topic Re: [FF 149.0] can't delete search history with "Delete" button anymore in Discussions

[FF 149.0] can't delete search history with "Delete" button anymore

qwerty123z — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 18:19:27 GMT

Is this feature no longer supported and every search history now needs to be manually clicked on "Remove from history"?

Re: [FF 149.0] can't delete search history with "Delete" button anymore

hogh — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 03:11:14 GMT

This needs to come back. There was no good reason to remove it and the only current way to clear history is far more bothersome

Re: [FF 149.0] can't delete search history with "Delete" button anymore

prd2002 — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:39:50 GMT

Firefox is doomed. Stop using it.

Re: [FF 149.0] can't delete search history with "Delete" button anymore

Standard8 — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:35:10 GMT

If I've understood correctly, in the address bar and the separate search bar, you can highlight the entry and then press shift-delete. This was changed as it avoids some situations where delete could actually delete characters from your search query, rather than the entry.

If that doesn't help, please can you clarify (maybe a screenshot) of the exact location where this isn't available now?

Re: [FF 149.0] can't delete search history with "Delete" button anymore

VE3NWE — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:50:10 GMT

Hi,

As part of the same change, the ability to clear the entire search history has also been removed.

In previous versions of Firefox, to remove all of this history from the search bar, you could right click on the search bar and then click "Clear Search History" to delete all items, as shown in the image below.

In 149, this option is no longer available, as shown in the image below.

The over-complicated way to complete the same task now requires multiple steps, after having cleared what is currently in the search box. Right click on the search bar, place your cursor over a single previous search item, click on the 3 dots, and then click "Remove from history." This must be completed for each item within the search history, as shown in the image below.

As mentioned by @Standard8, now Shift+Delete on each individual item will delete them 1 at a time. That still, first, requires clicking the X to delete whatever is currently in your search bar, as Shift+Delete still only deleted single characters, then the down arrow, then Shift+Delete on each item. Oh, and then you still are left with whatever the last item you deleted was, even though it is no longer in your history. Now you have to click on the X to delete that or whatever way you wish to delete the text. Again, as shown in the images below.

Click X first:

This has already been removed from history, following Shift + Del:

Either option is far more complicated than it should be. It also does not make it accessibility friendly.

@prd2002, the trends indicate that you are correct. We are at about the same market usage as we were in 2004. There used to be passionate, skilled people driving it. I have been a Firefox user since version 1 and Netscape Navigator before that (for those who know the history), but this issue is the reason I finally created my account here. I used the "Clear Search History" button countless times throughout the day. Unfortunately, many unwanted changes continue to push Firefox users away, including those of us who helped spread Firefox in its infancy. Even through the painful update of 3.6 to 4.0 and onward. Until the changes start reflecting what the users want, this trend will continue. The average user will change browsers at the drop of a hat and those of us who converted countless people and schools to Firefox had stopped recommending it long ago. I've stayed mostly silent in the background for the 15 years of Firefox's decline. I think my departure from the browser I've used for over 20 years it is coming soon. I'm still searching for a new browser driven by the same passion that Firefox first developed from.

Re: [FF 149.0] can't delete search history with "Delete" button anymore

Standard8 — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:20:04 GMT

In previous versions of Firefox, to remove all of this history from the search bar, you could right click on the search bar and then click "Clear Search History" to delete all items, as shown in the image below.

In 149, this option is no longer available, as shown in the image below.

This was a mistake that we'd intended to fix before release, but unfortunately it was missed. It is going to be included in Firefox 150, which is due for release on Tuesday (21st April).

As mentioned by @Standard8, now Shift+Delete on each individual item will delete them 1 at a time. That still, first, requires clicking the X to delete whatever is currently in your search bar, as Shift+Delete still only deleted single characters, then the down arrow, then Shift+Delete on each item. Oh, and then you still are left with whatever the last item you deleted was, even though it is no longer in your history. Now you have to click on the X to delete that or whatever way you wish to delete the text. Again, as shown in the images below.

When I press shift-delete on an item, it automatically goes onto the next non-deleted item. So you can press shift-delete multiple times in a row without clearing the text.

If there's no more results, then the last text selected is still there (I'll file a bug for looking at changing that), however in the meantime, you may find it easier to press escape twice to clear the box, rather than needing to click the x.