See:

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/search-web-address-bar
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/awesome-bar-search-firefox-bookmarks-history-tabs

It stopped working 1-2 years ago? It's hard to remember how it was back then so it would help if you could spell out what you want in more detail.

Which of these would you prefer:

• No searching, just add www. before and .com after and try it and see what happens (this is called fixup)

• Use the Google "lucky search" to go straight to the closest match, or the hybrid "browse by name" behavior to show search results if there's no obvious best match (you now need an add-on for this)

• Something else

i want it like it was before: you open browser and cursor ready to accept search/typing and enter key and goes to site, no mouse needed, no www needed.

my home screen is google and 1st page i open of day the cursor is in google box and i can search from here without mouse no problem but each new page i open the cursor is in firefox address bar and wont search even if i put www first.

ive tried disabling all firefox addons. this doe not solve it.

i've tried to get new pages to open just like 1st page of day (cursor in google search box) but havent yet found how to do this.

To disconnect web search from the address bar, try the steps listed in the article that cor-el linked to earlier: Search the web from the address bar.

The new tab page always focuses the address bar. In past years, there were extensions that could override that behavior, but I don't know whether any are still working, as new tab extensions seem to come and go.

Maybe I misunderstood the problem. Your address bar doesn't do ANYTHING at all, won't load a site, won't search, nothing? Does modifying the settings listed in the above-linked article make any difference?

Since you already disabled extensions, and your short plugin list doesn't raise any eyebrows, my next suggestion, to rule out corrupted program files or other debris in the program folder, would be this:

Clean Reinstall

We use this name, but it's not about removing your settings, it's about making sure the program files are clean (no inconsistent, corrupted, or alien code files). As described below, this process does not disturb your existing settings. Do NOT uninstall Firefox, that's not needed.

(A) Download a fresh installer for Firefox 40.0.2 from https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/ to a convenient location. (Scroll down to your preferred language.)

(B) Exit out of Firefox (if applicable).

(C) Rename the program folder, either:

(64-bit Windows folder names)

C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox

to

C:\Program Files (x86)\OldFirefox

(32-bit Windows folder names)

C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox

to

C:\Program Files\OldFirefox

(D) Run the installer you downloaded in (A). It should automatically connect to your existing settings.

Any improvement in responsiveness?

Note: Some plugins may exist only in that OldFirefox folder. If something essential is missing, look in these folders:

• \OldFirefox\Plugins
• \OldFirefox\browser\plugins

that is far too confusing to follow. why should i have to? firefox says you can search form bar. aren't they interested to know that their product is not working? and it used to work fine but they changed it

ive been trying to do the suggestions in here for years to no avail and im no dummy

Of course it works if your Firefox isn't broken! The challenge is to fix your Firefox.

Please point out the part you find confusing and I'll try to make it clearer.

why should firefox be broken if i keep it updated?

Glitches do happen, for example, as mentioned before, the updater sometimes fails to clean the program folder completely.