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Since when did Firefox make it so difficult to set custom search engine?


So been moving around a lot with browsers, waterfox, librewolf and very recently degoogle chromium, figured id look at Firefox and holy theres less than half the option in setting then there were afew years back but I gotta say the biggest sin is that adding custom search engine is obfuscated, and the chooses of engines are google, bing, duckduckgo and fucking Amazon! Wtf is that about? But anyway all these search engines are pretty awful including duckduckgo but beyond that the browser scene is a joke, mullvad are about the only company I feel compatible with using now

Edit: instead of saying how easy it is to add custom search engines, I'd like to know why the "add search engine" feature in settings is gone?

This entry was edited (1 year ago)
in reply to squid

True...Harder now to add a custom search engine unless you visit it and then click the url on top to get a dropdown to add it...but manually adding it is hard.

Speaking of search engines I highly recommend searx.neocities.org/ - it randomly uses the best Searx instances. No ads, no tracking...

don't like this

in reply to Tio

I've heard of searx never used it though

Rustmilian doesn't like this.

in reply to squid

I use it daily. We ran an instance too. It is simply great. As good as Google, DDG, and the like are, since it is using them.
in reply to Tio

So its an agitator, will it directly communicate with googelz bing ddg? Or does it use an IP hiding techniques?
in reply to squid

Searx does not share users' IP addresses or search history with the search engines from which it gathers results.


- read more here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Searx and see the source code here github.com/searxng/searxng

in reply to Tio

I'd love to try using it more. How do you add it to Firefox?
in reply to smallaubergine

https://searx.neocities.org/ most search engines get recognized in Firefox. Simply visit the link then right click the url and you should see a menu entry like: Add Searx as your search engine.
in reply to Tio

Thank you! I guess I should have mentioned I'm on mobile. But it was pretty easy to add manually once I read the directions
in reply to Tio

So when you do go to add the engine you provided, what do I need to append after the url to enable searching from the browser address bar? Everything I've tried returns a 404
in reply to bobs_monkey

searx.neocities.org/ most search engines get recognized in Firefox. Simply visit the link then right click the url and you should see a menu entry like: Add Searx as your search engine.
in reply to Tio

Ah my bad, I meant Firefox android. I've been hunting around and am not really coming up with anything
in reply to TheDarkBanana87

As far as I know they have been bought by an ad-company en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Startpag… - but SearX supports Startpage too. Just without the BS. I cannot trust any company honestly. They are incentivized to kinda lie and exaggerate. And search engines ran by companies....are terrible. If their business model is to sell you ads, they will track you one way or another, and if not today, they will do it next year.

ScreaminOctopus doesn't like this.

in reply to Tio

Thanks for the heads up. I mainly use Startpage. Maybe its time to try SearX
in reply to Tio

Here's another one worth a try. 4get.ca
in reply to squid

Generally speaking, I’ve noticed that, for inexperienced users and beginners, the settings pages/windows/tabs for many web browsers aren’t very… friendly. They’re designed mostly for advanced users and users who are already accustomed to their design/layout.

The one exception to this would be Safari, which is designed to be far more accessible, but most advanced users dislike using it for this reason (and a few other novel UX decisions).

This entry was edited (1 year ago)
in reply to gregorum

The obfuscation of default search engine is predatory is more of what I'm getting at

Also no, setting page is not for advanced users, about:config is

This entry was edited (1 year ago)
in reply to squid

Yeah, I agree with you re: obfuscation of changing the default search engine. That’s crappy.

I was speaking in a general sense of FF’s and most popular browsers' settings pages’/panels’ UX design, not trying to impugn your own ability to find the setting. Apologies if it came off that way.

This entry was edited (1 year ago)
in reply to squid

I mean Firefox is mostly funded by a deal with Google to have them as the default engine. I don't like it but I understand why it is the way it is.
in reply to dannoffs

Yep its a sorry state of affairs and ass backwards way to circumvent anti trust laws.

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in reply to squid

Incidentally unless somebody removed it in the last ten years you should be able to add your Friendica site as a search engine. I recently upgraded this in streams with an updated permissions specification as a direct response to what is in my opinion a horrible search specification proposed for the fediverse by a project that I will refrain from calling out publicly.

fediversity.site/help/develop/…

in reply to squid

Out of curiosity, why did you say that duckduckgo was particularly awful?

sir_reginald doesn't like this.

in reply to atlasraven31

Its an american company, so privacy be damned

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in reply to squid

You will eventually dream to live here after the UK new bill.

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in reply to Apollo2323

I don't mean this as an us against them statement, I wouldn't use services hosted in the uk either

its_me_gb doesn't like this.

in reply to squid

What are you talking about?

support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/a…

That took me like two second to find. You can also use addons, like this one for Qwant:

addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firef…

Which I like. But none of this is hard or "obfuscated", and it's literally identical to changing or adding a new search engine on Waterfox.

I have a lot of issues with Mozilla, not least of which is their reliance on Google for income. It's like hiring a dingo as a babysitter. But c'mon, man.

in reply to s20

Okay so I remember when in setting I could just add search engines, why remove that feature? Why not have the add from search bar as well as in settings?
in reply to squid

That doesn't make sense? How would you have the "add from search bar" feature in the settings screen?

It's a context specific method of adding a search engine - you add it when you're at the site. Meanwhile the setting screen is global for the browser.

in reply to BananaTrifleViolin

Sorry I miss typed, would it make sense to of left the custom search engine option in settings whilst also adding the ad from search bar option?

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in reply to squid

Maybe. But even if that was the case, the way it is now isn't obfuscated. It's not difficult. It's not hard to find out how to do it. You made a big long post to complain about an "obfuscated" feature that I found in under a minute.

Next time, either do a search or ask for help, instead of whinging like a n00b. Or worse, some kind of Google FUD-spreading parasite.

FFS, Jesus Wept. I finally understand those blokes over at FreeBSD telling me to RTFM twenty years ago.

Edit: Apparently, the synonym for complain I used before was offensive. It was not the "B" word, which I only use in reference to female dogs. Just wanted that to be clear.

This entry was edited (1 year ago)

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in reply to s20

Part of the vocal few, most people seem to agree that googles relationship to Mozilla is negative, and it doesn't matter that you'd find the answer by searching for it, what does matter is that there was a perfectly adequate solution that is now gone for no rhyme or reason, and not one person here has said why removing the option is beneficial but what ever, this conversation has become petty and I don't care for the direction you've taken
in reply to squid

TL;DR: Don't lay this one on me, buddy. You walked in here looking for a fight.


I didn't much care for the direction you started in. If you wanted an actual discussion, then opening with hostility and claims that could be refuted if you'd bothered with less than a minute of research is the wrong way to go.

If you want a civilized discussion, you have to start with a civilized post. My responses have been no more hostile than your opening salvo.

As it happens, Google's influence over Mozilla is of massive concern to me. And I agree that the change was not needed. But it's not obscure, it's not hard to find out how to do what you wanted to do, and your hostility to responses suggesting DuckDuckGo only confirmed my suspicion that you didn't want an answer, you wanted a fight.

So I gave you one.

Here's the deal. If you walk into a place with guns blazing, you don't get to act all surprised and indignant when someone fires back.

in reply to squid

Yes. It is. And so was doing a big complainy rant without doing any research.

Again: if you want polite discourse, you have to open with that, not rant and get mad about it later. You set the standard, I just went along with it.

in reply to s20

I don't believe you'd read the body of my post. As I'd never said default search engine couldn't be changed

So point is that while your saying I didnt do research what gave you that impression. My dispute is with obfuscation

This entry was edited (1 year ago)
in reply to squid

It's not obfuscated if it takes less than a minute to find the answer, dude.

I liked it better the old way, but the feature isn't hidden.

ETA: My point is you don't get to complain when people reflect back the energy you put out.

This entry was edited (1 year ago)
in reply to s20

The dictionary definition of obfuscation means to purposely obscure , make harder, and there is no mention of a time frame. So with the add by URL gone from settings and a limited amount of defaults search engine thats are all shit and no clear reasoning for the removal of that setting then how does that not fit the definition of obfuscation.

ETA: My point is you don't get to complain when people reflect back the energy you put out.


I definitly can complain as can you and anyone else. I am admittedly stoborn (not for stobornness sake or pride) but I have not resorted to name calling

This entry was edited (1 year ago)
in reply to squid

You know, I had a big long thing about my local grocery store obfuscating the peanut butter, but I deleted it. I think I'm just gonna let this one go.

Look, dude, I think we probably caught each other at a bad time or something. I'm not generally this confrontational, and I kinda doubt you are either. I'm sorry I dragged it out so far, and I'm sorry I responded the way I did to your expression of frustration.

I'll try to be better. Have a great day, yeah?

in reply to s20

Not a problem till next time, and you too buddy have great day
in reply to arglebargle

I've reinstalled Firefox to test this and followed your direction. I can't see anymore search engines than previously stated
in reply to squid

Right there where it says Find More Search Engines:.

Or the other way, go to on any site, click the search bar and the option to add it as a search appears at the bottom of the search bar: i.imgur.com/c3bFc7g.png

I went to the Quant website, and then it offered for me to add it as a search, hence the + symbol. Or click the settings button to "Find more search engines".

I will admit that having to browse through Firefox extensions is not as easy, but the ability to add an engine at any time, without even using settings, simply by visiting the web page is pretty simple.

Edit: I didnt find it hard at all, using the keyword search in the settings menu. But they also have a guide: support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/a…

This entry was edited (1 year ago)
in reply to arglebargle

Addons, I would avoid as they make it easier to fingerprints and also its the long way around, if all I want to do is add a URL like google.com or bing then why should I add an extension

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in reply to squid

Perhaps it is easier for them to have search engines offer their services through that avenue?

But it doesnt matter, if you go to any site that has search, all you have to do is click the + "add search engine" right in the address bar. Doesnt get much easier.

Even sites like Shodan work.

This entry was edited (1 year ago)
in reply to arglebargle

But it was much easier lol and logical

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in reply to squid

in reply to BananaTrifleViolin

And why the hell would I use an add-on for a web address? My point is that the search engine feature is gone from settings

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in reply to BananaTrifleViolin

One thing that is difficult to do though is adding a custom search engine query that is not already offered in the OpenSearch XML format. For example, how would you go about making https://lemmy.world/search?type=All&listingType=All&page=1&sort=TopAll&q=%s the default search engine pattern?

When I tried to do something similar I ended up creating and serving the XML from my own web server. Would love to know if there is an easier way. It used to be trivial to do via preferences.

Edit, sorry, Lemmy insists on turning ampersands into & for some reason, here it is the example URL pattern as a link

Also, this support post has some discussion on the issue.

This entry was edited (1 year ago)
in reply to squid

Not sure why you get downvoted so heavily, I have also found that adding a custom search engine is unnecessary hard in Firefox these days.

There is a way to get the “add” button back in the settings described here: superuser.com/a/1756774

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in reply to ducking_donuts

Never kick an underdog even if the underdog is directly funded by google, I should imagine google had a large part to play in these changes. But anyway thanks for the link

I've also come off and confrontational with my stance, its hard not to be when a large portion of replys have been dancing around the stated issue of senseless removal of a key setting

This entry was edited (1 year ago)
in reply to squid

support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/a…

But I also agree that they really need better defaults in that list, while adding more isn't complex, most people are going to either use the default, or just pick from the dropdown of defaults which are bad.

This entry was edited (1 year ago)