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

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?

Following a recent Firefox update, 1.48.0 I think, the search box in the middle of the page no longer works, any attempt to type there ends up in the address bar. I have tried setting "browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.improvesearch.handoffToAwesomebar" to false and other suggested fixes on the internet but it made no difference. I am running Windows 11 Pro, fully updated. Hope you can help Regards Keith

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

Please help.

Regards, Victor

"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?"

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 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?

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?

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 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 recently updated to 147.0.1, and now it seems I can no longer access word/excel/powerpoint files for online editing. I have already tried clearing cookies, disabling adblockers, disabling tracking protection, running in a private window, all the way down to completely reinstalling Firefox 147 fresh. This has persisted for roughly a week, so it does not seem to be an issue with my own network connection, nor with Microsoft's services, nor my files specifically since I can edit the files online from my PC at work. The error message specifically reads:

We can't connect to the server at usc-excel.officeapps.live.com (or usc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com or usc-powerpoint.officeapps.live.com, respectively).

I could previously access these files to edit when I was still on Firefox 146, so I'm guessing it's something going on with 147. Has anyone encountered similar issues with Web Office apps, and perhaps found a resolution?