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Prevent FireFox from executing a search for "unknown" domains

  • 5 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 212 views
  • Last reply by fritzmg

Since one of the recent FireFox updates, the default action in the URL bar for "unknown" domains is always a search. As a web developer, this is extremely aggravating, since I can no longer type "foo.local" into the URL bar and confirm, in order to access http://foo.local/ (see also attached image). It will instead execute a search for "foo.local".

I have looked through the options of browser.urlbar in about:config, but so far I couldn't identify if any of these options would influence this new behaviour.

Since one of the recent FireFox updates, the default action in the URL bar for "unknown" domains is always a search. As a web developer, this is extremely aggravating, since I can no longer type "foo.local" into the URL bar and confirm, in order to access http://foo.local/ (see also attached image). It will instead execute a search for "foo.local". I have looked through the options of browser.urlbar in about:config, but so far I couldn't identify if any of these options would influence this new behaviour.
Attached screenshots

Chosen solution

Hi, I belive that it's fixed in version 78 (1, 2).

This pref for the "local" domain is browser.fixup.domainsuffixwhitelist.local = true.

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All Replies (5)


Modified by TyDraniu


Modified by TyDraniu

Chosen Solution

Hi, I belive that it's fixed in version 78 (1, 2).

This pref for the "local" domain is browser.fixup.domainsuffixwhitelist.local = true.

I see. I'll check again if it is fixed with the update tomorrow (assuming it will indeed be released tomorrow).

This is indeed (sort of) fixed in FireFox 78(.0.1). However, it is only fixed for the following domains by default:

  • .example
  • .internal
  • .invalid
  • .local
  • .localhost
  • .test

You can add more subdomains via the already mentioned config key

 browser.fixup.domainsuffixwhitelist.foobar = true


However, it would also be helpful to be able to disable this feature entirely.

Modified by fritzmg