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cannot add-on ask.com as a search engine

  • 4 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 8 views
  • Last reply by helen katz

helen katz
helen katz

when i click on ask.com to add the search engine to my list, i get a pop-up that says "sorry, you must use a mozilla based browser (such as firefox) to install a search plugin." and of course, i am using the latest version of firefox.

when i click on ask.com to add the search engine to my list, i get a pop-up that says "sorry, you must use a mozilla based browser (such as firefox) to install a search plugin." and of course, i am using the latest version of firefox.

Chosen solution

The way the site works, it checks certain browser capabilities. Here is a way to double-check.

Open the Web console by pressing Ctrl+Shift+k

Next to the caret (>), paste the following (it's all one long line) and press Enter: 

if(window.external && window.external.AddSearchProvider) alert("OK"); else alert("FAIL");

I'm guessing you'll get FAIL because that's how you get the "sorry..." message on the add-ons website.

(You can close the web console by pressing Ctrl+Shift+k again.)

I'm not aware of any built-in way to disable this function. I wonder whether one of your add-ons might be blocking it? Could you restart in Safe Mode and try adding it again?

Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

Click the Restart in Safe Mode button, not the Reset button.

More info on Safe Mode: Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode.

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All Replies (4)

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 10 Contributor

Are you trying to add it from here?

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/askcom/

helen katz
helen katz Question owner

no, that wasn't where i was trying to add it from, but that location gave me the same error message.

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 10 Contributor

Chosen Solution

The way the site works, it checks certain browser capabilities. Here is a way to double-check.

Open the Web console by pressing Ctrl+Shift+k

Next to the caret (>), paste the following (it's all one long line) and press Enter: 

if(window.external && window.external.AddSearchProvider) alert("OK"); else alert("FAIL");

I'm guessing you'll get FAIL because that's how you get the "sorry..." message on the add-ons website.

(You can close the web console by pressing Ctrl+Shift+k again.)

I'm not aware of any built-in way to disable this function. I wonder whether one of your add-ons might be blocking it? Could you restart in Safe Mode and try adding it again?

Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

Click the Restart in Safe Mode button, not the Reset button.

More info on Safe Mode: Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode.

helen katz
helen katz Question owner

i restarted in safe mode and was able to add ask.com. thanks!