This is more a question about Windows rather than use of Firefox, so you would be better asking elsewhere, however someone may provide an answer. I tend not to use Windows much now, but I believe that shortcut WinKey + S may be applicable if One Note is in use, or there is some other customisation or application. As for Firefox searching abilities there are four main methods: # Home Page, by default that has a google search, <br/>you may of course choose one or many other home pages <br/> <br/> # Address bar <br/>(Where you type addresses and has reload arrow and bookmark star on the end by default) aka awesome bar, location bar, or URL bar. Again by default Google. It also has a lot of other search features, and can be modified on the fly, to display for instance only History results. #* [[Search your bookmarks, history and tabs with the Awesome Bar]] #*[[Search the web from the Address Bar]] # Search Bar <br/> This has a few choices but is customisable and many more are available if required, instead or in addition to the defaults. #* see also http://mycroft.mozdev.org/search-engines.html <br/>[[Search bar - Easily choose your favorite search engine]]<br/>https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/search-tools/ #Page Search, <br/>again several options, quick search, or full search with options. #* '''highlighted text (on a web page) <br/> may be entered as a websearch '''by right clicking, the searchbar's current selection is used for the search.