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Since the last Firefox update (23.0), it doesn't behave as it used to when you search something from the address bar.

Before v23, it used the default search engine (Google, by default), but now it uses the engine that is selected in the search box (which has the side effect of making the search box redundant)

I don't like this behavior at all, is there a way to restore the old behavior?

n611x007
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Thomas Levesque
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  • The only way would be through a plug-in – Ramhound Aug 08 '13 at 15:47
  • I've used Firefox for years and I've never seen a Firefox version that use google by default. It always use the selected engine in the search box, and it's much more convenient because sometimes I need to search something other than on google – phuclv Sep 13 '13 at 05:37

3 Answers3

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There are several add-ons to augment the address bar search functionality.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/keywordurl-hack/ (I use this. Install it and change the keyword.URL property in about:config.)

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/keyword-search/ (This one looks a little more usable, and appears to address your problem specifically.)

MikeFHay
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A perfect plugin for you would be Firefox's InstantFox

kumarharsh
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You can go to about:config and then add a string named "keyword.URL" (case sensitive) and set the value to http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&btnI=1&q= which used to be the default in older firefox versions.

aldente
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