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Please allow the search bar to remember the search engine that I last used. And don't search until I press 'enter'.

aneurysm1985
aneurysm1985
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I have recently upgraded to Firefox 36.0.1, from the previous version that I had installed. Which was likely 35.x

I am flabbergasted with the changes that you have made to the search bar. They have reversed my search bar workflow.

Previously, the search bar would remember the search engine that I had previously used for a search, with the icon persistently displaying.

Now it keeps on reverting to the default search engine.

Annoyingly, to someone who has used Firefox for 10+ years, Firefox 36.0.1 now searches for whatever is typed into the search bar whenever I use the drop-down to choose an icon.

I am finding that this reverses the workflow that I am used to.

Previously I would:

• select my search engine • type my search text • press 'enter'

Now I need to force myself to remember to:

• type my search text • select my search engine

This is a mental habit which you are annoyingly forcing me to re-learn.

Personally, the previous workflow is more logical to me because of the 'left to right' order of procedure.

Can you please add an option to change things back to the way that they were. I would also prefer a drop-down list featuring the text each search engine, rather than the current 'mystery meat' navigation system with icons only.

FYI the only reason I use Firefox instead of Chrome is because of the search bar. Now you have interrupted that.

I am not angry: just raising this as a workflow issue which other Firefox users are also probably grappling with.

Thanks in advance for including a fix in 36.0.2.

I have recently upgraded to Firefox 36.0.1, from the previous version that I had installed. Which was likely 35.x I am flabbergasted with the changes that you have made to the search bar. They have reversed my search bar workflow. Previously, the search bar would remember the search engine that I had previously used for a search, with the icon persistently displaying. Now it keeps on reverting to the default search engine. Annoyingly, to someone who has used Firefox for 10+ years, Firefox 36.0.1 now searches for whatever is typed into the search bar whenever I use the drop-down to choose an icon. I am finding that this reverses the workflow that I am used to. Previously I would: • select my search engine • type my search text • press 'enter' Now I need to force myself to remember to: • type my search text • select my search engine This is a mental habit which you are annoyingly forcing me to re-learn. Personally, the previous workflow is more logical to me because of the 'left to right' order of procedure. Can you please add an option to change things back to the way that they were. I would also prefer a drop-down list featuring the text each search engine, rather than the current 'mystery meat' navigation system with icons only. FYI the only reason I use Firefox instead of Chrome is because of the search bar. Now you have interrupted that. I am not angry: just raising this as a workflow issue which other Firefox users are also probably grappling with. Thanks in advance for including a fix in 36.0.2.

Chosen solution

Hi, you can go back to the old search by: Type about:config into the address bar, press Enter, accept the warning, then scroll down to browser.search.showOneOffButtons and double click to change 'Value' to False.

Hope that helps.

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All Replies (5)

Saurav
Saurav
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Hello

To solve this problem

Go to Options >search and untick provide search suggestions . You can change to Google as default search engine there.

Un tick the remaining search engines which you are not going to use.

Then you can search by typing search keyword in search bar by pressing enter key.

Thanks

Scribe
Scribe
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Chosen Solution

Hi, you can go back to the old search by: Type about:config into the address bar, press Enter, accept the warning, then scroll down to browser.search.showOneOffButtons and double click to change 'Value' to False.

Hope that helps.

aneurysm1985
aneurysm1985 Question owner
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Scribe_uk said

Hi, you can go back to the old search by: Type about:config into the address bar, press Enter, accept the warning, then scroll down to browser.search.showOneOffButtons and double click to change 'Value' to False. Hope that helps.

This solves the problem. Thanks for your reply...

...however, is there a way to get the development team to respond to my comments about the new search bar 'workflow'?

I can't fathom how the workflow of the default new search would be logical for users.

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 25 Contributor
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I think the logic of the new search bar design was that users participating in testing rarely used multiple search engines regularly but occasionally wanted to search a different site without changing their default search provider. Hence the idea of "one-off" search buttons.

Some ideas have been floated for letting you make a change directly from the drop-down instead of having to use the Options dialog (linked at the bottom of the drop-down), but I'm not sure any have gotten the green light.

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 25 Contributor
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I just accidentally discovered that Ctrl+UpArrow and Ctrl+DownArrow change the default search engine in Firefox 36.0.1 on the new search bar. So it's there when you're ready for it.