Firefox Community Forum

Suddenly I cannot search from the search bar. It defaults to the address bar. why "fix" something that was not broken. Being forced to use the address bar is frustrating. If you go directly to the address bar, it tells you it cannot find that site.

How do I get searches (my default is Google) to STOP going to the address bar? This started out of the blue and it is making me crazy. I don't want to be asked which search to use, and I don't want it to search in the address bar. I want it in the search box. Thanks.

I am reopening the question from 2020 as the solution described no longer seems to apply. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1284577

I am running Windows 11. Firefox 144.0 (64-bit)

When entering search terms into the search bar in the centre of the page, the information typed appears in the address bar, even after following the fix described in 1284577.

Treating the address bar as the search bar appears to be the default. While the user can additionally deselect the search engine in the address bar, that is an unnecessary and undesired additional step for every search (the primary reason I am using Firefox)

Is there a way to permanently set the default for what I enter into the search bar to remain in the search bar and not to be managed by the address bar? Thanks, Rich

I can't seem to locate how to activate the microphone in the AI sidebar. I have Gemini selected, and when I hit the microphone to dictate I get the following message.. Unable to access the microphone. Please check settings.

I looked through Firefox settings and my laptop's but I don't see where it is turned off or asking for activation.'

Tom Z.

These icons appeared recently in my Firefox browser I can't remove them. The only recent changes included uninstalling SuperAntiSpyware after finding that Microsoft PC Manager is a better option, which has performed excellently without issues.

Additionally, a free VPN (Proton) was briefly used from the Firefox browser without installation, but after finding it complicated to set up, it was deleted. A few hours later, I noticed the two icons as the windows were misbehaving and they are causing a slowdown in the PC's performance. They do not seem to be add-ons or extensions.

How do I remove the icons and return to the previous performance?

Previous solution: switch browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.improvesearch.handoffToAwesomebar to false does not work anymore.

Please help.

Regards, Victor

How to make Firefox my default browser on my new computer a Windows 11 computer. I’m to the point where I’ve got a pop-up window, which says sync Firefox on your phone or tablet. I am asked toOpen Firefox on my mobile device. Then Go to the menu and tap sign in. That’s where I am. Now I’m asked to tap “ready to scan” and hold my phone over the code. Unfortunately, my Firefox app does not show a ready to scan option after I get to sign in. Help!!

"I’ve been having trouble with choppy YouTube videos in Firefox. It happens on both Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections. My system is running Windows 10, and I’ve already tried disabling hardware acceleration and clearing my browser cache. The issue persists even when I’m in Safe Mode. I’m using the latest version of Firefox (XX.XX). Any suggestions on how to fix this?"

I am having a problem with Firefox. Some websites do not load correctly and certain extensions do not work as expected.

I have already tried restarting Firefox and checking my internet connection, but the issue still happens.

Please advise how to fix this problem. Thank you.

How can I disable various Firefox usage hints? I've uploaded an example of one of these hints associated with the List all Tabs button. This hint pops up every time I start Firefox. There are other hints like the attached that appear from time to time.

This doesn't appear to be a bug. During a recent Firefox update, I believe I either checked a box to show me these hints or I failed to uncheck the appropriate box. I haven't figured out how to discontinue these hints (via Internet search, Firefox support search, or me poking around in Firefox settings).

I'm running desktop Firefox on Windows 11 Home, version 10.0.26200 build 26200.

Thanks.

A recent update (https://windowsreport.com/firefox-fixes-an-8-year-old-windows-bug-that-broke-virtual-desktop-use/) has broken behavior I previously depended on as part of my workflows: If I clicked a link in one desktop, it would open that link in the browser instance on the last desktop I'd used, so I could keep all my browser windows on one virtual desktop full-screened for easy viewing, then slide back to my other workspaces for messaging/writing/etc.

Now, apparently as a bug fix, every time I try to open a link on a desktop, it creates a new Firefox instance in that desktop instead of opening the link in the browser I have open on other workspaces. This has dramatically impacted how I work. How can I restore the previous behavior? It is so disruptive having new windows opening all the time instead of keeping them in my dedicated browser workspace. If there isn't a fix for this, I will need to move to a new browser.

I have spent hours with Tech department and digital assistand department at Directv. Today they are telling me as long as I use Firefox I will be unable to access my account. I have paid to have my computer checked out and was told that it was updated and the system was working fine. How to I get Directv to recognize my system?

I've used Firefox for 20 years through the various iterations of Windows, and have been using it trouble free on Windows 11 since November 2024. Two days ago, however, When I tried to open the Guardian site (www.theguardian.com) it would open very slowly and not load and of the pictures. This gradually got worse, the site taking for ever to open at all, and always with the little dot in the tab at the top left going from side to side showing it was still loading. I have tried everything I can think of. Opened in troubleshoot mode, changed DNS settings, uninstalled and reinstalled Firefox twice (one time to see if it would work normally if I didn't actually sign in to my account). All to no avail. In fact now things are worse, in that the GOV.Uk website is now giving me similar problems - and a few other sites have become slightly slow and reluctant to open as well. My internet connection seems fine, and all these sites open without any trouble on Microsoft Edge. I am NOT very good at tech, and I am now tearing my heair out as to what I can try next.

Any help wopuld be gratefully received!

Jim Luetchford

• OS Version: Microsoft Windows 10 Professional (x64) Version 22H2 (build 19045.6218) • Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6700T CPU @ 2.80GHz, Intel64 Family 6 Model 94 Stepping 3, CPU Count: 8 • Total Physical RAM: 16 GB • Graphics Card: Intel(R) HD Graphics 530, 1024 MB • Hard Drives: C: 476 GB (361 GB Free); D: 664 GB (483 GB Free); P: 267 GB (80 GB Free); S: 1862 GB (1687 GB Free); T: 1863 GB (1687 GB Free); • Motherboard: HP 829E, ver KBC Version 06.29, s/n PGAXV0QNNB7EO6 • System: HP, ver HPQOEM - 0, s/n 8CG8343NN9 • Antivirus: Windows Defender, Enabled and Updated

• Windows 10 Professional (x64) Version 22H2 (build 19045.6218) • Firefox 144.0.2 (64-bit) • Thunderbird 128.10.1esr (64-bit)

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Well, well, well. Latest Firefox update and what did you folks send along to take over my PC screen when I log-in? This: https://getadblock.com/en/update/latest/?f=f&version=6.31.1&u=68uu84zt49066849&bc=3072&rt=0

Clever, clever, clever aren't you folks?

1. I have NEVER downloaded "adblock" 2. "Adblock" cannot be found in the PROGRAMS listed on my PC, so no way to "uninstall" your uninvited, unwelcome, unneeded bit of buy-this-buy-this-buy-this angling. 3. "Adblock" cannot be found on a search of the registry. 3. What a pathetic approach, Firefoxers!

GET RID OF IT FROM SHOWING UP ON MY COMPUTER SCREEN WHEN I OPEN FIREFOX! NOW!

After being prompted to update the browser this morning, and after I updated it, I can no longer use ChatGPT. Chat GPT will open, but it's unresponsive, can't log in, the arrow button to submit an inquiry doesn't work, and none of the other features of ChatGPT are working

I have been having trouble with my Windows 11 laptop. In my efforts to resolve these issues I noticed that I now have two installs of Firefox in my Control Panel. Both installed during my time of dealing with my Windows issue. Five days apart Feb 5 and 10, 2026. Both show the same version number 147.0.3, and same size 322MB. I have used FF for many years so these seem to have been installed sometime during my efforts to repair Windows. My FF was never a part of the Windows issue AFAIK.

Anyway I have FF working as I like with my Session Manager and various AddOns and personal settings, so I do not want to have to start over with FF. So how do I choose which instance of FF to uninstall in Control Panel?

My issue with Windows was my Outlook would not connect to the server. I assume Microsoft Exchange server, my internet connectivity was fine. And FF was fne as well. I eventually was able to repair my M365 connectivity. Major PITA from out of nowhere.