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Firefox Android

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 24 views
  • Last reply by TyDraniu

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Why, when I click on a URL while using Firefox on my Android phone, is it always invoked in the address field via google.com? I get that Android is Google, but does anyone know a way to disable this totally unnecessary, and privacy-destroying, functionality?

Why, when I click on a URL while using Firefox on my Android phone, is it always invoked in the address field via google.com? I get that Android is Google, but does anyone know a way to disable this totally unnecessary, and privacy-destroying, functionality?

All Replies (4)

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Hi John

I am not sure what you mean by invoked in the address field via Google - when I select links, the pages open without going back to a Google page.

You can change the default search provider under the Search options in the Firefox for Android Settings menu.

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Hi Seburo,

The attached screen grab shows you what I mean. I tapped a hyperlink in an email and, as usual, it is executed via a google.com call rather than just loading the URL.

No other browser does this, either the OEM version loaded on my Huawei P30 Pro or Brave.

Cheers, John.


John Hampshire t: +61 2 9559 8662 m: +61 425 382 386 jhampshire@gmail.com

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Gmail always registers your in-mail urls and clicks. It can be hidden in different browsers, but it always goes through a google server.

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Please read this article. There's an addon, you can install in the Nightly version, or you can just switch to DuckDuckGo or anything else.