We used to be able to use the search box at the upper part of the new tab page directly. Now it just puts our query into the URL field and does the search that way.
Not a problem EXCEPT when we try to search for something with dots in it, then we usually get error pages.
For example, When I try to search for: 'The.Last.Days.Of.Ptolemy.Grey. ' all I get is an error page saying, "Hmm. We’re having trouble finding that site."
NOW, when we want to do a search for something like ' The.Last.Days.Of.Ptolemy.Grey', we have to actually type in the search engine's name and go to their site to do the search. That sucks!
This wasn't a problem until a few updates ago; the search box acted like we'd expect a search box to work and show results in a normal fashion. Something changed and it makes the search box superfluous, a waste of space and pretty much a pain in the ass.
It's also a HUGE security risk. When I intend to search for a potentially malicious domain name, IP address, or URL, I absolutely DO NOT want to go to that destination; I just want search results to learn more about it. This handoff behavior bites me all the time, sending me to malicious sites instead of returning search results.
You may be able to disable this in about:config by setting browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.improvesearch.handoffToAwesomebar to false. I'm using an old version of Firefox (v90) so I don't know if that setting still works.
However! That option does not affect private windows, so my security is still at risk whenever I try to search for information about a malicious site in a private window.
These issues were previously raised and subsequently ignored in Bugzilla. It absolutely needs to be revisited.
Hi, this changed around the release of Firefox 89. There is a hidden setting to revert the behavior back to the old "separate bars" arrangement.
(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button accepting the risk.
More info on about:config:Configuration Editor for Firefox. Keep in mind that changes made through this back door aren't fully supported and aren't guaranteed to continue working in the future.
(2) In the search box in the page, type or paste handoff and pause while the list is filtered
(3) Double-click the browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.improvesearch.handoffToAwesomebar preference to switch the value from true to false
Typing in the search bar should stay in the search bar rather than go up top
I think Mozilla is the best browser except this stupid change they made nearly a year ago. So annoying if you want edit you search. I have no idea why you would do that. It so annoying that I am considering using another browser.
I assume you mean the search bar in the built-in Firefox Home / new tab page. Hopefully a more accessible control will be added for this, but currently, it remains a hidden setting:
(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button accepting the risk.
More info on about:config:Configuration Editor for Firefox. Please keep in mind that changes made through this back door aren't fully supported and aren't guaranteed to continue working in the future.
(2) In the search box in the page, type or paste handoff and pause while the list is filtered
(3) Double-click the browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.improvesearch.handoffToAwesomebar preference to switch the value from true to false
If you choose this option (Search box), you can type directly in the search box (it will not redirect you to the address bar), and you will be able to search in the search box with Bing and in the omnibox (address bar) with Google (or with any other search engine).
You can turn off the recent behavior of moving your cursor up to the address bar by changing an obscure setting. However, there is not a way to assign two different default search engines -- one for the address bar and one for the in-page search box -- at this time. I think that could be handy.
Regarding that setting I mentioned:
Here's how you can check on that:
(A) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button accepting the risk.
More info on about:config:Configuration Editor for Firefox. Please keep in mind that changes made through this back door aren't fully supported and aren't guaranteed to continue working in the future.
(B) In the search box in the page, type or paste handoff and pause while the list is filtered
(C) Double-click the browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.improvesearch.handoffToAwesomebar preference to switch the value from true to false
There is an obscure setting for this, but it's a good idea to make it more accessible.
Here's how you can check on that:
(A) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button accepting the risk.
More info on about:config:Configuration Editor for Firefox. Please keep in mind that changes made through this back door aren't fully supported and aren't guaranteed to continue working in the future.
(B) In the search box in the page, type or paste handoff and pause while the list is filtered
(C) Double-click the browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.improvesearch.handoffToAwesomebar preference to switch the value from true to false
Please undo the change that forced people to enter searches on the home page in the address bar instead of the search bar in the middle of the page. And address bar should be for the purpose of entering addresses only, (ab)using this as a search bar just doesn't make any sense!
As soon as you begin typing search text in the home page search bar it disappears and you have to squint and struggle to continue typing the rest of it in tiny text in the URL address bar! FYI, we're not all 20-somethings with perfect vision, you know. Please simply let text be visible in the main search bar-and at in 12 or 14 point font size. And please fix it THIS year. Thank you.
I still use the "search box" invented in early Firefox till this day. No worry of jump, yay~
To enable it in new computers, click on the hamburger button > Settings > Search > "Add search bar in toolbar". I also unticked "Show search suggestions in address bar results". So functionalities are cleanly separated. When I type in address bar, it only shows suggestions from history and opened tabs.
Expected behavior: Click "Search Tabs" and it would present a text box. Then, as you started typing, the list of **Currently Open Tabs** would hide all the non-matching tabs, thus allowing you to click on the tab you are looking for. Please note, this preserved the state of that tab as is (i.e. left it the heck alone, no reload, etc.) and the order of all tabs was also left alone.
Current buggy behavior: This now redirects to the address bar, which appears to be part of the problem. While it does show a list of url's matching your search, this appears to only be performing a history search and selecting an item causes the current tab to become **Overridden** (which is not okay!!). Of course this completely losses whatever state you had before, and because it's loading another tab from the same domain, might even cause your other tab (assuming you can find it again) to become corrupted, expire prematurely, etc.
When I go to a search page and type in the search topic the typing automatically goes into the URL window. On a computer that means the large text in the search window becomes tiny in the url window. Firefox is actually used on computers with 43" and larger screens. Many of us do not spend our lives squinting at little cell phone screens.
