Copying unicode symbols from Firefox address bar as is

Question

Let's say I open a webpage with some Unicode characters, say, Cyrillic, in the address like this:

http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Функциональная_закреплённость

When I try to copy it from the address bar somewhere else, it becomes unreadable rubbish:

http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A4%D1%83%D0%BD%D0%BA%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%8F_%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BF%D0%BB%D1%91%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8C

I guess this is for compatibility. However for readability I want to copy it straight away with proper Unicode characters.

What and how should I tweak to make that possible?

Edit: The answers are good, but they are hacky. Are there any settings in about:config?

From the multiple answers, the [easiest way](https://superuser.com/a/480697/89738) seems to be: *Copy only a fragment of the URL*, and more completely: *Don't select the whole URL in the address bar, either exclude one character, or add one (e.g. a space at the end). Then add/remove this character after the paste*. — mins, Jul 20 '18 at 07:40
related: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/18176661/copying-a-utf-8-url-from-browsers-address-bar-gives-only-the-ugly-encoded-one — Ciro Santilli OurBigBook.com, Feb 01 '20 at 01:23

int_ua · Answer 1 · 2022-10-08T15:02:35.150

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The setting was replaced with browser.urlbar.decodeURLsOnCopy in Firefox 53+. Set it to true.

For copying in Firefox on Android see https://android.stackexchange.com/q/224951/17612

edited Oct 08 '22 at 15:02

answered Oct 02 '17 at 09:52

int_ua

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It works only in url-bar, if I just copy link from web-page and past – I still get %-things. Does Firefox have addon like [Chrome's](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/copy-unicode-urls/fnbbfiapefhkicjhecnoepbijhanpkjp)? – Sutnôstj Feb 23 '19 at 12:45
@stegetsj I'm not aware of such extension, unfortunately. I don't think I'll use it but if you find one and post it as a separate answer I'll definitely upvote it. – int_ua May 13 '20 at 05:50

score 17 · Answer 2 · edited May 28 '14 at 04:52

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Try setting the network.standard-url.escape-utf8 option via about:config.

Possible values and their effects:

true - Escape UTF-8 URLs. (Default)
false - Do not escape UTF-8 URLs.

edited May 28 '14 at 04:52

sergtk

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answered Feb 24 '13 at 13:23

user201919

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Doesn't seem to be working anymore. I'm using FF28. The option is there but it gives no effect. – Adobe Jul 11 '14 at 12:20
For the record for future visitors, setting `network.standard-url.escape-utf8` to false does seem to work as of FF40. – Sundar R Aug 29 '15 at 19:50
This was the default on some version, but was changed because it breaks some websites: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=552273 – Ciro Santilli OurBigBook.com Oct 07 '15 at 04:58
Works fine in FF 45. – Aleksey K Mar 29 '16 at 22:02
Changing the setting doesn't do anything in FF 49. – Flimm Nov 14 '16 at 09:45
What's the difference between this setting, and the setting `network.standard-url.encode-utf8` – Flimm Nov 14 '16 at 09:46
Seems to partially work, not for all symbols. In this case enabling flag works for cyrillic symbols, but parentheses are still encoded: `https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Стеклоомыватель_%28автомобиль%29` – user3132194 Feb 06 '17 at 05:48
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The setting's name was changed, see [this answer](https://superuser.com/a/1255451/513819). – Donald Duck Dec 17 '17 at 19:57

score 15 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 28 '12 at 08:00

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Yes, browsers do that -- it's URL encoding and actually a quite useful thing.

I see two choices

Copy only a fragment of the URL, it will not be URL encoded.

Decode the URL encoding. In Unix, you can open a terminal, and type

echo -n -e "$(echo http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A4%D1%83%D0%BD%D0%BA%D1%86%D0%B8%DB0%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%8F_%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BF%D0%BB%D1%91%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8C | sed 's/+/ /g;s/%\(..\)/\\x\1/g;')"

answered Sep 28 '12 at 08:00

January

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This should be the default answer. – Jeanno Apr 20 '17 at 02:42
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Your idea regarding copying a part of the URL is extremely helpful! (especially because on my FF v50.0, the about:config setting did not change anything). Regarding the second option you wrote, Is there a command for Windows users too? – spaceman Jul 01 '17 at 09:33

m4573r · Answer 4 · 2012-09-28T08:13:39.783

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It's not rubbish, it's URL encoded. However here's the trick:
You can edit the URL in the address bar (by adding and then removing a character), and the copy-pasting should preserve the encoding.

edited Sep 28 '12 at 08:13

answered Sep 28 '12 at 08:07

m4573r

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Why the downvote? oO – m4573r Sep 28 '12 at 08:56
Interesting "trick". Seems to work in `Firefox` v.32, however unfortunately *not* in `Chromium` v.37 (~ `Google Chrome`). Or does it? – nutty about natty Sep 09 '14 at 13:28
@nuttyaboutnatty works for me in Chromium 76. – Ruslan Oct 15 '19 at 13:32

score 3 · Answer 5 · answered Oct 28 '17 at 07:48

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Use this key sequence to copy UTF-8 URL:

Ctrl-L, Home(or End), Space(or a letter/symbol), Backspace, Ctrl-L, Ctrl-C

answered Oct 28 '17 at 07:48

julthep

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Also works for Chrome. – Vlastimil Ovčáčík Oct 28 '17 at 08:42

score 2 · Answer 6 · answered Sep 17 '18 at 17:12

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firefox quantum 62.0

about:config

browser.urlbar.decodeURLsOnCopy: true

answered Sep 17 '18 at 17:12

illucent

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score 2 · Answer 7 · answered Sep 28 '12 at 18:16

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Copy the URL from the address bar
Paste it here.
Press the Decode button.
Copy the decoded URL and use it elsewhere.

answered Sep 28 '12 at 18:16

Karan

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Too complex to just copy the URL by Ctrl+L, Ctrl+C without touching the pointing device. – Aleksey F. Sep 09 '16 at 07:06

Copying unicode symbols from Firefox address bar as is

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