I was ready to start a new thread about this annoying feature but I'm glad I was able to find a solution here, this one presented by jscher2000 helped me which I'm grateful for. I don't know why Mozilla added that useless and annoying option, right next to disabling backspace as default option to return to previous page. Wasted about 2 hours trying to find a solution for both options.

Quote: right next to disabling backspace as default option to return to previous page

You can set browser.backspace_action = 0 on the about:config page to enable the history backspace action.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/keyboard-shortcuts-perform-firefox-tasks-quickly

See also Changed in the Firefox 87 release notes.

• https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/87.0/releasenotes/

To prevent user data loss when filling out forms, we’ve disabled the Backspace key as a navigation shortcut for the back navigation button. To re-enable the Backspace keyboard shortcut, you can change the about:config preference browser.backspace_action to 0.

You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. You can click the button to "Accept the Risk and Continue".

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/about-config-editor-firefox

In answer to why I don't want to use the address bar?

Because I use Firefox as my home page and I have an "in page" search area that Mozilla was gracious enough to give us. I have used this for years and I love my setup and so much is changing I just don't want to lose my homepage setup too. edited only to shorten lines so the hopefully scroll bar would go away.

(note that scrollbars appear if you start a line with a space as this creates a PRE tag - c)

While I am grateful for all of the above comments can I take us back to one simple fact -

There is a tick box in Settings, General, where you can select from "Choose what content you want on your Firefox Home screen", that clearly states "Web Browser". Obviously, this makes the malfunction a cock-up by Firefox.

Similarly, with the "Bookmarks", why remove the ability "save this bookmark" (or whatever it said).

In this world of global communications is there any way to actualy talk to Firefox & get this glitches repaires?

Similarly, with the "Bookmarks", why remove the ability "save this bookmark" (or whatever it said).

Where was it removed from? To bookmark the current page/tab you can:

• click the star icon in the address bar
• right-click a blank area of the page > click the star icon on the context menu
• right-click the page's tab on the tabs bar > Bookmark Tab
• press the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+D, or on Mac, Command+D)

Doesn't anybody in the design shop understand that if it ain't broke don't fix it? It's bad enough to deal with every piece of software out there from Word to Photoshop version updates where the same stuff is constantly under a new name or changes how the old stuff works.

If you want to add OPTIONS to Firefox add options, don't screw up a good thing just because some coders are bored and think they know better than the users. Give us consistency, and for god's sake, if you change something make it easy to revert that detail.

So frustrating.

Oh, BTW, I can easily magnify the search window in the middle of the page but not the address bar. Did the 20 year-olds with perfect eyesight ever think of that?

Hi Steve, did the solution work for you? In other words, this is feedback and you don't need help with this workaround?

Why do software writers have yo change the basic configuration of a programme that was working well, by all means update for speed and securty, but if it aint broke, don't fixit, I thought Mozilla was trying to attract people not drive them away, all you do is get people annoyed, as if computers don't waste enough time natrually, you have to add to the problems by altering things that don't need altering. I upgraded , or wrather downgraded to the latest firefox a few weeks ago and ended up re installing an earlier version, leave things alone but offer alternatives to those that want them. I downloaded again today to see if the cockup was fixed, but it was the same, I then wasted time finding the fix to software writer ruination. LEAVE IT ALONE AND STOP FIDDLING WITH IT.

Hi agedbikeman, did the solution work for you? In other words, this is feedback and you don't need help with this workaround?

Hi everyone, jscher2000's post was marked as the solution by the person who asked the original question (koyotee). Your issue may have similar symptoms, but it is likely a different cause/solution. For better help, it would be best to use https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/new/desktop/form where volunteers can get more details about your setup.

Because this thread is solved and more people might start using it for their own questions, I'm going to lock it.