rv4fun, the functionality has been temporarily removed, and should be made available again (via the about:config setting) in the update due on March 10th.

Let's keep this request open until the "fix" is actually released. (I'll believe it when I see it.) I've spent several hours/days searching for a fix and coming up empty. I hate what's happening now every time I try to search with Firefox.

For more information, updates for this matter can be found here: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=2017049

So should I search for the latest beta version for windows 11 now?

rv4fun, if you switch to the beta version then you may get the home page search box back quicker. But if you later decide that you want to return to standard Firefox then this may take a bit of work? Plus beta has the potential for issues that may later get fixed / ironed out for the stable release?

You'll hve to decide whether you want to wait the expected ten or so days until the next standard release, or if getting the functionality back sooner is worth any potential future issues that may or may not occur?

Alternatively, are you aware that there is a stand alone search box that can be added to the toolbar area? You might want to instead consider temporarily enabling that for the next week or so, if you do not want to search from the address bar?

If that is of any interest, then see the section "Customize the overflow menu or the toolbar" in this article: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/customize-firefox-controls-buttons-and-toolbars