We're calling on all EU-based Mozillians with iOS or iPadOS devices to help us monitor Apple’s new browser choice screens. Join the effort to hold Big Tech to account!

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

Why does any URL entered into the FF address bar force a redirect to an "installed search engine"? FF is supposed to be the search engine.

  • 1 reply
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Kevin

more options

Ok, get me out of the twilight zone. I enter a URL. It won't take it. Instead, right below it, it displays a Bing or Google symbol. You can't do anything but tap on on of them. Once you do, you see the website URL in a list of search results. You have to tap on it to go there.

So why, oh why, does FF not just take the address you enter and GO THERE? What is the purpose of an "installed search engine"??? ISN'T FF SUPPOSED TO BE THE SEARCH ENGINE?

More to the point, why do we even bother to have FF when it's just going to redirect us to Bing or Google or whatever "installed search engine" is in the list? On the "home" screen for FF, there's the search blank at the top, then a little menu TOP SITES- BOOKMARKS- HISTORY. Then a bunch of useless stuff below it. Try entering CNN.COM in the address bar. A Bing symbol appears below it. You are forced to tap on it. Then you get search results. Then you can FINALLY tap on the CNN address.

I just can't believe you guys created something so pointless and stupid. I know I'm supposed to be nice on this forum, but it's like you guys at Mozilla tied your hands and feet and had a friend shoot you in the head. Please help your adoring public understand why you sabotaged your own product. I'm uninstalling it. If I have to go through Google or Bing's portal to get to a website, it's pointless to have FF. Especially Google, which sucks up all data into a black hole. I wanted FF to GET AWAY from Google.

Ok, get me out of the twilight zone. I enter a URL. It won't take it. Instead, right below it, it displays a Bing or Google symbol. You can't do anything but tap on on of them. Once you do, you see the website URL in a list of search results. You have to tap on it to go there. So why, oh why, does FF not just take the address you enter and GO THERE? What is the purpose of an "installed search engine"??? ISN'T FF SUPPOSED TO BE THE SEARCH ENGINE? More to the point, why do we even bother to have FF when it's just going to redirect us to Bing or Google or whatever "installed search engine" is in the list? On the "home" screen for FF, there's the search blank at the top, then a little menu TOP SITES- BOOKMARKS- HISTORY. Then a bunch of useless stuff below it. Try entering CNN.COM in the address bar. A Bing symbol appears below it. You are forced to tap on it. Then you get search results. Then you can FINALLY tap on the CNN address. I just can't believe you guys created something so pointless and stupid. I know I'm supposed to be nice on this forum, but it's like you guys at Mozilla tied your hands and feet and had a friend shoot you in the head. Please help your adoring public understand why you sabotaged your own product. I'm uninstalling it. If I have to go through Google or Bing's portal to get to a website, it's pointless to have FF. Especially Google, which sucks up all data into a black hole. I wanted FF to GET AWAY from Google.

All Replies (1)

more options

To visit a URL you have typed in you should press the enter or go button on the keyboard. In a normal English keyboard the button is normally on the bottom right of the keyboard.