This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Hierdie gesprek is in die argief. Vra asseblief 'n nuwe vraag as jy hulp nodig het.

Firefox looking for URLs when searching in address bar

more options

Hello,

I recently switched over to Firefox from using Chrome.

The issue I'm having is that when I search in the address bar, if there is a '.' anywhere in the search terms, Firefox will try to look for a URL instead of just google searching like Chrome would.

In Chrome, if I type 'mongoose.js' into the address bar, it knows to search google instead of look for a URL.

In Firefox, if I type 'mongoose.js' into the address bar, it will search for a URL and give me a server not found page.

Things I've done: 1) Go to about:config and change 'browser.fixup.alternate.enabled' to false. 2) Go to about:config and made sure keyword.enabled is set to true.

I would really like to continue using Firefox instead of Chrome, but this is a convenience feature that is a necessity for me. I realize I can just add another search bar next to the address bar, but this should honestly just be a feature and I shouldn't have to add more clutter to my browser.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hello, I recently switched over to Firefox from using Chrome. The issue I'm having is that when I search in the address bar, if there is a '.' anywhere in the search terms, Firefox will try to look for a URL instead of just google searching like Chrome would. In Chrome, if I type 'mongoose.js' into the address bar, it knows to search google instead of look for a URL. In Firefox, if I type 'mongoose.js' into the address bar, it will search for a URL and give me a server not found page. Things I've done: 1) Go to about:config and change 'browser.fixup.alternate.enabled' to false. 2) Go to about:config and made sure keyword.enabled is set to true. I would really like to continue using Firefox instead of Chrome, but this is a convenience feature that is a necessity for me. I realize I can just add another search bar next to the address bar, but this should honestly just be a feature and I shouldn't have to add more clutter to my browser. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

All Replies (6)

more options

Unless there's a new workaround, I think you need to add a character that is illegal in a URL, for example:

  • 'mongoose.js (works at the beginning only)
  • "mongoose.js
  • mongoose.js"
more options

In addition to the above (a little nitpicking) :

You could just type  : mongoosejs

The correct URL to that site is :

https://mongoosejs.com/ .......

more options

McCoy said

In addition to the above (a little nitpicking) : You could just type  : mongoosejs The correct URL to that site is : https://mongoosejs.com/ .......

I could just type that, but it's beside the point that Firefox is still looking for URLs when it shouldn't be.

more options

It's not just Firefox who does this - other browsers show the same 'behavior'.

Instead of having to type an extra character, it would be easier and faster to leave a space in front or after the dot.

To use the 'moose.js' again : type moose .js or moose. js

(even though it is moosejs - still nitpicking, but you get the gist)

Edit : typo ....

Gewysig op deur McCoy

more options

McCoy said

It's not just Firefox who does this - other browsers show the same 'behavior'. Instead of having to type an extra character, it would be easier and faster to leave a space in front or after the dot. To use the 'moose.js' again : type moose .js or moose. js (even though it is moosejs - still nitpicking, but you get the gist) Edit : typo ....

Thats is not true, chrome does not do that at all.

more options

For what it's worth: this also works in recent versions:

  •  ?mongoose.js
  • mongoose.js?