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.

Avatar for Username

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

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Can I disable the search-as-I-type in the find function of Firefox 4.0.1?

  • 5 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 8 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

bourgwick
bourgwick
more options

The search-as-I-type function in the new Firefox seems screwy. If I am searching for the word "invisible" within a webpage, it will first jump to any word beginning with "in" and highlight that word such that I have to then click the arrow back in the "find" window to add to the search term. As soon as I add one latter, it then jumps to the next "result" I have no interest in, then have to click back in the "find" field again. It makes searching for text REALLY aggravating. Is there a way to disable this?

The search-as-I-type function in the new Firefox seems screwy. If I am searching for the word "invisible" within a webpage, it will first jump to any word beginning with "in" and highlight that word such that I have to then click the arrow back in the "find" window to add to the search term. As soon as I add one latter, it then jumps to the next "result" I have no interest in, then have to click back in the "find" field again. It makes searching for text REALLY aggravating. Is there a way to disable this?

Modified by bourgwick

Chosen solution

Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).

If it does work in Safe-mode then disable all extensions and then try to find which is causing it by enabling one at a time until the problem reappears.

  • Use "Disable all add-ons" on the Safe mode start window to disable all extensions.
  • Close and restart Firefox after each change via "File > Exit" (Mac: "Firefox > Quit"; Linux: "File > Quit")
Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (5)

TonyE
TonyE
  • Moderator
more options
  1. In the Firefox menu select Preferences to open the preferences window
  2. Go to the Advance panel, then the General tab
  3. De-select the setting "Search for text when I start typing"
bourgwick
bourgwick Question owner
more options

Thanks for the quick reply.

The "Search for text" function was not previously selected in my preferences. Problem persists.

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Chosen Solution

Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).

If it does work in Safe-mode then disable all extensions and then try to find which is causing it by enabling one at a time until the problem reappears.

  • Use "Disable all add-ons" on the Safe mode start window to disable all extensions.
  • Close and restart Firefox after each change via "File > Exit" (Mac: "Firefox > Quit"; Linux: "File > Quit")
bourgwick
bourgwick Question owner
more options

Perfect. Thank you so much. Problem solved. Quickest/most pleasant tech problem resolution I think I've ever experienced.

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

You're welcome.

Can you tell us which extension caused it?