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How to stop URL bar from enlarging on click?
I am used to double clicking to select words in the URL bar. Not too long ago Firefox had an update where if you click on the URL bar then it would enlarge a bit. When it enlarges, so does the font, meaning that if I try to double click a word, the font resizing could shift the text. It is something minor, but something I am so used to doing. I was wondering if I could go back to the old URL bar that only got a blue highlight on click.
Asịsa ahọpụtara
**UPDATE**
The original solution was for Firefox 75. Due to changes in Firefox 77, the original solution is obsolete and there are new options.
Firefox supports an optional style sheet file named userChrome.css that we can use to modify the toolbar area, including taming the expanding address bar. Setting up your first userChrome.css file is about a 10 minute project, so when you have time to dive in, here are some threads to check out:
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1283911#answer-1303777
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1284030#answer-1304125
- https://www.userchrome.org/megabar-styling-firefox-address-bar.html#mbarstyler
More background on userChrome.css files: https://www.userchrome.org/
Original Solution (Firefox 75-76)
In Nightly, there is a specific preference for this in about:config called browser.urlbar.update1 (previously known as browser.urlbar.megabar).
Setting that to false will revert the bar to its more typical behavior in new windows (the windows that are already open seem to keep the megabar behavior until the next session).
For anyone unfamiliar:
(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button accepting the risk.
(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.update1 preference to switch the value from true to false
Note: This preference does not exist in Firefox 71-72.
Gụọ azịza a na nghọta 👍 10All Replies (20)
Hi EMR, here in support we can help with settings and workarounds, but we aren't product developers and don't have special access.
Obviously there is no shortage of comments on the URL bar changes by now, but for general reference, to submit feature change suggestions, you have many choices, depending on your desired style of interaction.
Discussion Sites/Advocacy
- Mozilla Discourse: https://discourse.mozilla.org/
If none of the categories seem to fit, try https://discourse.mozilla.org/c/firefox-development - Reddit (monitored by Mozilla): https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/
- I saw someone created a Change.org petition but I don't know who sees those
Limited Length Comments
- Feedback site: https://qsurvey.mozilla.com/s3/FirefoxInput/
- Twitter (Mozilla official): https://twitter.com/firefox
It got really weird and ugly. Disproportionate. I had to disable it changing browser.urlbar.update1.
But it would be interesting to review that. Make the bar stand out, but without this bizarre zoom.
You can use code in userChrome.css to revert the CSS changes that cause the enlarging.
- /questions/1283992 How do I disable the enlarged address bar when I focus on it?
- /questions/1284030 Address bar changes?
- https://www.userchrome.org/megabar-styling-firefox-address-bar.html
cor-el said
. . . An alternative is to use code in userChrome.css to revert the change in width and height of the location bar. . . .
Wait a minute - userChrome.css? What's the point of Firefox if with every version it becomes more and more like Chrome?
I used to like the behavior whereby if I selected the URL, the cursor would stay exactly where I put it - meaning I could correct a typo (happens a lot - fat fingers) real quick. Now, I have to click twice to do the same thing - :). Maybe I'll start using the Extended Support Release (ESR) version that Ubuntu provides in their snap library - it still has that feature - for as long as I can, then call it quits when I no longer have that benefit in Firefox.
Incentives to use Firefox are diminishing with each new version that eats away all the niche features we enjoy.
Edeziri
Yep, well said, I already switched to chrome, with a blank start page plugin, and PREFERENCES OPTIONS, it's pretty similar to what ff used to be (with some quirks, LOL).
I'll check back from time to time to see how firefox is doing.
You can set this pref to 0 (zero) to disable the drop-down list.
- browser.urlbar.maxRichResults = 0
You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. You can accept the warning and click "I accept the risk!" to continue.
I really can't comprehend what benefit this function provides to the user. To me it is a distraction and annoyance and I really hope that future versions of FF will drop it, or at the very least there will be a setting within Preferences that will allow us to turn it off.
ak.mozilla said
Wait a minute - userChrome.css? What's the point of Firefox if with every version it becomes more and more like Chrome?
I hope you're not thinking that creating a 'userChrome.css' file is somehow borrowing or implementing features from Google Chrome? That's far from reality, please tell me I've misunderstood you.
Guys i have the same problem and although I found a solution for the previous Version now i have this very annoying big search bar obscuring my bookmarks .I can't understand what's the point of this feature
Edeziri
If this change was meant to improve user experience for touch-screen users then why don't I see it on my Android tablet?
And why i can't have the option to disable it
Konstant Man said
Guys i have the same problem and although I found a solution for the previous Version now i have this very annoying big search bar obscuring my bookmarks .I can't understand what's the point of this feature
Konstant Man said
And why i can't have the option to disable it
Hi Konstant Man, here in support we can help with workarounds, but we don't have a communication channel to the user interface designers to answer those questions.
You can use custom style rules in a userChrome.css file to modify numerous aspects of Firefox's toolbar area, including the address bar enlarging/bulging effect, shadow, etc.
Check out the links in cor-el's reply earlier in this thread:
https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1274579?page=2#answer-1306867
And to give more feedback:
https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1274579?page=2#answer-1306532
Found solution:
place userChrome.css into profile into chrome subdirectory
in my case: c:\Users\{user}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{id}.default\chrome\
content of the file can be found via links in other posts
Edeziri
Hi jscher2000, unfortunately your code does not work for me. My Firefox (77.0, latest) seems to ignore the userChrome.css altogether.
Any suggestion?
Thanks in advance.
dr said
Hi jscher2000, unfortunately your code does not work for me. My Firefox (77.0, latest) seems to ignore the userChrome.css altogether. Any suggestion?
If it's your first userChrome.css, make sure you set Firefox to look for it at startup. That's step #6 on my list here:
https://www.userchrome.org/how-create-userchrome-css.html
Maybe I should make that step #1?
If it's your first userChrome.css, make sure you set Firefox to look for it at startup. That's step #6 on my list here: https://www.userchrome.org/how-create-userchrome-css.html Maybe I should make that step #1?
Thanks, it works now.
Yes, you should put this at the top of the list. I ignored it because it said "Firefox 69", it should say "Firefox 69 and later versions".
I also realized that I used to have a functioning userChrome.css but the toolkit.legacyUserProfileCustomizations.stylesheets preference was wiped out with each Firefox update (very annoying).
Thank you very much for your help and your code! I hope the Firefox devs add an option to disable that hideous swelling URL bar.
Edeziri
I also agree that Firefox devs should add an option to disable that hideous swelling URL bar. It's an absolute eyesore. I'm going to use a different browser in the meantime. Having to create my own stylesheet to change the GUI means I'm not the target demographic anymore, so see ya.
The fact that you have to add a custom CSS stylesheet to fix this behaviour is ridiculous. Please - add a config option back to 77, or provide an add-on that disables the behaviour, or something.
Edeziri
bleeping hostile. Why I should search folder where to save some bleeping CSS to disable address bar enlargement? Why every good browser search way to fail down itself?
profanity removed. see Mozilla Support rules and guidelines
Edeziri
Hey All, I hear your frustration, but support forum volunteers do not have the ability to change Firefox. We can offer information on settings and workarounds, which you can find here and all over the forum in recent days.
To submit feature change suggestions, you have many choices, depending on your desired style of interaction.
Discussion Sites/Advocacy
- Mozilla Discourse: https://discourse.mozilla.org/
If none of the categories seem to fit, try https://discourse.mozilla.org/c/firefox-development - Reddit (monitored by Mozilla): https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/
- I saw someone created a Change.org petition but I don't know who sees those
Limited Length Comments
- Feedback site: https://qsurvey.mozilla.com/s3/FirefoxInput/
- Twitter (Mozilla official): https://twitter.com/firefox