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

how do i get firefox 11.0 to go to the website if I type in "amazon" in the location bar and do a google search for a phrase "words with spaces"?

  • 6 replies
  • 8 have this problem
  • 13 views
  • Paskiausią atsakymą parašė cor-el

more options

In previous firefox versions I have been able to adjust the about:config settings so that the location bar would first attempt to connect to a webpage (example: type in amazon and it took me to www.amazon.com) and if it could not load a webpage it performed a google search (example: type in a phrase with spaces "words with spaces" **I did not type in the quotations in the location bar, they are merely here to show the example phrase** and the location bar would give google search results as it could not locate a webpage. I know it is a simple adjustment but I cannot remember what it is. please help.

In previous firefox versions I have been able to adjust the about:config settings so that the location bar would first attempt to connect to a webpage (example: type in amazon and it took me to www.amazon.com) and if it could not load a webpage it performed a google search (example: type in a phrase with spaces "words with spaces" **I did not type in the quotations in the location bar, they are merely here to show the example phrase** and the location bar would give google search results as it could not locate a webpage. I know it is a simple adjustment but I cannot remember what it is. please help.

All Replies (6)

more options

I accomplish this by simply bookmarking the site, then setting a keyword.

1) Numbered list itemNavigate to the site you wish to use: ie http://www.amazon.com 2)Click the "Star" in the URLBar to bookmark the site. 3)Open your Booksmarks menu (Ctrl+B)

    • locate the site you recently bookmarked.

4)Right Click the bookmark & Select Properties. 5)Enter whatever you wish in the "KEYWORD" field.

    • Save changes.

Now any time you enter that "Keyword" in the URLBar it will open that site. You can do this for everysite, and even sites withing sites. ie: Bookmark Amazon Login Page, set keyword "Amazon Login"

Modified by iMarshmellow

more options

There is a way to set this up using the about:config page. That is what I am looking for. In the about:config mod you don't have to save keywords so it is less time consuming and more helpful for new sites also. the keyword solution is a good one, but less effective for me.

more options

Actually what used to happen is that Firefox would always do a "Browse by name" kind of search which Google usually interpreted as one-word = go to site and words with spaces = do a search (with some exceptions). This behavior was changed because we heard from users that it was unclear when they went to the site and when they searched.

You can go to about:config and change the keyword.URL pref to http://www.google.com/search?complete=0&ie=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&q= which should give you that behavior back.

Modified by Cheng Wang

more options

in the about:config page if I modify Keyword.url to http://www.google.com/search?complete=0&ie=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&q=

and switch keyword.enable to False then the address bar will go to websites by typing in the website in the search bar without the prefix or suffix - amazon instead of www.amazon.com.

the issue now is that if I try to use the location bar as the search bar, it says INVALID URL and does not perform a search.

in the older versions of firefox (after 3.0 which no longer searched and decided to go to a website or google search results) both could be accomplished.

I remember having to modify three items in about:config in the last version (10.) to be able to have the location bar to go to a website or perform a seach if it could not find a suitable website.

I remember that they were : Keyword.url (switched to the above http) keyword.enable switched to false and the third was one of the browser. settings - I can't remember which one though.

more options

How to have .com added automatically to an address bar keyword:

In address bar type, about:config.

In search bar type, Keyword.URL. Double click on result. Enter, .com. Click, OK.

Also: In search bar type, Browser.fixup. Double click on any entries that show, false. This will change them to, true.

Modified by PurrPurr

more options