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Default search engine is locked.

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  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by cor-el

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Latest version installed a few days ago. Google was set as my default search engine. I can not remove google, and in the Search section of preferences I find only google. I can not add search engines or set a new default browser. A fix will be much appreciated.

Latest version installed a few days ago. Google was set as my default search engine. I can not remove google, and in the Search section of preferences I find only google. I can not add search engines or set a new default browser. A fix will be much appreciated.

Chosen solution

Are the others, such as Bing and DuckDuckGo, listed in the Search Shortcuts box after using the Restore... button, or doesn't Restore do anything?

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Hi sevenspires, on your Preferences page, Search panel, does it mention either

  • an add-on is controlling your search engine
  • your organization is controlling some settings

Toward the bottom of that panel, below the Search Shortcuts box, you should find a button to "Restore Default Search Engines". Is that clickable -- and if it is, does clicking it help?

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You can check for recently installed suspicious or unknown extensions.

Start Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) or if hardware acceleration or userChrome.css is causing the problem.

  • switch to the DEFAULT theme: "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Themes
  • do NOT click the "Refresh Firefox" button on the Troubleshoot Mode start window
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Thank you for advice. Unfortunately, default search still stuck with google

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Chosen Solution

Are the others, such as Bing and DuckDuckGo, listed in the Search Shortcuts box after using the Restore... button, or doesn't Restore do anything?

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Try to 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 -> More 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.