Hi, this is what is going on : https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/search-web-address-bar

Copy/Paste : about:preferences#search into the Address Bar and then Enter Please make sure that you have clicked the radio button to Search from the Address Bar and you have a Search Provider selected.

Interesting : https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-search-from-address-bar

Now I think I have this right for version 52. Expect a update on Monday/Tuesday to 52.9. which may fix the issue if it is one. Thanks.

Hi Pkshadow Thanks for reply but this does not solve my problem.

When I type about:preferences#search into the Address Bar and then Enter I do not see any radio button

I have a search provider selected as google

Note: If your string has a DOT in it, the browser assumes it's a web address.

Hi vibhorag, did this just suddenly stop working recently?

Here's how it normally works (at least as of Firefox 60, but probably 52 was nearly the same):

• if you start typing, Firefox may show a matching site suggestion in the bar; if you press Enter at that point, Firefox will load that address

• if you start typing and there's no "autofill" match, then Firefox should display at the top of the drop-down what's going to happen when you press Enter:
  • for a query matching the pattern text.text -- Firefox will try to load it as a web address
  • for a query matching the pattern text text -- or having other characters illegal in a domain name -- Firefox will send it to your default search engine
  • for a query matching the pattern text -- Firefox will send it to your default search engine and the check whether it could be a valid local domain (e.g., intranet)

If Firefox never sends any of your address bar queries to search, could you check this setting:

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button promising to be careful or accepting the risk.

(2) In the search box above the list, type or paste keyw and pause while the list is filtered

(3) If the keyword.enabled preference is bolded and "modified" or "user set" to false, double-click it to restore the default value of true

If, in Step #3, you see the status "locked" then here's the next step:

Are you in a managed environment where an IT department might control settings on your Firefox? If not, please check in these locations (varies for 32-bit / 64-bit, you might have one or both):

C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\defaults\pref
C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\defaults\pref

Any files other than channel-prefs.js are suspicious. Remove them to a neutral location for further analysis at your leisure; but do not double-click any script files, as Windows may execute them as system scripts.

Hi jscher2000

I tried the steps you suggested. Here is some info you need. This stopped working recently. When I try to change keyword.enabled it does not change and shows status as locked. My IT department might control some of the settings

Well, I don't want to get you in trouble with your IT. Do you want to ask them why it is set this way (especially if you can search from the address bar in other browsers on your system).

If necessary, you also can add the old search bar to your toolbar: Search with the Firefox Address Bar.