Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Search Engines resets (only sometimes)

  • 3 replies
  • 5 have this problem
  • 7 views
  • Last reply by cybermcm

more options

I want to add an additional search engine (StartPage SSL) and set it as default search engine. This works. Even after closing and reopening Firefox. Sometimes, not always! (1 or 2 days) later the search engine entry is gone and Amazon.com (first entry) is again the default search engine (all other settings are still in place). In my Firefox profile the entry in the searchplugins folder is still there. The entries in prefs.js are also there: user_pref("browser.search.defaultenginename", "Startpage (SSL)"); user_pref("browser.search.selectedEngine", "Startpage (SSL)");

Deleting the "search.json", "search-metadata.json" and "formhistory.sqlite" didn't help. Any clues?

Thx in advance!

I want to add an additional search engine (StartPage SSL) and set it as default search engine. This works. Even after closing and reopening Firefox. Sometimes, not always! (1 or 2 days) later the search engine entry is gone and Amazon.com (first entry) is again the default search engine (all other settings are still in place). In my Firefox profile the entry in the searchplugins folder is still there. The entries in prefs.js are also there: user_pref("browser.search.defaultenginename", "Startpage (SSL)"); user_pref("browser.search.selectedEngine", "Startpage (SSL)"); Deleting the "search.json", "search-metadata.json" and "formhistory.sqlite" didn't help. Any clues? Thx in advance!

Chosen solution

Hi again,

It seems that the extension "Add to Search Bar" causes the problem. The extension renames the search engine files to .undefined e.g. duckduckgo.xml to duckduckgo.xml.undefined.

After uninstalling the extension the search engines remain active like they should.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (3)

more options

If you do not keep changes after a restart or otherwise have problems with preferences, see:

If you use external cleanup software like CCleaner then check the settings for the Firefox application.

more options

Hi cor-el,

Thx for your answer but this didn't solve my problem. My preferences are saved but only sometimes the additional search engines disappear. All other settings are saved without problems. I'll try to disable some extensions to see if the problem is related to them.

more options

Chosen Solution

Hi again,

It seems that the extension "Add to Search Bar" causes the problem. The extension renames the search engine files to .undefined e.g. duckduckgo.xml to duckduckgo.xml.undefined.

After uninstalling the extension the search engines remain active like they should.