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How to make Firefox address bar such like Google Chrome?

  • 9 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by MrIndeed

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Hello,

I don't want the address bar in Firefox to be filled with websites most of which are old and I no longer go on it.

The way Chrome does it is it has a website on the top and below it it searches Google keywords.

Example: http://i.imgbox.com/XhGywpSl.jpg

Is there a way to tweak the settings or an addon that enables this function?

Hello, I don't want the address bar in Firefox to be filled with websites most of which are old and I no longer go on it. The way Chrome does it is it has a website on the top and below it it searches Google keywords. Example: http://i.imgbox.com/XhGywpSl.jpg Is there a way to tweak the settings or an addon that enables this function?

Chosen solution

The built-in features do not get you all the way to your last screen shot where you have a history entry in the middle of search suggestions. Firefox will nearly always list history higher than search engine suggestions. You might need to just turn off history on the drop-down.

To experiment with hiding all the history entries (and if you like, bookmarks and open tabs), and for steps to turn on search suggestions on the drop-down, check out the "How can I control what results the location bar shows me?" section of the article John linked you to:

Address bar autocomplete suggestions in Firefox

Added a screenshot of the results.


In terms of the overall layout of the drop-down, you can modify it to a certain extent using custom style rules. Those can be applied to Firefox's interface using either the Stylish extension (easier) or a userChrome.css file (if you are not willing to install any more extensions). As an example of the customization possibilities, check out my user style here:

https://userstyles.org/styles/122394/url-bar-tweaks-remove-visit-search-limit-width

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All Replies (9)

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Hi MrIndeed, I am guessing at what the problem is you are seeing. It might help to have a screenshot of Firefox. Possibly you have the bookmarks toolbar visible and either you should turn that off or add more up to date content to it.

Or are you asking about the items that show as possible targets from the Addressbar|Locationbar|Awsome bar

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Start typing in the box, then STOP ! Using the arrow keys, highlight an entry, then press Delete. Repeat as needed.

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John99 said

Hi MrIndeed, I am guessing at what the problem is you are seeing. It might help to have a screenshot of Firefox. Possibly you have the bookmarks toolbar visible and either you should turn that off or add more up to date content to it. Or are you asking about the items that show as possible targets from the Addressbar|Locationbar|Awsome bar

Hello,

The Awesome Bar searches my Firefox bookmarks, history and tabs from the address bar. I do NOT want this. I want the address bar to search Google just like Google Chrome and other browsers does. I want to turn the 'awesome bar' off.

https://1drv.ms/i/s!AhKAknmPR6d7gv9LqzgeQMTMWhxqHA Look at messy that looks. The links doesn't even relate to 'Google Maps'. I don't want to keep having to clean this all the time nor do I always want to go on these links.

This is how I want the address bar to look and function. https://1drv.ms/i/s!AhKAknmPR6d7gv9N_XNPe4e2gpJe8g

The top link is the most common and the rest are Google Suggestions. It looks neat and its helps with my browsing experience.

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FredMcD said

Start typing in the box, then STOP ! Using the arrow keys, highlight an entry, then press Delete. Repeat as needed.

I do not want to keep having to do this... It's just an endless process of having to clean the address bar.

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Chosen Solution

The built-in features do not get you all the way to your last screen shot where you have a history entry in the middle of search suggestions. Firefox will nearly always list history higher than search engine suggestions. You might need to just turn off history on the drop-down.

To experiment with hiding all the history entries (and if you like, bookmarks and open tabs), and for steps to turn on search suggestions on the drop-down, check out the "How can I control what results the location bar shows me?" section of the article John linked you to:

Address bar autocomplete suggestions in Firefox

Added a screenshot of the results.


In terms of the overall layout of the drop-down, you can modify it to a certain extent using custom style rules. Those can be applied to Firefox's interface using either the Stylish extension (easier) or a userChrome.css file (if you are not willing to install any more extensions). As an example of the customization possibilities, check out my user style here:

https://userstyles.org/styles/122394/url-bar-tweaks-remove-visit-search-limit-width

Modified by jscher2000 - Support Volunteer

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Possibly the easiest mehtod is if you simply use Firefox's search bar and ignore the Awesome Bar.

If you put the mouse cursor between the two bars it turns in to a double arrow and can be dragged. You can minimise the Addressbar and maximise the Search bar.


If you actually want to change the configuration of the address bar read the articles I linked to in my last post. In particular look at this part of the article

Note you can stop it displaying bookmarked items, history, and open tabs.

Whilst you may even totally remove the searchbar by using the customise option and dragging it in to the palette of icons etc that are not currently in use that can not be done with the addressbar.

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jscher2000 said

The built-in features do not get you all the way to your last screen shot where you have a history entry in the middle of search suggestions. Firefox will nearly always list history higher than search engine suggestions. You might need to just turn off history on the drop-down. To experiment with hiding all the history entries (and if you like, bookmarks and open tabs), and for steps to turn on search suggestions on the drop-down, check out the "How can I control what results the location bar shows me?" section of the article John linked you to: Address bar autocomplete suggestions in Firefox Added a screenshot of the results.

In terms of the overall layout of the drop-down, you can modify it to a certain extent using custom style rules. Those can be applied to Firefox's interface using either the Stylish extension (easier) or a userChrome.css file (if you are not willing to install any more extensions). As an example of the customization possibilities, check out my user style here:

https://userstyles.org/styles/122394/url-bar-tweaks-remove-visit-search-limit-width

Hello,

Your solution and suggestions were the closest to what I needed. The end result after removing links and leaving the visit website: https://1drv.ms/i/s!AhKAknmPR6d7g4Bd4VtthQipb4yPzQ

However, is there a way to just make the 'visit' part show because instead of this: https://1drv.ms/i/s!AhKAknmPR6d7g4Be91DN2b7o_g1_kg

I just need the top link to show. Everything in the red part I want it removed.

In your addon, you added the ability to remove the 'Hide the Visit'. https://1drv.ms/i/s!AhKAknmPR6d7g4BfwyZcNXkkaiGg-Q

Is it possible to remove everything in the red using your addon.

Thank You.

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What is the problem with unchecking History in Options??

If you keep History on the drop-down, you could use this userstyle to hide the history rows:

@-moz-document url(chrome://browser/content/browser.xul){
 #PopupAutoCompleteRichResult richlistitem[type="favicon"]{
  display:none !important;
 }
}

Firefox won't automatically generate more search suggestions to replace the hidden matches, so if you want more suggestions, you'll need to increase the value of a preference to generate more:

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

(2) In the search box above the list, type or paste URLB and pause while the list is filtered

(3) Double-click the browser.urlbar.maxRichResults preference and enter the desired value. You might start with 15 and see how that works for you.

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jscher2000 said

What is the problem with unchecking History in Options?? If you keep History on the drop-down, you could use this userstyle to hide the history rows: @-moz-document url(chrome://browser/content/browser.xul){ #PopupAutoCompleteRichResult richlistitem[type="favicon"]{ display:none !important; } } Firefox won't automatically generate more search suggestions to replace the hidden matches, so if you want more suggestions, you'll need to increase the value of a preference to generate more: (1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button promising to be careful. (2) In the search box above the list, type or paste URLB and pause while the list is filtered (3) Double-click the browser.urlbar.maxRichResults preference and enter the desired value. You might start with 15 and see how that works for you.

My friend, you are an absolute star.

Thank you very much.


What is the problem with unchecking History in Options??

The problem is that most of my history are useless links as you can see from this image below: https://1drv.ms/i/s!AhKAknmPR6d7g4Be91DN2b7o_g1_kg When I write 'the' to search for The Guardian, I can see it, however for some reason I also get Quora. What does Quora link with 'the'?

These links blocks/hides the search suggestions and it is unnecessary and annoying.

Having it like this: https://1drv.ms/i/s!AhKAknmPR6d7g4Bd4VtthQipb4yPzQ means that not only do I see my most visited site, I can also easily access the search suggestions by easily pressing the down button. Moreover, I can search for keywords such as 'YouTube' and be able to see it on the address bar like in the website Google. https://1drv.ms/i/s!AhKAknmPR6d7gv9N_XNPe4e2gpJe8g ^ ^ ^ ^ Like this. This is from Google Chrome.

You manage to solve this annoying feature and I thank you by making the address bar search just like the image from above.

I was about to give up Firefox for good and use Chrome for a better user experience.

A lot of people complain about the annoying awesome bar on reddit after Firefox 48.