Join the AMA (Ask Me Anything) with the Firefox leadership team to celebrate Firefox 20th anniversary and discuss Firefox’s future on Mozilla Connect. Mark your calendar on Thursday, November 14, 18:00 - 20:00 UTC!

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

Ever since FF5 update, I can't type something in the address bar and press enter to search.

  • 1 reply
  • 47 have this problem
  • 7 views
  • Last reply by Helper7677

more options

I used to be able to just type "google.com" or even just "google" in my address bar. It seems to have stopped working since I updated Firefox a few days ago.

I don't mean the google/bing/etc search bar in the upper right. I'm talking about the actual address bar.

Please let me know if I need to change a setting or configure something.

I used to be able to just type "google.com" or even just "google" in my address bar. It seems to have stopped working since I updated Firefox a few days ago. I don't mean the google/bing/etc search bar in the upper right. I'm talking about the actual address bar. Please let me know if I need to change a setting or configure something.

All Replies (1)

more options

There is a change in Firefox 4 (and 5) in how Location bar search works.

  • In Firefox 3.6.x, Location bar search uses Google "Browse by name" search. With the browse by name search, it performs a Google search and
    • if there is a clear match it will take you to the site
    • otherwise it shows the Google search result page
  • Firefox 4's default is
    • to perform a Google search and present the Google search results page if you type something which is not recognized as a URL
    • you must type a complete URL, such as www.youtube.com , to go directly to the site

To get the Firefox 3.6.x behavior in Firefox 4. you need to change a hidden preference.

  1. Type about:config into the location bar and press the Enter key
  2. If you see a warning, accept it (promise to be careful)
  3. A list of preferences will open
  4. Filter = keyword.URL
  5. Double-click on that preference in the lower pane
  6. A small window will appear; copy one of the URLs below and paste into the box in that small window (or type it into the box in that window exactly as shown below):

Instead of the above, you could install this extension:

See:




You need to update the following. The Plugin version(s) shown below was/were submitted with your question and is/are out of date. You should update to avoid known security issues with the version(s) you have installed. Click on "More system info..." to the right of your question to see what was included with your question.

  • Adobe Shockwave for Director Netscape plug-in, version 11.5
  • Next Generation Java Plug-in 1.6.0_24 for Mozilla browser
  1. Check your plugin versions on either of the following links':
  2. Update Shockwave for Director
    • NOTE: this is not the same as Shockwave Flash; this installs the Shockwave Player.
    • Use Firefox to download and SAVE the installer to your hard drive from the link in the article below (Desktop is a good place so you can find it).
    • When the download is complete, exit Firefox (File > Exit)
    • locate and double-click in the installer you just downloaded, let the install complete.
    • Restart Firefox and check your plugins again.
    • Download link and more information: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using+the+Shockwave+plugin+with+Firefox
  3. Update the Java plugin to the latest version.