[Firefox Tip] Disable or Remove Search Tips and Suggestions Buttons in New Address Bar

Newer versions of Mozilla Firefox web browser come with a redesigned address bar called “Megabar” or “Quantum bar“. It shows URLs list as a pup-up type UI or fly-out.

While using the new address bar, you might have noticed a new type of search suggestions and tips displaying in the address bar. Now while searching for some queries related to Firefox, the browser shows suggestions and tips in form of buttons. These tips are actionable and you can click on the given button to launch Firefox options and other features.

For example, following screenshot shows these new type of actionable suggestions and tips while typing “clear firefox cache” in address bar:

You can notice in the above screenshot, a tip or suggestion “Clear your cache, cookies, history and more” is showing along with a button “Choose What to Clear” in the addressbar.

These new actionable tips and suggestions are called Interventions and it’s a new feature of Firefox browser.

Mozilla team has stored a predefined set of search queries in Firefox core files and whenever a user tries to search for any of those queries, Firefox shows these actionable tips and suggestions in the address bar.

If you don’t like these new search tips and suggestions and find them annoying, this tutorial will help you in disabling and removing these actionable tips from Firefox address bar.

Fortunately, Firefox comes with a hidden preference/flag to permanently deactivate these new search tips and suggestions and once you modify the preference, you’ll be able to get rid of the tips.

Mozilla has defined 3 types of presets of these actionable tips and suggestions. First set shows “Clear your cache, cookies, history and more” text with “Choose What to Clear” button in the address bar for search terms such as firefox cache, firefox cookies, etc.

Second set shows “Restore default settings and remove old add-ons for optimal performance” text with “Refresh Firefox” button in the address bar for search terms such as firefox not responding, firefox slow, etc.

Third set shows “Firefox is up to date. Trying to fix a problem? Restore default settings and remove old add-ons for optimal performance” text with “Refresh Firefox” button in the address bar for search terms such as firefox latest version, firefox install, etc.

To disable and remove these search tips and suggestions from the new address bar in Firefox, check out following steps:

1. Open Mozilla Firefox and type about:config in the addressbar and press Enter. It’ll show you a warning message, click on “Accept the Risk and Continue” button. It’ll open Firefox’s hidden secret advanced configuration page i.e. about:config page.

2. Now type update1 in Search filter box and look for following preference in the window:

The preference value is set to true by default, which means the actionable search tips and suggestions are activated and enabled in Firefox address bar.

3. To deactivate and disable these tips and suggestions, double-click on browser.urlbar.update1.interventions preference and set it to false. Alternatively, you can click on the Toggle icon given next to the preference name.

That’s it. It’ll immediately disable the new actionable search tips and suggestions in Firefox address bar and you’ll never see these irritating suggestions and buttons in the new address bar.

BONUS TIP:

Sometimes Firefox may also show tips for how to use the new address bar. You can also disable those tips by settings browser.urlbar.update1.searchTips preference to false on about:config page.

PS: Google Chrome web browser also comes with a similar feature. Following tutorial will help you in enabling or disabling search tips and suggestions buttons in Chrome address bar:

[Tip] Enable or Disable Search Tips and Suggestions Buttons in Google Chrome Address bar

Also Check:

Tip to Increase Text Size in New Address bar “Megabar” in Mozilla Firefox

[Tip] How to Disable New Redesigned Address bar and Restore Classic Address bar in Mozilla Firefox