Unable to choose Google as search engine
I recently stared using Firefox (updated 68.0) on Mac OS 10.14.5. It defaulted to Bing as a search engine, but I prefer Google. However, when I go under Preferences to Search, the only search engines listed are Bing, Amazon, and Ebay. "Restore Default Search Engines" is grayed out. There does not seem to be a way to add a search engine o that box. I did click "Find more search engines . . . " but regular Google.com (as opposed to google.ru, etc) was not included in that list.
I did more noodling around and tried going to Google.com, clicking the three dots in the URL, and choosing "Add Search Engine." But "Add Search Engine" is not available at google.com. That suggests to me that it should already be on the list, but it isn't.
Can anyone suggest something I haven't tried?
Chosen solution
Hi kcatmull, could you try resetting your search engine settings by removing the settings file. Here's how:
Open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either
- "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help > Troubleshooting Information
- (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
- type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter/Return
In the first table on the page, on the Profile Folder row, click the "Show in Finder" button. If Finder highlights an icon with a semi-random name like a1b2c3d4.default, double-click it to display the contents of that profile folder.
Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox and Quit, either:
- "3-bar" menu button > Quit
- (menu bar) Firefox > Quit
Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup, then rename search.json.mozlz4 to something like searchOLD.json.mozlz4.
Start Firefox back up again. Are all of the built-in search engines listed on the Preferences page?
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ugh sorry, part of my question disappeared. It should have said
I did more noodling around and tried going to Google, clicking the three dots in the search bar, and choosing "Add Search Engine" but "Add Search Engine" was not available. Which suggests it should already be in the list but it's not. It's kind of maddening.
Check out https://mycroftproject.com/
Separate Security Issue: Update your Flash Player or remove it using these links; Uninstall Flash Player | Windows {web link} Uninstall Flash Player | Mac {web link}
Note: Windows users should download the ActiveX for Internet Explorer. and the plugin for Plugin-based browsers (like Firefox).
Note: Windows 8 and Windows 10 have built-in flash players and Adobe will cause a conflict. Install the plugin only. Not the ActiveX.
Flash Player Version 32.0.0.223
https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ Direct link scans current system and browser Note: Other software is offered in the download. <Windows Only>
https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/otherversions/ Step 1: Select Operating System Step 2: Select A Version (Firefox, Win IE . . . .) Note: Other software is offered in the download. <Windows Only> +++++++++++++++++++ See if there are updates for your graphics drivers https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/upgrade-graphics-drivers-use-hardware-acceleration
Modified by FredMcD
Yes, I noticed that Flash was installed as well. Will uninstall.
As for my actual problem, the mycroft link did not work, as apparently--and as I guessed in my question--Google is already installed. It just is no showing up in my list of choices.
Chosen Solution
Hi kcatmull, could you try resetting your search engine settings by removing the settings file. Here's how:
Open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either
- "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help > Troubleshooting Information
- (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
- type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter/Return
In the first table on the page, on the Profile Folder row, click the "Show in Finder" button. If Finder highlights an icon with a semi-random name like a1b2c3d4.default, double-click it to display the contents of that profile folder.
Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox and Quit, either:
- "3-bar" menu button > Quit
- (menu bar) Firefox > Quit
Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup, then rename search.json.mozlz4 to something like searchOLD.json.mozlz4.
Start Firefox back up again. Are all of the built-in search engines listed on the Preferences page?
yes! that solved it, thank you SO much!