This is an intentional change. As part of a larger refactor of our search UI, we removed the non-default (and unsupported) non-handoff mode from the search input on New Tab. This is letting us clean up the surrounding code (which had deep tendrils into New Tab) so that the Search team can work on and eventually land in an inline search experience later this year which will replace the current handoff mode.

See https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1999334#c1 and https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1999334#c5 for more details.

It's better to use the search bar now -> Add the Search bar to your Firefox toolbar.

Hello

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1565830

This is an intentional change. As part of a larger refactor of our search UI, we removed the non-default (and unsupported) non-handoff mode from the search input on New Tab. This is letting us clean up the surrounding code (which had deep tendrils into New Tab) so that the Search team can work on and eventually land in an inline search experience later this year which will replace the current handoff mode. See https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1999334#c1 and https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1999334#c5 for more details. It's better to use the search bar now -> Add the Search bar to your Firefox toolbar.

NO, it isn't better! Before i could click the bar, hit enter, and be taken to google where i could chose my mail or maps or whatever i wanted from google. now i have to search a term, and if i go to AI it tells me about the random letter or word i typed first! You screwed up a good thing!

Mozilla will restore the removed handoffToAwesomebar preference in a future update, most likely in Firefox 149 (currently in Beta) or possibly in a Firefox 148 dot release. See https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=2017049#c19

It states Mozilla will revert to the previous ability to use a central search bar, but *when* ??? I am already on 148 and its still forcing me to go the address bar which I do not want

I have used Firefox for years but you are making it unusable !

According to https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=2017049#c12 (quote)We're going to see if we can get this reversion / revival of the pref into the next planned dot release after Firefox 148 hits the release channel.

Not sure when this will happen since the "firefox-beta Uplift Approval Request" is still pending.

Why programmers do these changes without a single consideration for its users is beyond me, its far from the first but why don't they think before doing these changes?

Just because *they* don't use something, it does not mean its not used by countless others

The people who answer questions here, for the most part, are other users volunteering their time (like me), not Mozilla employees or developers. When a Mozilla employee jumps into a discussion, you'll see the Mozilla Staff label next to their name.

If you wish, you can leave feedback for developers on the Mozilla Connect website. Click the Firefox Menu button in the toolbar, click Help and select Share ideas and feedback…. Alternatively, you can use this link. Your feedback is collected by a team that reads it and gathers data on the most common issues.

I'll close this thread.