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Firefox cannot download search plugin.

  • 6 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 9 views
  • Last reply by Scribe

Doctoberfest
Doctoberfest
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Hello, I'm trying to add StartPage to Firefox so that I can use it as my default browser, but every time I try to add it, I get an error saying

"Firefox could not download the search plugin from: https://eu.startpage.com/en/opensearch.xml"

Any help would be appreciated, because I'm stumped. I've tried going to the addons page, using StartPage's instructions, and clicking the magnifying glass in the search bar.

Hello, I'm trying to add StartPage to Firefox so that I can use it as my default browser, but every time I try to add it, I get an error saying "Firefox could not download the search plugin from: https://eu.startpage.com/en/opensearch.xml" Any help would be appreciated, because I'm stumped. I've tried going to the addons page, using StartPage's instructions, and clicking the magnifying glass in the search bar.

All Replies (6)

Shadow110
Shadow110
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I am finding no trace of a eu.startpage.com only a http://startpage.com which is a search engine by the looks of it and it does have a button to press to install a plugin. As to if that plugin still works with ver 54 of Firefox I do not know. You will have to decide if that is the site and you want to click the button.

Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.

Doctoberfest
Doctoberfest Question owner
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When I go to startpage, it automatically redirects to eu.startpage.com, as that is one of their privacy settings; to use only EU servers, to avoid PRISM collection. I have tried pressing that button and it gives me the same error unfortunately, whether using US or EU servers.

Shadow110
Shadow110
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You could try a Free VPN to connect and try to install the plugin.

Alternatively not sure if is the same but there is a Firefox Extension here : https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/startpage-https-privacy-search/

Found a couple other addresses which are not the same as the other one.: https://www.startpage.com/eng/download-startpage-plugin.html https://classic.startpage.com/eng/download-startpage-plugin.html

Not sure what language I have here just going by your NIck 

https://www.ixquick.com/ned/download-ixquick-plugin.html which goes to StartPage.com

Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.

Modified by Shadow110

Doctoberfest
Doctoberfest Question owner
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Hmm. The Netherlands download worked, that's now added to my Firefox but all of the English links give me the same error "Firefox could not download the search plugin"

I will try to use a VPN, but all the VPN add-ons I tried to download freeze at "Verifying."

Doctoberfest
Doctoberfest Question owner
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Update; I went to https://eu.ixquick.com/eng instead (same search engine but under a different domain) and it works. Don't know why startpage.com didn't but whatever. None of those VPNs ever installed either, but it looks like I won't be needing them. Thanks!

Scribe
Scribe
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Hi, you don't need a plugin to use Startpage as your search engine on Firefox.

See - Add or remove a search engine in Firefox

If you want to set it as your home page - How to set the home page

Incidentally, you have an old version of Shockwave Flash - which can cause problems, so best to update it -

Install Flash Player - take care to deselect any optional offers!