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How to not start the default engine after selecting a suggested search term?

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  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by dbsfx

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As soon as I select an item from the drop-down suggestions in the search bar, it automatically starts the search using the default search engine. Is there a way to stop this? I want to select which search engine to use after selecting a suggested search term.

As soon as I select an item from the drop-down suggestions in the search bar, it automatically starts the search using the default search engine. Is there a way to stop this? I want to select which search engine to use after selecting a suggested search term.

Chosen solution

This had not occurred to me before because I don't use search engine suggestions in the search bar. Hmm...

I experimented with think cor-el's suggestions on Windows, and it seems that either of these mouse and keyboard combinations will work:

(1) Select a suggestion first with the keyboard, then click the icon for your preferred site

Using the keyboard, press the down and up arrow keys to select the suggestion so that it populates into the search bar, and then click the icon for the site you want to use.

(2) Select a site first with the keyboard, then click the suggestion you want to search

Using the keyboard, press the Tab key to select the search engine, and then click the suggestion to send to that site.

Do either of those work on Mac?

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All Replies (5)

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Hi  !

Would you take a look at this article, please  ?

Especially the section 'Using another search provider' :

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/search-web-address-bar

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See also:

You should be able to select a suggestion by using the cursor Down key. You can use the Tab key to cycle through items in the drop-down list. You can use Command + cursor Down/Up (Windows and Linux: Control key) to change the default search engine.

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Chosen Solution

This had not occurred to me before because I don't use search engine suggestions in the search bar. Hmm...

I experimented with think cor-el's suggestions on Windows, and it seems that either of these mouse and keyboard combinations will work:

(1) Select a suggestion first with the keyboard, then click the icon for your preferred site

Using the keyboard, press the down and up arrow keys to select the suggestion so that it populates into the search bar, and then click the icon for the site you want to use.

(2) Select a site first with the keyboard, then click the suggestion you want to search

Using the keyboard, press the Tab key to select the search engine, and then click the suggestion to send to that site.

Do either of those work on Mac?

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Thanks for your suggestions. I don't have time to try them out today but I will soon and report back.

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Using keyboard arrows instead of trackpad solves the problem. So simple, but I never thought of it. Thanks!