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FF89 (Proton UI) - Web Search on New Tab Only Runs From Address Bar

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  • Last reply by lmacri

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Since upgrading to FF89 (the new Proton UI) I've noticed a change in behavior when I try to perform a web search from a New Tab. When I try to type a search string in the Google search bar on a New Tab, any character I type immediately appears in the address bar (see attached image) and search suggestions are shown in a drop down under the address bar.

With FF88 (the old Photon UI) I could type my entire search string into the Google search bar and then hit "Enter" to start the search.

Is this a bug in the way that searches are performed from a New Tab in the Proton UI or a deliberate design change? Is there some setting I can change to stop the Proton UI from running my searches from the address bar when I search from a New Tab?

An image of my New Windows and Tabs settings is also attached, and my default search engine at Settings | Search | Search | Default Search Engine is set to Google. Note that I live in Canada and the custom URL for my Home Page is set to Google Canada (https://www.google.ca/), but any searches that runs from the address bar defaults to Google.com (e.g., https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=<search string>).


Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v20H2 build 19042.985 * Firefox v89.0.0 * MS Edge v91.0.864.37 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2104.14 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.4.0.117-1.0.1308

Since upgrading to FF89 (the new Proton UI) I've noticed a change in behavior when I try to perform a web search from a New Tab. '''When I try to type a search string in the Google search bar on a New Tab, any character I type immediately appears in the address bar''' (see attached image) and search suggestions are shown in a drop down under the address bar. With FF88 (the old Photon UI) I could type my entire search string into the Google search bar and then hit "Enter" to start the search. Is this a bug in the way that searches are performed from a New Tab in the Proton UI or a deliberate design change? Is there some setting I can change to stop the Proton UI from running my searches from the address bar when I search from a New Tab? An image of my New Windows and Tabs settings is also attached, and my default search engine at Settings | Search | Search | '''Default Search Engine''' is set to '''Google'''. Note that I live in Canada and the custom URL for my Home Page is set to Google Canada (https://www.google.ca/), but any searches that runs from the address bar defaults to Google.com (e.g., https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=<''search string''>). -------- Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v20H2 build 19042.985 * Firefox v89.0.0 * MS Edge v91.0.864.37 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2104.14 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.4.0.117-1.0.1308
Attached screenshots

Chosen solution

You can turn it off by going to about:config and switching browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.improvesearch.handoffToAwesomebar to false.

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Chosen Solution

You can turn it off by going to about:config and switching browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.improvesearch.handoffToAwesomebar to false.

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TyDraniu said

You can turn it off by going to about:config and switching browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.improvesearch.handoffToAwesomebar to false.

Hi TyDraniu:

Thanks, that solved the problem.

Do you know if this advanced setting now has a default value of True in the new FF89 Proton UI, and is this a "regular" setting that can be changed from the Firefox interface (e.g., from Settings | Search) without going into about:config?


Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v20H2 build 19042.985 * Firefox v89.0.0 * MS Edge v91.0.864.37 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2104.14 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.4.0.117-1.0.1308