That’s a good question — Firefox doesn’t make it super obvious! 🔍

You can tweak this in about:config. Try this:

Type about:config in the address bar and hit Enter.

Accept the warning if it shows up.

Search for this setting:

browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.improvesearch.handoffToAwesomebar

Set it to false — this stops Firefox from automatically focusing on the address bar.

Now your search bar should keep focus on new tabs instead!

If that doesn’t fully do it, you can also check your toolbar settings — make sure the search bar is enabled and visible.

Hey wirkutskijkarl,

Thanks for the fast and thoughtful reply.

Those settings are already set. This is true on my Windows desktop, as well as on a MacBook. And it changes nothing.

Being fair, doing a search from the address bar with the pre-shipped choices that FF offers probably makes Mozilla a penny (or less!) per search, and I get it: the money is needed. I want to see FF stay around so I'll adapt.

Hello

https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/ideas/please-use-the-searchbox-but-not-the-address-bar-in-new-tabs/idi-p/4720

browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.improvesearch.handoffToAwesomebar, false, it works.

Private Browsing - Use Firefox without saving history. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/private-browsing-use-firefox-without-history

Under, about:privatebrowsing browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.improvesearch.handoffToAwesomebar, false, it doesn't work.

Under, Always use private browsing mode or to Never remember history. browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.improvesearch.handoffToAwesomebar, false, it works.

Extra Information. Add the Search bar to your Firefox toolbar. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/add-search-bar-firefox-toolbar

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1529798