Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

How do I get back "old" search box

more options

Some months ago, when Firefox changed how the Search Box (Bar) worked, users could get back the old search box by going to about:config and changing the value of "browser.search.showOneOffButtons" to "false". Here is the link to that page which shows how to do it:-

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1060987

After upgrading to Firefox 43.0.4 the search box behavior has changed again and the above work around does not work any more. Whether the value is set to "true" or "false", nothing happens to the new search box. How can I get back the old search box.

Thank you

Some months ago, when Firefox changed how the Search Box (Bar) worked, users could get back the old search box by going to about:config and changing the value of "browser.search.showOneOffButtons" to "false". Here is the link to that page which shows how to do it:- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1060987 After upgrading to Firefox 43.0.4 the search box behavior has changed again and the above work around does not work any more. Whether the value is set to "true" or "false", nothing happens to the new search box. How can I get back the old search box. Thank you

All Replies (3)

more options

Hi Christine.

I have found Old search add-on, which should change the search behavior back to what you want. If not, Classic Theme Restorer seems to have the ability too.

more options

Hello Michal,

I was hoping to do it with no add on. I already have 7 of them! Could you direct me to a place where I can learn more about the Classic Theme, before I venture in to it?

Thank you Regards Christine

more options

IMO, the Classic Theme Restorer add-on is massive overkill if all you want to do is revert to the old Search Bar scheme; basically it is like going back 5 years to Firefox 4.0.

I recently noticed this new add-on that only has "Old search" and no other features. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/old-search1/ Very good rendition of the Search Bar scheme [IMO] that was in Firefox for many years. It uses the "new" Manage Search Engines ... tab rather than a free-standing small window as before, and the only thing that isn't apparent is how to move a search engine up or down to move it out of 'alpha-sort' order; "click'n'drag" the search engine to where you want it. The old small window had Move Up and Move Down buttons. And the Edit Keyword button is gone; I'm not sure if or how a Search Engine Keyword can be added or edited. Not a game-changer for me, as I have never used the Search Keyword feature in Firefox.