URL bar stuck on "Search or Enter Address"

My URL Bar is stuck on 'search or enter address'. If I type something in and go to a new tab, what i typed stays stuck there too!

Hello,
your system details show you have 3 different Version of Flash:
Shockwave Flash 15.0 r0
Shockwave Flash 11.3 r300
Shockwave Flash 11.2 r202
Please remove the older version and see if the problem goes away.

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The site addresses what I'm on keep getting replaced with "search or enter address" please help

whenever I open a new tab the site address is replaced with "search or enter address" and automatically prepares me to type in the address. this means I can't copy the site address of the website I'm on as there is nothing I can copy.

Sometimes a problem with Firefox may be a result of malware installed on your computer, that you may not be aware of.
You can try these free programs to scan for malware, which work with your existing antivirus software:
* [http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/default.aspx Microsoft Safety Scanner]
* [http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free/ MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware]
* [http://support.kaspersky.com/faq/?qid=208283363 TDSSKiller - AntiRootkit Utility]
* [http://www.surfright.nl/en/hitmanpro/ Hitman Pro]
* [http://www.eset.com/us/online-scanner/ ESET Online Scanner]
[http://windows.microsoft.com/MSE Microsoft Security Essentials] is a good permanent antivirus for Windows 7/Vista/XP if you don't already have one.
Further information can be found in the [[Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware]] article.
Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

Using Firefox 4, the URL bar no longer displays the web address for my current web-site so I can't copy and paste links. Plus there's no refresh button.

I upgraded to Firefox 4 and so far I really don't like it, but I still would like to give it a chance. However, the URL address bar no longer shows the current address for websites that I surf into. So it makes sharing pages or emailing links next to impossible. In addition to that, there is no Refresh icon that I can find so I'm stuck just hitting F5 to refresh my page.
Short of downgrading, is there anyway I can change those particular issues?

That issue can be caused by an extension that isn't working properly.
Start Firefox in [[Safe Mode]] to check if one of the extensions is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).
* Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
* https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Safe+Mode
If it does work in Safe-mode then disable all extensions and then try to find which is causing it by enabling one at a time until the problem reappears.
* Use "Disable all add-ons" on the [[Safe mode]] start window to disable all extensions.
* Close and restart Firefox after each change via "File > Exit" (Mac: "Firefox > Quit"; Linux: "File > Quit")
In Firefox 4 you can use one of these to start in [[Safe mode]]:
* Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
* Hold down the Shift key while double clicking the Firefox desktop shortcut (Windows)
* https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes

Any way to get URL bar Hybrid Lucky Search Back?

So I was always an enormous fan of the Hybrid I'm Feeling Lucky url search and felt it functioned nearly to perfection. It seemed like a natural progression of web browsing in general. That said, it disappeared a long time ago and while in the past I've had success manually editing the function of the url bar in Firefox's config, even that seems to no longer work. For probably over a year I've occasionally poked around to see if I could get this function to return but despite all my efforts (mainly just editing the keyword.url and trying different plugins) I've failed to get my URL bar to return to the Hybrid Lucky search. My frustration with such an absence has thus led me to feel it's time to write in. I'm just hoping to get any answers about this, whether that be that there's something going on with my comp or my version of firefox, or whether Mozilla has, for some reason, blocked this feature.

When you type a search query into the address bar, whatever engine is currently selected in the search bar will be used. ''keyword.url'' stopped having any effect all the way back in Firefox 23 (bug 738818).
You can search using specific engines by assigning a keyword to them in the Manage Search Engines window. For example typing '''l''' ''gingerbread recipes'' could search for those words using Google's I'm Feeling Lucky search.
* [[Search the web from the Address Bar]]
You can find many additional search engines on the Mycroft Project site. For example, if you're looking for Google's I'm Feeling Lucky search:
* [http://mycroftproject.com/search-engines.html?name=Google+%22I%27m+Feeling+Lucky%22 Google "I'm Feeling Lucky" Search Engine Plugins | Mycroft Project]

When I click the URL bar or the search bar, it doesn't select the text or show the cursor like it used to.

AS the question says, when I clicked the search bar in previous versions, "Google" would disappear and I would see the flashing cursor. When I clicked in the URL of a blank tab, it would select all the text, and I would see a cursor when I typed or backspaced to remove the selected text. Now, none of that happens.
After a bit of troubleshooting, it appears that any theme I use causes this issue.
In the previous version of Firefox, I used the exact same plugins add-ons and theme, and never had this issue.
I went thru and tried disabling all the add-ons and plugins, and unless I run in safe mode, I have the same result. None of the add-ons or plugins causes this. It seems to be any theme I use that causes this.

Firefox 15+ will still display the grayed placeholder text if you click an input field or text area. 
The placeholder text will only disappear after you have typed at least one character.
Does a present URL get selected if you click or double-click the location bar?
There are some prefs to set what will happen if you click the location bar:
* browser.urlbar.clickSelectsAll
* browser.urlbar.doubleClickSelectsAll
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/about:config
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/About:config_entries

Lengthen and shorten the search bar and the URL bar

I like to be able to change the size of the search bar and the URL bar. I hate not seeing the whole URL as needed. And sometimes, I want to read everything I type in the search bar. This is a non-negotiable for me and I have stuck with the 3.+++ because Firefox removed this capability.
I read that the toolbar was now customizable (haha). But there's no way I can find to customize it to MY way. I can move the URL bar ABOVE the search bar, but I don't like it there. It would be satisfactory if I could move both the URL and the search to a separate line, but Firefox, in its wisdom, has decided I'm not permitted to do that easily, if at all.
For me, a good browser works the way I like it to work. I'm never happy when features I use are discarded. It's fine when new ones are added on, but when an update feels like a downgrade to me, I return to the old program. (E.g., I still use XP) If I cannot make this work, I'll have to go back to an old edition that lets me work my way.
I'm anti Procrustean bed.

Thanks Ahnasr but that didn't work in the newer FireFoxes, although it had previously. That's why I posted the question.
However, I had planned to delete the question on here (couldn't find it!) when I discovered I was able to open a new toolbar and place the URL line below the buttons. Then, joyfully, I was able to also move the searchbar to the same line. And, I was thrilled to find that at that point, I was again able to resize both toolbars (although it was less necessary because of the space).
That solved, I am now trying Aurora and so far, so good. I'm amazed at how such a simple thing can be a stopper for me.
Now, if I could figure out how to prevent TABS altogether, I'd be really happy (I keep my WToolbar to the right and open all in new windows).
Thanks for helping!

The address in the URL-bar doesn't update after clicking some links. Why?

Hello,
first: thanks a lot for this great Browser!
My Firefox-Version:
6.0.2 on Windows XP
My Problem:
Since a few weeks (I think since Version 6.x) I experience this problem.
When I click on a link, normally the URL-bar gets updated and shows the address of the new (the current) website.
This doesn´t work now - for some links!
Example:
Surf to times.com.
Then click on an article-link (for example this one: "Opinion »
Op-Ed: Germany’s Mediterranean Envy ).
The link (the new website) opens in the same tab. But in the URL-bar I still see just "times.com". I even don't see "http://" infront of it.
And very important to me: I don't see the complete URL of the article - which should be
"http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/26/opinion/germanys-love-for-greece.html?hp".
That causes many problems with my work. :-/
Please help.
Thank you!

You can set the pref browser.urlbar.formatting.enabled to false on the about:config page to disable the highlighting of the domain and see the full URL more clearly.
You can set the pref browser.urlbar.trimURLs to false on the about:config page to see the protocol (e.g. http or https).
To open the about:config page, type about:config in the location (address) bar and press the "Enter" key, just like you type the url of a website to open a website. 
If you see a warning then you can confirm that you want to access that page. 
*Use the Filter bar at to top of the about:config page to locate a preference more easily.
*Preferences that have been modified show as bold (user set).
*Preferences can be reset to the default via the right-click context menu if they are user set
*Preferences can be changed via the right-click context menu: Modify (String or Integer) or Toggle (Boolean)

How do I change my default search engine in the URL bar back to Google after my ISP replaced my default search engine with their own?

Before I changed internet service providers, I could type my search queries into the url bar and receive search results from Google. After I switched ISPs, my queries typed into the url bar are put into my new ISP's horrible search engine. How do I change it back?
I've already tried going to about:config and changing the value of the keyword.URL preference to "http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=" but that didn't fix my problem.
New information since creation of the post:
My ISP is Optimum. I have opted out of DNS Assistance and still have seen no change.
When my search term is two words or more, I am directed to Google search results. If my search term is only one word, however, I am still directed to Optimum's search results.

Hello samshine, try to reset the '''browser.search.defaultenginename''' in about:config and check it again.
thank you

How can I display the URL bar and bookmarks bar when I have the addons page opened?

It seems counter-intuitive to me that the Firefox addons page does not have the same toolbars that other tabs have, and I have not found an option to add them back in (or an addon to fix it). Instead of being able to enter a URL directly from the addons page or click a bookmark, I must navigate away from the tab before I can go anywhere else. Additionally, it graphically looks out of place when I shift through tabs and most of the toolbars disappear for a second as I move over the addons tab.
Some other utilities that use their own pages manage to preserve the toolbar customization without removing it completely, so I'm wondering if there's a way for the addons page to do it as well.
An example of another utility that has its own page without removing the toolbars is the Download Manager Tweak addon. One of its options allows the user to open their download page as a tab, which also contains the toolbar customization of normal, browser tabs.
Thanks in advance!

Just for reference:
The solution to press a hotkey to move the text focus to a hidden navigation item (e.g. the URL bar or the search bar) was only a temporary fix, and only worked for Ctrl+K (search bar, maybe ctrl+E too but I didn't test it).
The problem didn't really bug me all too much until tonight, so I installed the Stylish script from the StackOverflow link above and the problem is solved now.

Can no longer enter data in the address bar {url Bar}, it correctly follows data from google search bar. It was a 1 month old installation so not a lot of complications

I was not adding anything to Firefox. I Refused tool bars embedded in several application installs on this new computer. Was working fine. Then had a problem with Google search, restored default values and re-tooled Firefox. At this point all worked fine. Then my url, address bar changed color to the same color as the program shell, a grey brown as opposed to the white it was before. With the change in color it no longer allows me to change the data showing in the bar. I can not delete or add data. I used to add a url and navigate to the domain. Now I can not

Greetings,
TY for the reply, the information was enlightening to be sure. I never knew safe mode was an option with Firefox. I have so many tasks running that I didn't want to shut things down. What I did is turn off some of the last plug-ins I installed. That did not fix the problem at least in the first look. What happened next was very interesting none the less. I had a moment of mouse spastic wrist syndrome and accidentally moved a tab in such a way that it opened in a new window. The URL bar was white and editable. So I moved all my tabs to the new window and everything works as it should. I have restarted Firefox this morning and it came back with the bar editable and I am speechless to understand what I may have done to correct the problem if anything ??

I cannot upgrade past 28 my dropdown menu will not work in the address bar I can not search from address bar stuck at home page

Once I open firefox browser with anything past 28.0 my browser becomes a paperweight no searches from the address bar. Not from the list of drop downs, not from typing the address in the bar. Stuck to the home page it had as default. Firefox does an update every time I close it forcing me to return to 28.0 or through my F--n computer in the trash. Noticed others had this problem but got only questions with no help coming from firefox. This is a Vista 64 bit if that maters. I kinda think maybe nothing past 28 will work but with Vista but no one from firefox will step up and say that.

Type '''about:addons'''<enter> in the address bar to open your Add-ons Manager.
Hot key; '''<Control>''(Mac:<Command>)''<Shift> A)'''
In the Add-ons Manager, on the left, select '''Extensions.'''
Disable a few add-ons, then '''Restart Firefox.'''
Some added toolbar and anti-virus add-ons are known to cause
Firefox issues. '''Disable All of them.'''
If the problem continues, disable some more (restarting FF). Continue until
the problem is gone. After, you know what group is causing the issue.
Re-enable the last group '''ONE AT A TIME''' (restarting FF) until the problem returns.
Once you think you found the problem, disable that and re-enable all the
others, then restart again. Let us know who the suspect is detective.

Safari 6 Address bar defaults to 'search'. How do I get default to URL?

I like the old default of adding '.com. to the location I type in the address bar. Now, it has defaulted to search and my options appear to be Bing, Google, or Yahoo. I've tried the Customize Toolbar option with no luck. How do I get Safari 6 to default to the web address rather than search mode?

@Camping Doc: I subscribe to this.
My first entry in any Apple forum if I recall it right, but hopefully some internal developers will see this.
From my point of view Safari 6 is indeed a big step backward. My troubles in short:
Entering urls causes a search engine request, seems that "Prevent search engine from providing suggestions" does not work properly.
Even starting the url with http:// or https:// or entering IP addresses causes search ?! (I don't want google to know any of my LAN addresses if mistyped, or servers I administer).
HTTPS (with the lock on the left) can disappear even if the certificate is trusted all the chain up. I would like to see directly if I login with SSL. Even my granny wants to see that.
Even if the setting "Prevent search engines auto completion" == on I get an auto completion list, maybe a cached one ?! The dropdown list definitely says "Google search results ...".
Editing URIs causes me a lot of trouble, again because of the auto-completion.
I can understand that a some people (I personally know some) might be ok with all this because they might not care about SSL, and enter URLs in the Google page text field, but PLEASE make at least an opt-out setting or get the "Prevent search engine from providing suggestions" running properly. Safafi was always such a nice piece of software with good usability and good developer tools as well.
{ Version I use: 6.0 (7536.25) @ Lion 10.7.4 }

In the url bar is it possible to autoselect the first search result by pressing enter?

Whenever I use the url bar in firefox, often times the first entry in the bookmarks/history search is the one I want to use. What I want to do is just be able to type 'fb' for instance and just hit enter. It will then redirect me to facebook.com. What I have to do currently is type 'fb' (I have facebook bookmarked as fb) then hit the down arrow, then press enter. If I press enter without hitting the down arrow first, then it does google search for facebook, which is not what I intended. This is kind of cumbersome to me when 'fb' will always make the first entry be facebook due to how I have it bookmarked.

Hi dr.admiral37,
You could bookmark Facebook and add a Keyword (by editing the bookmark the keyword option will become available). You can then simply type the keyword (in this case fb) in your location bar, hit enter and you'll be redirected to the bookmarked site.
Hope that helped.
Regards,
Ziggy

Can't just push the Enter button to just search in URL bar. Why?

With the various version 3s of Firefox all I had to do was type in an a search in the URL bar and press Enter to begin a search, or type a url in and press enter and BAM I'm at the site. Now I have to go and click the arrow button to go to what I type.

That can be caused by a problematic or incompatibe add-on. to find out what one is causing this, follow the procedure in this link - https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes

Google Search text prediction in URL Bar

Hello,
Is it possible to enable Google Search text prediction during typing words in URL Bar?
Now I need to hit ENTER in URL Bar if I want to search some word or use very useless Search Bar :-(
Any other browser like Chrome, Safari, Opera has one bar for anything (URL and SEARCH) with text prediction as well.

You probably are getting Google search suggestions in the 3 search bars (on the navigation toolbar, built-in home page, and built-in new tab page). If not, you can turn on search suggestions using one of these 3 methods:
* right-click the Search Bar (the one on the main navigation toolbar) > Show Suggestions
* click the magnifying glass icon on the Search Bar > Change Search Settings, then check the box for Provide search suggestions
* click the magnifying glass icon for the search box on the built-in home page or new tab page > Manage Search Engines, then check the box for Provide search suggestions
Those do not appear in the address bar yet. For now, you might want to check out this extension:
https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/omnibar/

URL bar stuck on "Search or Enter Address"

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