Try to use the SearchReset extension to reset some preferences to the default values.

• https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/searchreset/

Note that the SearchReset extension only runs once and then uninstalls automatically, so it won't show on the "Firefox > Add-ons" page (about:addons).

You can also check if you still have the XML files of the default search engines including Google in the searchplugins folder in Firefox program folder.

If not then you need to reinstall Firefox.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Unable_to_search_or_add_new_engines

Thank you for your response. If the Search Bar no longer works or you can't add new search engines, the problem may be a corrupt "search.sqlite" file. [1]. Try the following solution:

   Exit Firefox and go to your Firefox profile folder.
   Delete (or rename) the file "search.sqlite".
   Re-start Firefox to see if it solves your problem. 

If the problem is not resolved, exit Firefox again, go back to your Firefox profile folder and delete (or rename) the file "formhistory.sqlite" (also delete "formhistory.sqlite-journal", "formhistory.sqlite.corrupt" and "formhistory.dat", if they exist). This may resolve the issue but will remove all Saved Form data from Firefox.

This fixed the problem, thank you

I got this problem today on Firefox 21.0 all of the above did not work

Cor-el: Could you PLEASE tell me what you are talking about when you respond with this help:

You can also check if you still have the XML files of the default search engines including Google in the search plugins folder in Firefox program folder.

What are XML files? How do I know what default search engines are? How might one know where the search plugins folder are? How might one know where the Firefox program folder is?

Had this problem this morning and it is now fixed.

1. Open Firefox Browser

2. Type about:config in location bar and press ENTER

A message will come up "This might void your warranty" Select, I'll be careful, I promise.

3. Search for configuration key, keyword.URL and highlight it

4. Right Click on the configuration key, keyword.URL and choose RESET from the shortcut menu.

Firefox automatically resets the value to:

http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&q=

5. If the RESET option is greyed out in the shortcut options, select NEW and type in the google search location

http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&q=

and press OK.

If you are not comfortable with having changed the default URL, you can now go back to the shortcut option and select RESET, which will do exactly the same thing.

Your Firefox Google Search function will now work again, and you are back in business searching using Firefox Google.

..... Easy Fix.

.... Enjoy.

Cheryl

If I was a conspiracy theorist, I would swear somebody at Mozilla doesn't want this problem fixed.

Been using the Firefox Google Search function for the last 3 hours, with no problems. As soon as I made the post above, 2 minutes later it no longer worked.

Mozilla had loaded some Add-On sites into my browser which now stopped it working.

Select from the Firefox Menu, Options (Underneath Add-Ons), sub menu Options.

The page should show the following options ticked:

Warn me when sites try to install add-ons Block Reported attack sites Block Reported Web Forgeries

Select the Exceptions TAB, and DELETE the default options Firefox have loaded in the browser.

Firefox Google Search should now work again, until the next time it is sabotaged.

Cheryl

Hi FirefoxGoogleFix, you were searching from the address bar (using the keyword service) and it suddenly stopped working?

Please disable ALL nonessential or unrecognized add-ons on these two tabs:

orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons > Plugins category
orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons > Extensions category

Then restart Firefox using one of the links provided for that purpose above a disabled extension.

This won't reset keyword.URL, but hopefully will stop whatever is changing it from doing it again.

Sorry,

Wasn't clear initially

Select from the Firefox Menu, Options (Underneath Add-Ons), sub menu Options, Security TAB.

Then Exceptions TAB.

Clear whatever default Add-On files are loaded under the Exceptions TAB and your Firefox Google Search Function will work again, if you have already done the keyword.URL fix

Thanks

Hi FirefoxGoogleFix, the list of sites allowed to install add-ons without asking permission should not affect whether you can use Google. I think there must be something else going on with your Firefox.

Note that the next Firefox 23 release will no longer use the keyword.URL pref, but will use the default search engine engine selected in the search bar.

If you do not keep changes after a restart or otherwise have problems with preferences, see:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Preferences_not_saved