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How do I disable search suggestions based on my search history, without deleting my search history?

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I've disabled this for my google account. So when I search from google.com this behavior doesn't happen. But when I type anything into my address bar on Firefox to search, the first suggestions are from my search history.

I don't want to delete my search history.

I often use my search history to find specific things that I need, but didn't bookmark at the time. I need my search history to be saved. I just don't want to automatically receive suggestions based on it.

Is there any way to turn this off? Even with an extension or something?

I've disabled this for my google account. So when I search from google.com this behavior doesn't happen. But when I type anything into my address bar on Firefox to search, the first suggestions are from my search history. '''I don't want to delete my search history.''' I often use my search history to find specific things that I need, but didn't bookmark at the time. I need my search history to be saved. I just don't want to ''automatically'' receive suggestions based on it. Is there any way to turn this off? Even with an extension or something?

Asịsa ahọpụtara

Hi, do you mean the suggestions with the little clock icon?

The clock icons indicate "search history" which Firefox manages together with "form history." If you want to have Firefox continue to accumulate this history, there is a specific setting to control the number of search history entries displayed on the address bar autocomplete drop-down. It requires a dive under the covers...

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button accepting the risk.

More info on about:config: Configuration Editor for Firefox. The moderators would like us to remind you that changes made through this back door aren't fully supported and aren't guaranteed to continue working in the future.

(2) In the search box in the page, type or paste browser.urlbar.maxHistoricalSearchSuggestions and pause while the list is filtered

The default value is 2.

(3) Double-click the preference to display an editing field, and change the value to 0 then press Enter or click the blue check mark button to save the change.


Now, you may wonder where you would ever see these suggestions when you need them. You can add the optional classic short search bar to your toolbar (or the overflow menu, if use would be very infrequent, using the Customize tab. For more on that:

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All Replies (3)

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You can possibly set this pref to false in about:config to move the search suggestions to the bottom.

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The location bar drop-down list can show history items, bookmarked pages, pages opened in tabs, top sites, and search suggestions. You can set what suggestions show when you enter an URL in the location/address bar bar.

  • Settings -> Privacy & Security
    Address Bar: When using the location bar, suggest:
    Browsing history
    Bookmarks
    Open tabs
    Shortcuts
    Search engines
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Asịsa Ahọpụtara

Hi, do you mean the suggestions with the little clock icon?

The clock icons indicate "search history" which Firefox manages together with "form history." If you want to have Firefox continue to accumulate this history, there is a specific setting to control the number of search history entries displayed on the address bar autocomplete drop-down. It requires a dive under the covers...

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button accepting the risk.

More info on about:config: Configuration Editor for Firefox. The moderators would like us to remind you that changes made through this back door aren't fully supported and aren't guaranteed to continue working in the future.

(2) In the search box in the page, type or paste browser.urlbar.maxHistoricalSearchSuggestions and pause while the list is filtered

The default value is 2.

(3) Double-click the preference to display an editing field, and change the value to 0 then press Enter or click the blue check mark button to save the change.


Now, you may wonder where you would ever see these suggestions when you need them. You can add the optional classic short search bar to your toolbar (or the overflow menu, if use would be very infrequent, using the Customize tab. For more on that: