How do I get firefox to automatically go to the most likely search result when i type something in the address bar?
In previous versions of firefox, I could type something in to the address bar, and it would automatically go to to it, rather than go to a page of search results for whatever I typed. Basically it was the equivalent of google's I'm Feeling Lucky button, it would just go to the most likely search result, instead of displaying all search results.
For example, I could type "espn" and hit return, and it would automatically go to "espn.go.com". Or "craigslist" would automatically go to craigslist.org. Right now, if i type in "espn" it takes me to a page of search results for "espn, where i then have to manually select "espn.go.com". Basically it saves me from having to type out the whole url to get firefox to go there, i only have to type sort of a keyword for the url and it would do it.
To do that in previous versions, I had to modify the "about:config". I did it using this method found here: http://devilsworkshop.org/firefox-tweaks-address-bar-as-search-box-let-google-make-you-feel-lucky/
But in this newest version of Firefox that I just installed, I am no longer able to do this. How can I now do this with this current version of firefox? Thanks!
Chosen solution
A very long time ago, Firefox set the search URL of the address bar to be the default search engine of the search bar.
There is an extension to work around this, and it has a detailed Options page where one option is to select Google and the "Browse by name" search -- that doesn't always go to the top matching result like Lucky search, but does go when it's a well known popular site. See: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/keyword-search/
Does that work the way you want it to?
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Chosen Solution
A very long time ago, Firefox set the search URL of the address bar to be the default search engine of the search bar.
There is an extension to work around this, and it has a detailed Options page where one option is to select Google and the "Browse by name" search -- that doesn't always go to the top matching result like Lucky search, but does go when it's a well known popular site. See: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/keyword-search/
Does that work the way you want it to?
Thanks, that did the trick! My need for this is just a shortcut for getting to common known sites, so I can just type in essentially a keyword of where I want to go, instead of the entire url or even having to type ".com" at the end of something is annoying. So this fix works for me.
And when I do need to do a real search, where I do want to see search results, I just use the search box, and its right there next to the address bar anyway. For me, whats even the point of having the address bar do the same thing as the search box, and have them right there next to eachother?!
I've heard the search box might eventually go away, but it's complicated integrating all of its features into the address bar, so I suspect it will be with us for some time to come.