We're calling on all EU-based Mozillians with iOS or iPadOS devices to help us monitor Apple’s new browser choice screens. Join the effort to hold Big Tech to account!

Avatar for Username

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

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

How do I change search engines if /searchreset doesn't work?

kirkpete
kirkpete
more options

I just upgraded to FF 23, and either that or some other upgrade changed my default search engine to Yahoo. I want to change it back to Google, which I think is the default. Another Support thread led me to https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/searchreset/, but that didn't work. I went into about:config and changed Yahoo to Google on several lines, but that did nothing. I tried to change searchreset.backup.keyword.URL and keyword.URL, but they would not change from the Yahoo setting.

Not only is my default stuck at Yahoo, but even if I click the down arrow in the search box, I can't select a different search engine manually. The drop-down shows me a list of search engines, but selecting one of them does nothing. Help?

I just upgraded to FF 23, and either that or some other upgrade changed my default search engine to Yahoo. I want to change it back to Google, which I think is the default. Another Support thread led me to https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/searchreset/, but that didn't work. I went into about:config and changed Yahoo to Google on several lines, but that did nothing. I tried to change searchreset.backup.keyword.URL and keyword.URL, but they would not change from the Yahoo setting. Not only is my default stuck at Yahoo, but even if I click the down arrow in the search box, I can't select a different search engine manually. The drop-down shows me a list of search engines, but selecting one of them does nothing. Help?

Chosen solution

hello kirkpete, please try this: go to firefox > help > troubleshooting information > profile folder - "show folder", then a new window will open up. in this window look out for a file named user.js (it might be used to overwrite your custom settings). in case it is present , delete or rename this file and restart firefox afterwards.

How to fix preferences that won't save

Read this answer in context 👍 4

All Replies (3)

philipp
philipp
  • Moderator
more options

Chosen Solution

hello kirkpete, please try this: go to firefox > help > troubleshooting information > profile folder - "show folder", then a new window will open up. in this window look out for a file named user.js (it might be used to overwrite your custom settings). in case it is present , delete or rename this file and restart firefox afterwards.

How to fix preferences that won't save

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Is the search bar on the Navigation Toolbar working properly?

Note that starting with Firefox 23 it will no longer be possible to specify the search engine for the location bar via the keyword.URL pref.
In Firefox 23+ the search engine used in the location bar is the search engine that is selected in the Search Bar.
You can consider to use a (one letter) keyword search for searching via the location bar.
You can set a keyword for an installed search engine via Manage Search Engines (click the search engines icon on the search bar).

Check the browser.search.defaultenginename pref on the about:config page and make sure that it is set to the default value Google.

  • browser.search.defaultenginename

Currently selected search engine:

  • browser.search.selectedEngine
rlcwallpapers
rlcwallpapers
more options

Here is what I did and worked for me: Firefox help Troubleshooting Information Click Reset Firefox

Now my search engine is Google..... As far as I know reseting did not affect any of my settings All my bookmarks are there. Try it