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 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.

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

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?

"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 would like to remove the search options from the address bar because I preferred the old setup with a separate search window (and the address bar was just unable to perform searches). How can I set this up?

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

Please help.

Regards, Victor

Hi, Since the last update for Mozilla on the laptop (updated on 6/Oct/2025 - version 143.0.4 (64-bit)), all the shortcuts to websites in Firefox homepage I had pinned have disappeared. Also I can't add new shortcuts. I already have shortcuts enabled in Settings>Home>Firefox Home Content>Shortcuts.

Does anyone know how to solve this?

Kind regards.

Bárbara O.

I don't like to use the address bar to type searches. I like using the SEARCH BOX in Firefox's New Tab instead. But, with each update, I once again have to try to figure out how to set Firefox searches to be typed in the search box. Is there any way to set this so it doesn't get changed with every update?

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!!

When I try to make a Google search I get the following message, "I'm not a robot" with a reCAPTCHA: "Our systems have detected unusual traffic from your computer network. This page checks to see if it's really you sending the requests, and not a robot. Why did this happen?". This happens on Firefox, but not Chrome or Edge. If I 'Allow' Google in the 'Exceptions - Cookies and Site Data' then I do not get the message, but it takes several seconds for Google display the resulting page. However, if I delete the cookies/cache the message will return and I have to redo the reCAPTCHA. I have scanned with Malwarebytes, Bitdefender, Hitman Pro, Trend Micro House Call and Microsoft Defender, nothing detected. Running Win 10 (64) with 'Extended Security Updates', Firefox 147.0 (64), no additional Extensions or Plugins. Also I uninstalled and reinstalled Firefox.

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.

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.

OMG someone please help me...I have used Firefox forever as my work browser. I have saved passwords to client accounts for 3rd party sites, etc. It has EVERYTHING. I updated my Mac with the latest software install today and when I opened Firefox it didn't restore my tabs. I got stuck in a loop where it would not update to the current version of Firefox. I uninstalled Firefox and re-installed it and LOST EVERYTHING. I AM FREAKING OUT because all my bookmarks are lost and I don't even know what they are - I have tried to restore bookmarks and it goes back to 2022 and 2023 and when I restore nothing happens. ANYONE SOMEONE please tell me you know how to help me find my stuff otherwise I am cooked.

I opened Firefox this morning and all of my pinned shortcuts have disappeared. Shortcuts are enabled in the settings. I checked the browser.newtabpage.pinned pref on the about:config and all of my pinned shortcuts are still there, but they're not appearing on the actual page itself. Are there any other settings that I'm not aware of?