Address Bar Updates - Now Live in Firefox Nightly

[cbellini]

Exciting Updates to the Firefox Address Bar: Get Nightly and Test Them Now!Hello Firefox community! We're excited to share the latest updates to the Firefox Address Bar! These new features aim to improve your search browsing experience by making it faster, more intuitive, and easier to discover tools you already love. Whether you're a long-time Firefox user or exploring its capabilities for the first time, we’ve got something that’ll enhance your web experience. What’s New:

• Unified Search Button: A new, easy-to-access button in the address bar helps you switch between search engines and search modes with ease. This feature brings the simplicity of mobile Firefox to your desktop experience
• Search Term Persistence: Now when you refine a search in the address bar, the original term sticks around, making it easier to adjust your queries and find exactly what you're looking for
• Secondary Action Buttons: Ever needed to access more options for a specific result? These buttons allow for a streamlined experience, whether you're switching tabs or performing quick browser actions—all without disrupting your workflow
• Intuitive Search Keywords: You can access various address bar search modes with convenient and descriptive keywords (e.g. @bookmarks,@tabs,@history, @actions).
• HTTP As the Exception: For a more secure web experience, we'll now display the HTTP protocol prominently, so you know when you're on a non-secure site, while HTTPS will be hidden to reduce clutter.

How Does This Benefit You?

For our long-term Firefox users who appreciate the balance between power and simplicity, these updates give you more control and smoother navigation without overwhelming your current browsing setup.

For newer users, especially those looking for intuitive, fast-paced productivity, these features ensure you can search, switch, and perform tasks quickly, all while keeping privacy and user choice at the forefront. Your Feedback Shapes Firefox!

We’re inviting you to test these features in Firefox Nightly and share your thoughts. Whether you love how easy it is to switch search engines or have ideas for what’s next, your feedback will help us refine and perfect these features before their full release.

Join the conversation and let us know how we can continue building a better Firefox—one that respects your preferences, enhances your productivity, and keeps you in control.We invite you to join the discussion and help us shape the future of Firefox Search.

When sharing feedback, we'd also love to know:

• How long have you used Firefox?
• Is Firefox your default browser?

Happy browsing!

— The Firefox Search Team

[yoasif]

The new widget next to the address bar looks like a drop-down, but it isn't.

Once you select a search engine, the dropdown looking widget turns into a chiclet that requires you to "eXit" the mode to select a new search engine.

[zotan]

The dropdown should only be visible when the search bar is focused or the new tab / blank page is open, as it serves no purpose otherwise and gets in the way visually. Alternatively, it'd be awesome if we could get a preference to change this behavior specifically, instead of opting out of the entire redesign.

[ThePillenwerfer]

"... instead of opting out of the entire redesign."

That's assuming we can.  However I really can't see it remaining on the screen all the time.

Personally it fills me with indifference as the current system does all I wish it to and there's no sign that the new one will fail to.

I'm more concerned about the great big gap to the left of the Firefox View icon.

[Agentvirtuel]

Hello

https://firefox-source-docs.mozilla.org/devtools-user/browser_toolbox/index.html

Try userChrome.css

.titlebar-spacer[type="pre-tabs"]{display:none!important;}

[daleharvey]

> The dropdown should only be visible when the search bar is focused or the new tab / blank page is open

There is work being done to implement that  behaviour @ https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1928132

[tilwiti]

Hi, @cbellini !

Great update! I have a few feature requests to enhance the functionality:

1. Please add an option to keep the dropdown menu visible in popup windows. This is especially important because:
   • The screenshot button disappears in popups, even when pinned to the toolbar
   • While right-click works, just got used to this handy button above.
2. It would also be fantastic to have custom action capabilities, such as:
   • Setting automatic page refresh intervals (e.g., every 5 minutes)
   • Custom query integrations like ntfy.sh for link sharing and so on

These additions would make the popup windows more complete and versatile for power users.

[tilwiti]

Firefox is my default browser, I have been using it since spring, but I miss a lot of Vivaldiesque stuff. Don't spy on them, but I think they might inspire you.

[DuncanLang]

The new unified search button is neat, but I think the button being part of the address bar should be dependant on whether you have the search box in the toolbar, as the button would make more sense in the search box. Because I use the separate search bar, I don't use the address bar much for searching and the unified search button being in the address bar feels completely out of place .

[DuncanLang]

In regards to the HTTPS change: I don't find any part of the URL to be considered clutter. Even if HTTPS is standard across all domains I access, the whole point of the address bar is to display the URL of the page I'm currently on, so the HTTPS it's still part of the URL and I wouldn't want any part to be hidden. This also adds a new annoyance when trying to select or copy text from the URL as clicking on it will now move the text over to add the HTTPS back to the URL.

[BelFox]

Hi @cbellini, thanks for sharing this update with us!

I've been playing around with the new address bar and search for a bit. I like most of the changes. However, I have a lot of search engines installed (EDIT: 40, not all visible in mock-up below). This makes for a looooong dropdown list. This makes it more cumbersome to access the 'special' searches (like Bookmarks, Tabs, History, Actions) because I need to scroll all the way down.

I also wonder how OpenSearch engine discovery can be foreseen (currently only possible from Search bar)?

I've made a mock-up with a few suggestions. I would love it if you guys could take a look at it! Thanks 🙂

[SouthFresh]

The search term feature remaining has been happening in my iOS Firefox for a couple months, and it is absolutely horrible.

How do I EDIT the URL if I want to? Say to add "&UDM=14" to clean up the search if on Google?

Being able to confirm you're at the correct URL is a security feature that I'm not willing to let go.

[Josh_B]

Hey SouthFresh,

You can go to about:preferences, and navigate to the search settings. Find the setting for "Show search terms in the address bar on results pages" and flip the checkbox to turn off the persistent search term feature.

[Josh_B]

Ahh, actually, I see you said iOS. I'm not sure there's a pref on there.

[SouthFresh]

No worries on that, I know I was talking about a separate product, but the concept remains the same.  I'm glad to hear that the feature can be disabled on desktop.

Thank you very much for this!

I still feel that in the current security landscape, hiding the actual URL is not as safe as it seems. I'm not sure if only specific sites will allow for this behavior or not, but URL visibility/editing isn't something that should be tossed by the wayside.

[Josh_B]

At least on desktop persistent search features are currently limited to search engines pre-configured by the Firefox team. So on desktop, if you add a search engine Fx team won't hide the URL and display the search term while you search with that engine.

[bappity]

not a big fan of the removal of the top bar padding with the sidebar revamp on. I implore that you re-implement at least some amount of padding on the top so that the window can be easily grabbed and dragged from any part of it.

This update has had me misclicking into the input field of the address bar when I've tried and gives very little real estate for grabbing and dragging now.

[Allan-L]

Fullscreen BUG ? my address/search bar is persistent on fullscreen mode (F11)

Ubuntu 24.04
firefox-nightly (134.0a1~20241101094230) and (134.0a1~20241031093845)

if you need more info, please reply

[Agentvirtuel]

Hello

An https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1928292 - https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/discussions/address-bar-help-search-bar-drops-down-into-window-when-i...

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1928255

[Synchro]

"Unified Search Button: A new, easy-to-access button in the address bar helps you switch between search engines and search modes with ease. This feature brings the simplicity of mobile Firefox to your desktop experience"

Looks good, but it requires some polishing:

I chose the engine through this button. -> I get the result. -> I want to search something new using another engine. -> But at first I need to click the "x" in this button, the button becomes more narrow, then click the "v" there and choose new engine. Too many clicking and mouse moving...

"Search Term Persistence: Now when you refine a search in the address bar, the original term sticks around, making it easier to adjust your queries and find exactly what you're looking for"

Please keep this switchable. Some people might prefer to see the original term, I prefer to be able to reach the URL.

"Intuitive Search Keywords: You can access various address bar search modes with convenient and descriptive keywords (e.g. @bookmarks,@tabs,@history, @actions)."

Are one-character keywords supported only for Latin script now? I tried Cyrillic script keywords and it looks like they work with 2 or more characters. By the way when keybords have more than one scripts layout symbol "@" is usually only in Latin one, so if you want to type "@закладки" (bookmarks), you need to switch to Latin at first, type "@", then switch back to Cyrillic, then type "закладки". Any switching to Latin is not convinient when you are aimning to search for something only in Cyrillic or other script.

PS: I've been using FF for PC since 2020. For Android - also since 2020 or maybe a couple of years earlier. Yes, both of them are my default browsers.

[Cabbage]

For me, moving the different search engines I commonly use behind a dropdown menu is an objective downgrade in QoL. It's more clicks and more mouse movement than it used to be when the search engines were all available at the bottom of the URL suggestion window. I'm not a fan.

[Agentvirtuel]

Hello

https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/1gi4yl8/how_can_i_disable_this_i_dont_need_to_see_my
For information purposes https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/1gi4yl8/comment/lv3db3f
Configuration Editor for Firefox https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/about-config-editor-firefox
Search browser.urlbar.scotchBonnet.enableOverride

[crex]

Same. How is it more simple having to open a dropdown menu to select your search engine instead of just clicking on its always visible button on the bottom of the suggestion window? It is more work.

It's nice that there's an about:config setting to restore the original behavior. Let's just hope it's not gonna get removed after a while.

[TechHorse]

Sorry if this is the wrong place or if this has already been changed, but is there any possibility of changing the special address bar searches (tabs, history, bookmarks) so that they are also activated by following there character with tab?

What I mean is, if I press "d [tab]" then the address bar switches to 'search DuckDuckGo' mode.

So I would expect "* [tab]" to switch to 'search bookmarks' mode. However this doesn't work, and I have to remember that it is "* [space]" or just "*" instead.

Would adding a tab press as an activator for these special searches be possible? But without removing the pre-existing activators. Wouldn't want to annoy anyone who is used to pressing "% [space ]" to search open tabs etc.

Speaking of not removing any pre-existing activators, I hope that the new "@bookmarks" etc. activators do not mean that the previous "*" etc. activators will be removed! They are after all much quicker to type. Thanks for reading.

[kolia]

I don't like it. It's one extra click and a tiny dropdown now. Search engine icons under suggestions weren't taking too much space, what's the point of changing it? Plus, constantly having a logo on screen really downgrades apprehension. Also, now I can't change the search engine to handle my request with keyboard if I've already typed in anything into the address bar: I have to remove what I entered to be able to use Shift+Tab.

The only problem I had with the old version of the search engine selection was that I'd incautiously choose "Settings" with keyboard from time to time.

[myspace]

Cool update, thanks for sharing! Testing it out now.  

[kornel]

The new button shows an icon of a search engine, but it's in the address bar next to website's address, so I would expect website's favicon to be in that location. It's really confusing to have a Google logo next to non-Google pages.

I really don't like having search engine icon in the address bar all the time. Especially when it shows search engine icon outside of search engine results, and even when I've navigated to a page without using a search engine.

I know very well what is my default search engine. I don't need the search engine provider's logo advertised to me all the time on every page.

----

Besides that, the dropdown is cumbersome to use. Previously, I could select other search engines just with keyboard by using arrow keys in the dropdown. Now I need to grab the mouse.

Perhaps I could have used keywords in the addressbar instead of switching to the mouse, but I don't remember the keywords. The new dropdown doesn't show hints for keyword shortcuts, so the keywords are not discoverable.

The new dropdown takes focus away from the address bar's text input field. It sets it back after selecting an engine, so it's not too terrible, but it looks cluttered visually. The large addressbar dropdown disappears and reappears, and it looks hacky that the same addressbar element has two different kinds of popup menus. The addressbar looks disabled when the search engine popup is visible, which looks weird, because the popup is a part of the addressbar.

It's also weird that it's not a real select/popup menu. In the default state it has a "V" indicator like select boxes, but once I select something, it changes to an "X". It also looks buggy that the shield and padlock icons are visible before selecting a search engine, but disappear after I select one. Especially weird that for my default search engine, there can be three different layouts: shield + padlock + dropdown with "V", or just a wide button with "X", or just the narrow dropdown with "V" without shield or padlock -- all for the same search engine, with the same icon. It's just inconsistent.

----

But worst of all, is that I can't just get rid of it. If I wanted a browser that I can't customize, I'd use Safari.

[nope2]

1. Full URL NOW! Where is it! Who in the world made you all this terrible at design!

2. How do you get rid of the search engine icon in the search bar? It's right next to Nightly (right). In my normal Firefox I have a search bar (Like I wanted). Nightly has what looks like a search toolbar add-on, just looks very generic.

I don't normally get the political card, but it's needed more than ever. No one independent wants to be told what to do. You'll at Mozilla might actually think you know what is best for everyone, but I assure you, you don't.

It's why the Republicans won and will continue to win. The working people do not like to be told what to like. You use things like,

"This feature brings the simplicity of mobile Firefox to your desktop experience". But in the real world, no one would ever want a mobile browser on their desktop, why? Because I don't use my hands with my desktop, I use a mouse.
Just putting those words close to each other has negative implications, and it is odd that you choose to use them.

"streamlined experience" Is there some type of manipulation school that all tech employees goto before being hired? This is one of those lines you hear from like current day Google and/ or Microsoft trying to collect user data.

If you're suggesting that you know how everyone uses their web-browser, and can fix everyone at the sametime, you're highly over optimistic. Also, you used the term "workflow". You're directly causing issues with workflow with search bar changes. You can't change something, then say it works for better workflow, you don't know every single person uses said browser.

Again, people do not like to be told what to do and/ or how to enjoy things. Mangled garbage sentences isn't a skill, but a terrible practice.

All i can say is, better have a clear and easy way to disable these search bar changes. I downloaded Nightly to try them, uninstalled within minutes.

With web-browsers so widely available, I would expect Mozilla to be doing less changes, and more polish. Messing with my search bar is like Microsoft changing my right click in Windows 11, you know what I did? Went back to Windows 10. Even though I can change Windows 11 to act like Windows 10, it's the push back that counts.

I would rather have something I'm used to, than someone telling me how I should use something.

[SouthFresh]

When I saw this appear in nightly after seeing it in iOS I started posting here. I also posted regarding the iOS implementation for the same reason.

It's a security flaw. Give me the URL. ALWAYS.

[nope2]

Yeah, I stumbled across this when I was trying to get update notifications disabled and noticed the Search bar changes and thought, oh no here goes another tech company that just knows what everyone wants, but actually doesn't know. Here we go again.

In all honesty, I vote for no search bar change. With how I've noticed Mozilla changed in just a year or so, it's dumb. Stop wasting resources on nonsensical ideas. But yeah, no full URL, and I change browsers. So mnay out there, would be super easy.

[Agentvirtuel]

Hello

---

@nope2 wrote:

2. How do you get rid of the search engine icon in the search bar?

---

https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/1gi4yl8/how_can_i_disable_this_i_dont_need_to_see_my

Is it this subject

userChrome.css

#urlbar-searchmode-switcher{display:none!important;}

https://www.userchrome.org

[SouthFresh]

I know you're not replying to me.

I appreciate this input, but I'm hopeful that everyone watching this thread understand why this should not need to the the method.

This should be resolvable natively within the application, regardless of the platform.

And more importantly, obfuscating the URL bar by default is a security flaw, and the team that introduced it should be kept from touching UI ever a gain.

[SouthFresh]

What's the opposite of Kudos for introducing a security flaw?

[Agentvirtuel]

Hello

For information purposes

According to

[Ponda]

While I cannot currently test Firefox Nightly (flatpak or Fedora package, see Firefox Developer Edition flatpak and Provide native Linux packages for Firefox Nightly), at least some changes I can already be happy about, such as search term persistence (especially when switching from one engine to another) as HTTP as exception. Note, however, that this change will break many people's workflow, notably those using separate search bar, and thus should be adjustable in the settings. It would also be a good idea to show website or generic internet icon instead of a search provider when a website is opened to avoid any confusion. I'd also be very interested in making this layout work better with keyboard-only navigation that current one, in which you have to press arrow down multiple times to reach the end of suggested results list and be able to change search engine.

[TechHorse]

Ponda, here are some keyboard tips for changing the search type more quickly, hope that they are useful.

You can get to the 'change search type' section by pressing the up arrow while in the address bar. No need to arrow down to get there. Although I think that there must be some text or a URL in the edit field for this to work.

Also, in the address bar you can use ctrl+up / down to quickly switch between search engines.

[TechHorse]

I use the independent search bar for internet searches because of its search term persistence.

However, I won't be enabling search term persistence in the address bar because, like others, I often want to edit or change part of the URL. I wouldn't want to have to remove the previous search text in order to tweak or copy the URL, as I may need these terms again later.

Plus, as mentioned, there are security issues with hiding the URL.

Basically, I like the current system of having two separate edit boxes for the URL and search terms. I do not want to have to sacrifice one type of information in order to access the other.

Sorry, but that is my honest feedback. I can't see myself moving to use the address bar for internet searches, and will continue to use the independent search bar for this.

On another note, I do like the notion of friendly special search activators such as @history, I am sure that they will be useful to people who haven't learned the use of *, ^, % etc.

(although as I said in a previous post, please do not remove the old single character methods in favour of the easier to remember but longer new terms)