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Address Bar Not Searching Properly

  • 3 replies
  • 29 have this problem
  • 11 views
  • Last reply by Helper7677

SirSimeon2003
SirSimeon2003
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This started occuring after updating to FF4.

Example -

Typing "yahoo email" into address bar took me right to yahoo's email sign-in page.

Now, after updating, typing "yahoo email" into address bar results in a regular google search, and I have to click on the yahoo email link.

Before 4.0, type "imdb" into address bar, and imdb.com opened right up.

Now, type "imdb" into address bar, and regular search instead, have to click on imdb link.

All precise keyword-specific searches that directly match a pre-existing url (IMDb for IMDb.com, Yahoo News for news.yahoo.com, Volokh for volokh.com, etc) no longer go directly to the site, but result in a regular google search with results, requiring that extra click on the link.

Glitch? Can this be fixed through about:config?

This started occuring after updating to FF4. Example - Typing "yahoo email" into address bar took me right to yahoo's email sign-in page. Now, after updating, typing "yahoo email" into address bar results in a regular google search, and I have to click on the yahoo email link. Before 4.0, type "imdb" into address bar, and imdb.com opened right up. Now, type "imdb" into address bar, and regular search instead, have to click on imdb link. All precise keyword-specific searches that directly match a pre-existing url (IMDb for IMDb.com, Yahoo News for news.yahoo.com, Volokh for volokh.com, etc) no longer go directly to the site, but result in a regular google search with results, requiring that extra click on the link. Glitch? Can this be fixed through about:config?

Chosen solution

There is a change in Firefox 4 in how Location bar search works.

  • In Firefox 3.6.x, Location bar search uses Google "Browse by name" search. With the browse by name search, it performs a Google search and
    • if there is a clear match it will take you to the site
    • otherwise it shows the Google search result page
  • Firefox 4's default is
    • to perform a Google search and present the Google search results page if you type something which is not recognized as a URL
    • you must type a complete URL, such as www.youtube.com , to go directly to the site
  • To get the Firefox 3.6.x behavior in Firefox 4. you need to change a hidden preference.
    1. Type about:config into the location bar and press the Enter key
    2. If you see a warning, zccept it (promise to be careful)
    3. A list of preferences will open
    4. Filter = keyword.URL
    5. Double-click on that preference in the lower pane
    6. A small window will appear; copy the line below and paste into the box in that small window (or type it into the box in that window exactly as shown below):
  • See:
Read this answer in context 👍 11

All Replies (3)

Helper7677
Helper7677
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Chosen Solution

There is a change in Firefox 4 in how Location bar search works.

  • In Firefox 3.6.x, Location bar search uses Google "Browse by name" search. With the browse by name search, it performs a Google search and
    • if there is a clear match it will take you to the site
    • otherwise it shows the Google search result page
  • Firefox 4's default is
    • to perform a Google search and present the Google search results page if you type something which is not recognized as a URL
    • you must type a complete URL, such as www.youtube.com , to go directly to the site
  • To get the Firefox 3.6.x behavior in Firefox 4. you need to change a hidden preference.
    1. Type about:config into the location bar and press the Enter key
    2. If you see a warning, zccept it (promise to be careful)
    3. A list of preferences will open
    4. Filter = keyword.URL
    5. Double-click on that preference in the lower pane
    6. A small window will appear; copy the line below and paste into the box in that small window (or type it into the box in that window exactly as shown below):
  • See:
SirSimeon2003
SirSimeon2003 Question owner
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Thank you very much!

Helper7677
Helper7677
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You are welcome.

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