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

Alternative search engines don't appear

more options

Recently, I had to uninstall and reinstall Firefox. When I clicked on the address/search box, I used to see a line like "search with" followed by a list of my alternative search engines; now, when I click on the box, I see the "search with" heading, but no search engine icons. How do I get them back?

Recently, I had to uninstall and reinstall Firefox. When I clicked on the address/search box, I used to see a line like "search with" followed by a list of my alternative search engines; now, when I click on the box, I see the "search with" heading, but no search engine icons. How do I get them back?

Chosen solution

You can rename/remove search.json.mozlz4 in the Firefox profile folder with Firefox closed to rebuild the search engines registry.

You can use the button on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page.

Firefox will rebuild search.json.mozlz4 from the builtin search engines.

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (6)

more options

It seems that installation may have done something to your former profile folder; you may have to hunt for it. According to the articles mentioned below, search engine details are in a file search.json.mozlz4. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-firefox-stores-user-data https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recovering-important-data-from-an-old-profile

more options

tjn21, I copied over the file you suggested, but it made no difference. Also, I need to clarify my statement: the links are there, but the icons don't appear.

more options

I don't use the address bar for searching. This article may help: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/search-firefox-address-bar From that article it seems the icons appear "when you start typing a search term ...."

more options

tnj21, the search engines are there, but their icons arent. What does that mean?

more options

Seçilmiş Həll

You can rename/remove search.json.mozlz4 in the Firefox profile folder with Firefox closed to rebuild the search engines registry.

You can use the button on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page.

Firefox will rebuild search.json.mozlz4 from the builtin search engines.

more options

cor_el, thank you. That's one more thing off my to-do list. I renamed the file, and the icons for the alternate engine show again. Later, I'll go back and delete the old file. Again, many thanks. (Of course, we'll meet agin soon.)