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How to switch the search engine bar to the old design, where I could switch between search engines instead of having to click them

  • 5 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by John99

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Hello, Sadly, I updated to Firefox 50.0 not realising a lot of my add-ons and apparently my search bar would be altered... The Add-Ons aside (seems to be "they're not signed" which I hope will be fixed at some point by itself), the search bar is really what grinds my gears.

I think I had this problem before and after weeks of trying, I could fix it, but for the life of me I don't know what to search for to fix it or what I did.

My problem is that I have many search engines, and I often STAY on one search engine and search for multiple things. I used to be able to click the default search engine button (which is a magnifying glass right now) and select the search engine I want to use AND CONTINUE TO USE UNTIL I CHANGE IT TO SOMETHING ELSE.

So the way before the update was: click the magnifying glass/google symbol -> select a search engine, e.g. Wikipedia -> enter something I want to search -> it shows results on wikipedia -> don't click anything but rather just enter something in the search again -> it searches on wikipedia.

Now it's this.. click on magnifying glass -> click wikipedia -> enter something -> it searches on google -> realize you have to click the wikipedia button AFTER entering things -> click wiki button now -> it searches on wiki -> enter something new -> it goes to google. -> get really angry and slam your head against the table -> click wikipedia button -> realize I clicked the wrong language wiki since I have 4 of them right next to each other -> hit enter again -> it goes to google -> quit.

So yes.. is there a way to put the search bar back to the old design, where there was a LIST of search engines instead of buttons, and it kept the search engine locked until you selected something new.

Hello, Sadly, I updated to Firefox 50.0 not realising a lot of my add-ons and apparently my search bar would be altered... The Add-Ons aside (seems to be "they're not signed" which I hope will be fixed at some point by itself), the search bar is really what grinds my gears. I think I had this problem before and after weeks of trying, I could fix it, but for the life of me I don't know what to search for to fix it or what I did. My problem is that I have many search engines, and I often STAY on one search engine and search for multiple things. I used to be able to click the default search engine button (which is a magnifying glass right now) and select the search engine I want to use AND CONTINUE TO USE UNTIL I CHANGE IT TO SOMETHING ELSE. So the way before the update was: click the magnifying glass/google symbol -> select a search engine, e.g. Wikipedia -> enter something I want to search -> it shows results on wikipedia -> don't click anything but rather just enter something in the search again -> it searches on wikipedia. Now it's this.. click on magnifying glass -> click wikipedia -> enter something -> it searches on google -> realize you have to click the wikipedia button AFTER entering things -> click wiki button now -> it searches on wiki -> enter something new -> it goes to google. -> get really angry and slam your head against the table -> click wikipedia button -> realize I clicked the wrong language wiki since I have 4 of them right next to each other -> hit enter again -> it goes to google -> quit. So yes.. is there a way to put the search bar back to the old design, where there was a LIST of search engines instead of buttons, and it kept the search engine locked until you selected something new.

Chosen solution

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Found what I want to have back on an apparently outdated wiki from Mozilla: http://kb.mozillazine.org/images/SearchBar.png This is what I want back...

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Chosen Solution

Hi   !
'Sure hope this is what you're looking for:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/classicthemerestorer/

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Happy112 said

Hi   !
'Sure hope this is what you're looking for:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/classicthemerestorer/

hm, that changes all the designs, after a bit of tweaking I got it to look normal while retaining the search function though. I had hoped this would be without an add-on, but this does help me with my problem, thanks!

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You were hoping for an  'easier'   fix;   I totally understand, believe me.
But hey, look on the bright side:   you got you're old search-bar-thingies back, and who knows:   this add-on might come sooo in handy in the future   !
Have a lovely day   !

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Maybe you are simply missing the fact that there is a little arrow next to the magnifying glass. Click that and the search engines are listed. Unfortunately they are as a grid of icons.

I am not sure if there are any easy hacks to change those icons. Happy112 has already pointed out Classic Theme Restorer.

There is a another useful addon Keyword Search. That does not do exactly what you want but it does allow you to set up multiple independent search engines for instance different search engines on the searchbar, address bar and home page: