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Firefox for Android as default browser shows Google icon on 'type address' window.

  • 7 replies
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  • Last reply by Paul

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I have installed Firefox for Android on my Galaxy S22. When I click on the Firefox icon on my app screen to bring up the app, I get a page with "Firefox Browser" at the top, BUT the blank to enter a web address (that one wants to visit) shows at the left end a Google icon. I try to stay away from Google whenever possible. Whose browser will I be using if I type the desired web address into the described blank: Google or Firefox. If it is, in fact, the Firefox browser, why does it show the Google icon?

Thanks for reading, help and suggestions.

I have installed Firefox for Android on my Galaxy S22. When I click on the Firefox icon on my app screen to bring up the app, I get a page with "Firefox Browser" at the top, BUT the blank to enter a web address (that one wants to visit) shows at the left end a Google icon. I try to stay away from Google whenever possible. Whose browser will I be using if I type the desired web address into the described blank: Google or Firefox. If it is, in fact, the Firefox browser, why does it show the Google icon? Thanks for reading, help and suggestions.

Chosen solution

All Replies (7)

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Hi

Firefox for Android is a web browser, whereas Google is a search engine you can use to search for content on the web.

If you wish, you can change the search engine. This support article will help:

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/change-your-default-search-firefox-focus-android

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Thank you Paul, but I do not believe that is the issue. I have Duck Duck Go installed and selected as my default search engine.

Still do not understand why the Google icon appears at the right edge of the only window into which to type the address for the known web site to which I want to go. I am not looking to search.

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Hi

I have just tried in my copy of Firefox for Android version 102, and if DuckDuckGo is selected as the default search provider, you will see their icon in the address bar.

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Again, thanks Paul.

I have double checked. I can find no option on my S22 to set the default search engine -- only the default browser. Under Settings/ Apps, I have set Firefox as the default browser and find (as previously described) the Google icon appearing at the left edge of the entry window.

I seems the only way I can avoid this is to set Duck Duck Go as my default browser, and then use it as I would a search engine to get to a desired web page. Interesting that when doing it this way, Duck Duck Go tells me that it has blocked Google, Amazon, et al. from attempting to track this.

I'd rather do as I do on my desktop PC: use Firefox as my browser, and Duck Duck Go as my search engine. Can you help me accomplish this?

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Hi Richard

I think that this support article will help:

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/manage-my-default-search-engines-firefox-android

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Bingo!

Thanks for you persistence Paul.

Amazing to me how many different places in this operating system one must look under "SETTINGS" in order to get what you want.

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No problem, glad we could help.