Old style Search Bar - How do we get it back ?
Ever since the new style Search Bar came out I've been using ClassicThemeRestorer to get the old style back. Now with Firefox 57 that option is out. So my question is this : how do I go about performing multiple searches using one search engine, switch to another, perform more searches and so on, without having to change the default search engine in Settings each and every time?
P.S. : for reference : https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1099222
All Replies (6)
Hi, just start typing in the search box and select whichever provider you want to use in the drop-down
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Thank you for explaining how the search bar works, even though you were off-topic with this. Please read the question again carefully.
I'm having the same problem (was literally about to post the exact same question). I've been playing around with the settings and tried the about:config method but didn't make any headway. I don't think there is any way to get old search bar back without downgrading to an older version of Firefox. :(
Modified by Iamafish
It seems that either nobody else has this issue or nobody knows of any solution to this.
This newer style search bar just doesn't cut it. I thought I would maybe get used to it but there's no way that's going to happen. Therefore, I appeal to this wonderful community to please not neglect this small problem.
A possible solution to this would be an add-on that puts a button next to the search bar, a button which opens a drop-down menu to choose the default search engine. I have no idea how difficult this would be, but I don't think it would be a programming nightmare.
So .... I keep on hoping.
The old style Search Bar is gone, and there's no way to add it back to Firefox. Classic Theme Restorer is dead, but many "fixes" that were used in CTR can be accomplished via userChrome.css.
From the developer of the defunct CTR extension: https://github.com/Aris-t2/CustomCSSforFx
Alex said
It seems that either nobody else has this issue or nobody knows of any solution to this.
Long response follows. I created an orientation video for those who prefer demos: Firefox Old Search Bar vs. Restyled New Bar.
Let's distinguish the two aspects of the Firefox 34-57 search bar vs. the earlier one:
(1) Appearance: icon only vs. icon + name (2) Behavior: how you interact with the search engines
I can help you change #1, and I can explain how to work most efficiently with #2, but there's no convenient way to change #2. Here we go.
Using the Bar
Seeing your current default search engine
OLD BAR: icon in the search bar NEW BAR: listed at top of drop-down
To use the current default search engine, enter your query and press Enter or click the arrow. No need to click anything on the drop-down.
What if you want to send your search to a different site, first making that site your default search engine?
OLD BAR: click the new default site (or arrow down to it and press Enter) NEW BAR: right-click the new default site, Set As Default Search Engine (or Ctrl+arrow to cycle through them)
Then enter your query and press Enter or click the arrow.
What if you want to send your search to a different site WITHOUT making that site your default search engine (one-time search)?
OLD BAR: not possible NEW BAR: enter your query first, then click the button for the site (or arrow down to it and press Enter)
Bar Appearance
Many parts of Firefox's UI can be restyled using custom style rules. You can apply those rules by creating a userChrome.css file. Allow 10 minutes for this.
To generate custom style rules for the search bar
I have a style recipe generator here:
https://www.jeffersonscher.com/gm/search-bar-names.html
Using those rules in a userChrome.css file
I have a website with more information: https://www.userchrome.org/