Allow editing address bar URL/search query by default again instead of tapping on the edit/pencil icon first on Firefox for Android

[exploraz]

Like Chrome for Android does for a long time, since Firefox for Android version 157, tapping the address bar now starts with a blank search query/URL by default with the current URL action icons (share, copy, and edit) being present either at the bottom or at the top of the address bar depending on the address bar location. Now, I have to tap on the edit/pencil icon to edit the current page URL (e.g. to add parameters, or to fix typos, etc), which breaks my habit and adds an additional tap. If searching with a configured search engine (indicated by the address bar text presenting the search query instead of the page URL), editing the current search query does not even work (the current URL actions thing, including the edit icon does not show up), unlike Chrome Android where the edit icon shows and works properly to edit the current search query.

The edit icon also requires additional finger reach movement at the bottom (if the address bar is located there), and the current URL actions menu (which contains the edit icon) is not located at a fixed position depending if a URL exists in the current clipboard content, which triggers the "Fill link from clipboard" suggestion if present and moves those URL action icons to the top or bottom to accommodate for the insertion of that suggestion. The "Fill link from clipboard" suggestion is also "broken" (works as intended?) with the URL to paste not showing up in the suggestion, unlike past versions.

So, please add an option to edit the URL by default after tapping the address bar, or an option to bring the old behavior back without the current URL action icons thing.

Also, this change is not mentioned in the Android release notes as well, which (the Android release notes) are almost always incomplete compared to the desktop counterpart, so please also fix the Android release notes.

Otherwise, thanks for developing Firefox for Android.

[kelimuttu]

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[Frazorth]

I second this request, and also add that it breaks when editing a search. Perhaps a typo or an autocorrect gone wrong.

To reproduce:

In the bar type in a value and search.

Notice mistake and tap on the bar to edit

Search string is cleared. However since this isn't a page Firefox hides the ability to "edit url". You are completely stuck.

This doesn't feel like it was thought through.

[ludarp]

100% Also sometimes I'll want to keep looking at the page while editing the URL. This no longer seems possible 

[exploraz]

Yeah, just like I said in my main comment.

Fortunately, this can be "temporarily" disabled by turning off "Enable Focus Mode" in secret settings or  by setting the "Address Bar Focus mode" experiment to "control" (press Firefox Logo in "About Firefox" five times then check at the main settings page for both "Secret Settings" and "Nimbus Experiments" menu to appear), so please bring that option visible to ordinary users permanently.

[ExpressConfetti]

I don't mind the change how to edit an address, but not being able to change or amend a search term is downright user hostile.

[Stratic]

I am unable to edit the URL. The editing icon is not showing up 😞

It's a very bad idea and, in my case, it's not working at all !

[bringbackeditin]

Google Chrome removed editing the url on sight (a much loved feature) too, so it has to be a good decision.

[Frazorth]

Apologies @exploraz I may have misunderstood your original comment and thought there were additional cases where it was broken.

Turns out its only *all* usecases where it is broken except for "I want to edit the URL, but I don't want to edit it".

[jasonrosser]

Really bad UX. I almost never tap that bar to search, I tap new tab which is one click and ends up in the same one tap to search without losing my current pane. There's no quick way to edit the URL which is about the only time I interact with that bar today. The fact that the edit button is buggy right now may force me to another browser until improved.