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Search history suggestions appear in Private Browsing mode

Hello, I have noticed behavior in Firefox that seems inconsistent with my expectations of Private Browsing. When I open a Private Browsing window and begin typing in the … (read more)

Hello,

I have noticed behavior in Firefox that seems inconsistent with my expectations of Private Browsing.

When I open a Private Browsing window and begin typing in the address bar/search bar, Firefox still shows my previously searched queries as suggestions. I am not signed in to any Firefox account, Google account, or other search engine account, so these suggestions appear to be coming from Firefox's locally stored search history.

I understand that Private Browsing prevents new history from being saved. However, I expected Private Browsing to also prevent existing search history from being displayed while using a private window.

Currently, I can disable address bar suggestions entirely, but that removes them from normal browsing as well. What I would like is:

  • Search history suggestions available in normal browsing windows.
  • Search history suggestions hidden in Private Browsing windows.
  • Existing search history not exposed when using Private Browsing.

Is this current behavior intentional? If so, is there a setting, hidden preference, extension, or planned feature that allows Private Browsing windows to suppress history-based search suggestions while preserving them in regular browsing sessions?

For reference:

  • Firefox version: 151.0.2 (64-bit)
  • Operating system: Arch Linux

Thank you.

Open 2 60

Why is Google Search pinned to Firefox Suggest?

Google Search is pinned at the top of my Firefox Suggest list. (see the attached image) Google Search is NOT my default search engine. Where is this controlled/specified… (read more)

Google Search is pinned at the top of my Firefox Suggest list. (see the attached image)

Google Search is NOT my default search engine.

Where is this controlled/specified?

FF 145.0 Mint Linux/Cinnamon FF installed as system package not flatpack

Solved Archived 3 130

Remove the text suggestion on the webpage

Hello everyone, My question is simple, how i can remove the possibility to have the text suggestion when i need to type something that have something in memory (like the… (read more)

Hello everyone,

My question is simple, how i can remove the possibility to have the text suggestion when i need to type something that have something in memory (like the screenshot)

Thank for your help

Archived 2 90

Where is this URL "Suggestion" Coming From and How Do I Turn Them Off?

The topmost item shown in the URL bar and the entry just below above the words, Firefox Suggest is an irritant for me. Where is this coming from and how do I eliminate th… (read more)

The topmost item shown in the URL bar and the entry just below above the words, Firefox Suggest is an irritant for me. Where is this coming from and how do I eliminate this from the suggestions/autocomplete? I know it is NOT in my bookmarks and not in my browsing history.

Thanks for your help.

Solved Archived 5 190

Stop URL bar from displaying the search engine drop down

When I start typing in the URL bar a search engine drop down appears. I do not want that to happen because when I do the URL text moves. I have turned off every search se… (read more)

When I start typing in the URL bar a search engine drop down appears. I do not want that to happen because when I do the URL text moves. I have turned off every search setting that I could find on the settings page, as well as trying various settings in about config.

Archived 8 250

using firefox on windows 11 desk top, unwanted link to AP News appears below search bar

Using latest version of Mozilla Firefox on Windows 11 pc. Unwanted link to AP News appears below search bar. Tried clearing cache. Allowing suggestions is disabled. The l… (read more)

Using latest version of Mozilla Firefox on Windows 11 pc. Unwanted link to AP News appears below search bar. Tried clearing cache. Allowing suggestions is disabled. The link is not listed in Extensions. How do I get rid of it?

Archived 1 210

Regarding autocomplete as I type in the search bar...

Love Firefox by the way... So, autocomplete in the search bar is often helpful, don't get me wrong, but it redefines the delete/backspace key to be context-sensitive. N… (read more)

Love Firefox by the way... So, autocomplete in the search bar is often helpful, don't get me wrong, but it redefines the delete/backspace key to be context-sensitive. Now, sometimes it does what I expect and backs up one, erasing the character I just typed. However when autocomplete ghost text is present, that same key removes the ghost text only, leaving the character I'm intending to remove. This is enormously inconvenient as I now must watch to see what autocomplete is doing and adjust my behavior to comply. Were I designing I would not make the delete key dual purpose context sensitive, instead I would do both at the same time! Delete what I just typed and remove the ghost text. Safari started this, I complained and of course got no response. Subsequently I noticed the same behavior in Firefox. My suggestion, request, is that search delete key behavior not be decided for me. Either make this Safari behavior a settings option, by default is OK, so that I can choose, or (my preference) delete both ghost and previous character with a single keystroke! Best regards and keep up the good work. Dave

Solved 2 90

Firefox URL bar automatically populating odd websites?

I've come back to Firefox for the first time since Chrome launched! Manifest V3 basically killing Ad Blockers was the last straw. Anyway, I'm having an issue with Firefox… (read more)

I've come back to Firefox for the first time since Chrome launched! Manifest V3 basically killing Ad Blockers was the last straw.

Anyway, I'm having an issue with Firefox and I can't figure out why - when I type in the start of a URL, it's sometimes suggesting sites that I've never visited / don't have book marked etc.

For example, if I type in d it automatically puts in dotesports.com - I've never visited this site, it's not bookmarked etc so I don't understand why it's being populated instead of sites I do visit that begin with the letter d. Please see attached screenshot Firefox D.

I've tried fiddling with my search settings, but it's not made a difference. Please see the attached screenshot.

I've checked my extensions, but they're all pretty standard / well known ones and none of them would be altering the search bar like this. I've attached a screenshot of my extensions.

Additionally, when I start typing in gm (expecting it to autofill gmail.com) it never seems to do so, even though it's one of my most visited websites. It doesn't have this problem with other websites I frequently visit, only gmail - any idea why this is / how I can fix it?

Archived 3 100

Firefox search suggestions and new bookmarks disappearing

I'm on arch linux and sometimes my firefox search bar suggestions are just gone. When I type a web page that would be auto filled normally I don't get anything. This has … (read more)

I'm on arch linux and sometimes my firefox search bar suggestions are just gone. When I type a web page that would be auto filled normally I don't get anything. This has happened to me a few days ago for the first time but I was able to restore the functionality by completely wiping my install, reinstalling, creating a new profile, disabling sync, restoring the old profile, enabling sync again and a few other steps I really don't remember anymore. This issue also does not allow me to save pages to my bookmarks anymore, no matter what I try. I really don't want to do the steps I listed above every few days so I just wanted to ask, what could possibly be the reason for this.

Open 70

Cannot Disable “Ask ChatGPT” Text-Selection Popup — No Related Preferences in about:config

Hello, I am experiencing an unwanted UI behavior in Firefox. When I select text on any webpage, Firefox displays a floating “Ask ChatGPT” bubble above the selected text.… (read more)

Hello,

I am experiencing an unwanted UI behavior in Firefox. When I select text on any webpage, Firefox displays a floating “Ask ChatGPT” bubble above the selected text. This happens regardless of the site. I want to disable this feature, but Firefox provides no setting or preference to do so.

This is not caused by any extension. I verified this by checking about:addons, and I only have the following extensions installed:

DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials

Firefox Translations

Gibiru for Firefox

None of them inject any ChatGPT functionality.

I then opened about:config to disable the feature, but the usual preferences do not exist on my system. Keys such as:

ui.textSelectEnabled

browser.selection.menu.enabled

browser.ml.chat.enabled

browser.ml.chat.openai.enabled

browser.ml.enabled

are missing, and Firefox only shows the “add new preference” (+) icon. That means Firefox did not expose any toggles for this behavior.

I am including a screenshot showing the unwanted “Ask ChatGPT” popup that appears when selecting text.

I need instructions on how to permanently disable this text-selection popup, or confirmation on whether this is part of a controlled rollout or experiment that cannot be disabled on my version of Firefox.

Thank you.

Solved Archived 7 645

How do i remove these suggestions that pop up before I search?

When inserting text into the Firefox search bar, I am not able to dismiss the suggestions that pop up. I've tried disabling search suggestions (no luck). These are things… (read more)

When inserting text into the Firefox search bar, I am not able to dismiss the suggestions that pop up. I've tried disabling search suggestions (no luck).

These are things I don't want on my bar. Is there any way to remove them?

Solved Archived 1 100

Search Engines

Alternative search engines no longer appear when typing the stasrt of a search. Am able to set alternative search engine in settings but need to go back to settings if I… (read more)

Alternative search engines no longer appear when typing the stasrt of a search. Am able to set alternative search engine in settings but need to go back to settings if I want to use another one. This happened after a recent update - perhaps as much as a week ago.

Solved Archived 1 210

Suggestions cover up the Address Bar.

This started recently, maybe with a recent Firefox upgrade. Normally, when you start typing in the Address Bar of a Firefox Window, a dropdown list of suggestions appea… (read more)

This started recently, maybe with a recent Firefox upgrade.

Normally, when you start typing in the Address Bar of a Firefox Window, a dropdown list of suggestions appears. Very helpful.

However, NOW, the dropdown list covers up the Address Bar so I can't see what I'm typing. I can still type, and what I type goes properly into the Address Bar, only I cannot see it. (See attached screensnatch.)

Do I have a switch in the wrong position, or is this a bug?

--Gil

(I'm on 151.0.4 (aarch64), running under macOS Sequoia 15.7.3 on a MacBook Air M1, 2020.)

Solved 1 30

How to disable url bar expansion on focus?

Dear Community, the userChrome.css I used to use to disable the search bar expansion on focus no longer works (http://userchrome.wesleybranton.com/megabar). I disabled al… (read more)

Dear Community,

the userChrome.css I used to use to disable the search bar expansion on focus no longer works (http://userchrome.wesleybranton.com/megabar). I disabled all urlbar.search options in about:config. But Firefox still gives me suggestions when I start typing about (as in about:config).

toolkit.legacyUserProfileCustomizations.stylesheets is set to true. The userChrome.css is inside the chrome folder inside the profile directory. I'm on 140.3.1esr (64-bit).

How do I disable this for good?

Thanks in advance!

Archived 2 70