click the browser shortcut, open Properties, and check the Target field. It should end with the browser executable, not an extra URL after chrome.exe, msedge.exe, or firefox.exe.
5. Pause browser sync before resetting. If the parameter follows you to another device, turn off sync temporarily, remove the bad extension or search setting, then reset the browser. For Chrome, use the official reset flow rather than deleting random profile files.²
6. Uninstall recently added apps. Look for download managers, fake browser tools, media converters, free VPNs, cracked software installers, or apps installed around the same time the redirect started.
7. Scan for adware if it comes back. Recurring redirects, pop-ups, and self-opening tabs fit the same cleanup pattern as a PUA or browser hijacker. A full scan can catch bundled files, startup entries, and hidden restore components.

What if trackid=sp-006 keeps coming back?

If the redirect returns after the browser reset, the browser is probably being restored by another source. After the Full Scan and restart above, use only the persistence checks that match the remaining symptom. These manual checks are optional:

1. Check whether the same extension reappears after sign-in or sync.
2. Review installed Windows apps and remove anything unfamiliar from the same install date.
3. Open Task Manager and Startup Apps, then disable unknown browser helpers.
4. Check scheduled tasks only if the redirect returns after every reboot.
5. Keep sync paused while an unwanted setting is returning. Recheck with a Full Scan if symptoms recur, and avoid restoring the same unwanted extension or setting when you sign back in.

If your browser also opens tabs by itself, use the focused troubleshooting steps in our browser opens multiple tabs by itself guide after removing trackid=sp-006.

FAQ

References

1. Google Chrome Help. “Remove unwanted ads, pop-ups & malware – Computer.” Google, accessed June 7, 2026. https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/2765944
2. Google Chrome Help. “Reset Chrome settings to default.” Google, accessed June 7, 2026. https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/3296214
3. Microsoft Support. “Add, turn off, or remove extensions in Microsoft Edge.” Microsoft, accessed June 7, 2026. https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/edge/add-turn-off-or-remove-extensions-in-microsoft-edge