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Can't type in address bar

  • 5 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 11 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

ctdischner
ctdischner
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When I start typing in the address bar, I'm able to enter a single character before autocomplete kicks in, the entire address is auto-selected and entering the next character replaces the existing web address. Entering subsequents character plays out similarly. No issues with web-based search or entering content within webpages though...and checking just now, appears I have the same issue with typing in the search bar adjacent to the address bar.

Using FF 41.0 on Ubuntu 15.04

When I start typing in the address bar, I'm able to enter a single character before autocomplete kicks in, the entire address is auto-selected and entering the next character replaces the existing web address. Entering subsequents character plays out similarly. No issues with web-based search or entering content within webpages though...and checking just now, appears I have the same issue with typing in the search bar adjacent to the address bar. Using FF 41.0 on Ubuntu 15.04

All Replies (5)

cor-el
cor-el
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Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions (Firefox menu button/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.

  • Switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox menu button/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance
  • Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe Mode start window

Try the version from the official Mozilla server if you currently use a version from the repositories of your Linux distribution.

ctdischner
ctdischner Question owner
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should have mentioned, I'd tried in safe mode and I still have the issue.

no themes to speak of and only a handful of add-ons.

cor-el
cor-el
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All the text would normally only get selected if you press Ctrl+A or double-click the mouse button, accidentally or maybe a problem with the mouse.

Are you using a normal mouse or a touch pad?

If you use a touch pad then make sure not to activate any click events.

ctdischner
ctdischner Question owner
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I'm using a standard mouse and mousepad. The fact that it didn't happen elsewhere made me wonder if some configuration setting (about:config) would impact this.

cor-el
cor-el
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If it only happen in the location/address bar the you could try to toggle some browser.urlbar prefs to false, but you indicate that the search bar is affected as well

  • browser.urlbar.autocomplete.enabled
  • browser.urlbar.autoFill
  • browser.urlbar.autoFill.typed

Try the version from the official Mozilla server if you currently use a version from the repositories of your Linux distribution.

You can find the full version of the current Firefox release (42.0) in all languages and all operating systems here: