Searchin: Remove Unwanted Search Box Changes From Firefox 34

Firefox 34 introduced a new search user interface. One of the features added in this version is the ability to use an alternate search engine on an individual search by clicking a tile in a window that pops up under the search box when it is being typed in. As long time user of DuckDuckGo, I have relied on their powerful !Bang search to accomplish that same result without the disruption that the new One Off feature creates with its dropdown panel.

My initial instinct was to access the One Off panel’s options and remove the installed search engines from the panel. That resulted in no tiles appearing. Unfortunately it didn’t stop the panel from appearing every time I typed in the search box. The good news is, that if you find the new search box behavior as obnoxious and disruptive as I do, you can fix it relatively easily.

1. Type about:config into your Firefox address bar.
2. Click the I’ll be careful, I promise! button if you are presented with one.
3. Enter browser.search.showOneOffButtons into the Search box below the address bar.
4. Right click it and select Toggle. (It should say false when you finish.)
5. Restart Firefox.
6. Your search box will now work the way it used to without the annoying new One Off panel disrupting your workflow.

For your listening and viewing pleasure, here is Cabaret Voltaire‘s Searchin’.

Searchin’ from Nick Cope on Vimeo.