Why does this address always get opened as a google search, not the website?
I've discovered that cutting & pasting dropbox links into the firefox address bar just takes me to a google search now.
For example, this is the address I wish to access: https://www.dropbox.com/s/4fx7zc1mbtwoycs/WRFChem_CRI_EDGAR_Inputs.zip?dl=0
Firefox takes me to a google search page - with no option that I can see to actual just open the website I entered.
This does not happen with Safari - it will open the link as intended. And it does not happen in firefox if I remove the "https://" from the front of the address.
Why is this happening? Is this a security feature in firefox which is stopping the loading of https pages? And how can stop it from happening?
Chosen solution
Okay - in an attempt to answer your questions. I've tried again with the link, and several others, and now can't replicate this problem.
It definitely was taking me to the google search result rather than to the page. Repeatedly. But I am unable to recreate this behaviour now - the address bar is working as it should be. Clearing my browser history doesn't change this (nor does making the browser forget the website completely).
Sorry to waste your time with a non-reproducible error.
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I don't see anything wrong with that link, and it should open "as is" when pasted into the address bar.
Do you notice odd behavior with other links you copy/paste?
When you look at the search box on the Google results page, are any of the characters "wrong", i.e., something that isn't a normal part of a URL like a backslash or a space between parts of the address?
Actually, that might be easier to determine from the URL bar. On the results page, where you have q=, what does it look like after that for the URL you shared?
When I used the link, I saw a message about a zip file can't be previewed
Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link} by holding down the <Shift> (Mac=Options) key, and then starting Firefox.
A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh). Is the problem still there? .
Chosen Solution
Okay - in an attempt to answer your questions. I've tried again with the link, and several others, and now can't replicate this problem.
It definitely was taking me to the google search result rather than to the page. Repeatedly. But I am unable to recreate this behaviour now - the address bar is working as it should be. Clearing my browser history doesn't change this (nor does making the browser forget the website completely).
Sorry to waste your time with a non-reproducible error.
If after several days the problem does not return, Please flag your last post as Solved Problem so others will know.
Okay - will do.
If you use extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) that can block (wanted) content (e.g. Adblock Plus, NoScript, Ghostery, uBlock Origin) always make sure such extensions do not block (wanted) content.
- make sure your extensions and filters are updated to the latest version
If you use Adblock Plus then you can consider uBlock Origin as a replacement to see if that works better (lower memory footprint).
Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.
- switch to the DEFAULT theme: "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Appearance
- do NOT click the "Refresh Firefox" button on the Safe Mode start window
I do have Adblock Plus installed (that and Xmarks are my only extensions). The last date it updated was (apparently) today - but I hadn't changed any settings (that I'm aware of, at least), during this incident though. If the problem happens again for me I'll try disabling though, and see if that stops the issue.
I'll also try out uBlock Origin too - thanks for the suggestion.