[Tip] New Working Method to Disable Enlarging Address bar in Mozilla Firefox
Newer versions of Mozilla Firefox web browser come with a new redesigned address bar which is called Megabar (previously codenamed Quantumbar). The new address bar (or URL bar) shows URL suggestions list in a pop-up style UI. As soon as user clicks inside the address bar to type something, the new Megabar displays in extended or enlarged form and shows search suggestions taken from browsing history, bookmarks, etc.
The new Megabar takes lots of space as there is huge padding and blank space between suggestion entries. The font size of URLs and text has also been increased.
Following screenshot shows the new revamped address bar i.e. Megabar in Mozilla Firefox web browser:
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Many Firefox users don’t like this change. They find this pop-up styled new address bar annoying. In previous versions of Firefox (version 76 and older), it was possible to disable the new Megabar and restore classic address bar by modifying a built-in preference/flag.
We shared the tip in following tutorial:
[Tip] How to Disable New Redesigned Address bar and Restore Classic Address bar in Mozilla Firefox
Unfortunately, the trick no longer works in newer Firefox versions (77 and later). The preference (browser.urlbar.update1) has been removed from about:config page.
Now users can’t get rid of the new Megabar and can’t bring back the old address bar in Firefox.
Fortunately Mozilla team has added a new hidden secret preference/flag to newer versions of Firefox which can remove the new pop-up Megabar. You can apply the new preference and it’ll restore the classic address bar in Firefox.
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Following screenshot shows classic address bar without any pop-up UI in Firefox:
Once the classic address bar is restored, you can type anything inside the address bar and it’ll no longer enlarge or pop-up on screen. No URL suggestions are shown, no animations and shadow effects.
NOTE: There is another 100% working method to get classic address bar back in Mozilla Firefox by using CSS style code. You can check the new method in following article:
[Tip] The Best Working Method to Get Classic Address bar in Mozilla Firefox
The preference/flag is not available by default and we need to create it manually.
If you also want to disable new Megabar and restore classic address bar in Mozilla Firefox newer versions, following steps will help you:
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 copy and paste following string in Search filter box:
browser.urlbar.disableExtendForTests
Since the preference doesn’t exist, Firefox will ask you to create the preference by showing Boolean, Number and String radio buttons to select.
Select Boolean (it’s selected by default) and click on “+” button to add the preference to Firefox.
3. You can also disable/remove the broken URL suggestions drop-down list using following step:
Type richresults in Search filter box and look for following preference in the window:
browser.urlbar.maxRichResults
The preference value is set to 10. Double-click on the preference or click on the Edit (pencil) icon to change the value.
Set the value to 0 and press Enter key.
That’s it. Now check the address bar and new Megabar will be gone. Firefox will show classic address bar without any URL suggestions list and without any pop-up UI with shadow effects and animations.
PS: You can restart Firefox if you find glitches in restored classic address bar. After restarting Firefox, the address bar will work perfectly. If you have opened multiple tabs and you don’t want to lose them, you can restart Firefox without losing tabs using methods given in following tutorial:
[Tip] How to Restart Mozilla Firefox Without Losing Tabs
Also Check:
Tip to Increase Text Size in New Address bar “Megabar” in Mozilla Firefox
[Firefox Tip] Disable or Remove Search Tips and Suggestions Buttons in New Address Bar
Thanks VG. You’re the best.
Hey VG, great find. But this method also disables all URL bar suggestions outright. Any workaround for that? Thanks.
Not worth it.. Disabling all the suggestions is not feasible..
I’d like to know who the hell even asked for this enlarged ugly new URL bar in the first place? Who demanded it from Mozilla? Literally no one. But they seem to go out of their way to make it stick whether we like it or not. Because having OFFICIAL switch inside menu or at least as about:config switch is apparently a thing we can’t ask for. Because reasons. I can show you about:config tweaks that date back years and they are still functional today. They removed the switch for URL bar in just 2 versions (matter of few months). It’s absurd and idiotic and I don’t understand what drives Mozilla so hard for them to force this stupid new URL bar so hard on us. I was like, ok, it’s annoying as hell but I can turn it off. And I even made Firefox Tweaker tool to change such parameters in few clicks, making my life easier and bearable. And here came Mozilla again and took that from me, forcing me to use annoying oversized twitching and flashing new URL bar. This bothered me so much I ditched Firefox and I’m currently on freaking Opera. Opera of all browsers because of Mozilla’s arrogance. Heh. I was so mad I was even eyeing new Microsoft Edge. Imagine how bad it had to be for me to even consider that route. And I’m not returning to Firefox until Mozilla fixes this dumb URL bar. It’s just so annoying and out of place I can’t stand having it in my field of view, let alone see it twitch around in its oversized shape…
Not a great tip because it disables EVERYTHING of the url bar instead of just preventing the only annoying thing, which is the enlarged look. That to me is what everyone hates, but they want to keep all the other features the url bar provides.
So as it stands, this tip is not recommended because it disables everything which makes it unusable.
It is so disappointing to watch Mozilla of late. They are so caught up on trying to imitate Google Chrome that they are also adopting Google’s nanny authoritarianism. Where are all the developers? Is everyone subservient to the UI team?
Another fully functional and working method to restore classic address bar in Firefox:
https://www.askvg.com/tip-the-best-working-method-to-get-classic-address-bar-in-mozilla-firefox/
I tried “browser.urlbar.maxRichResults” after accepting about:config in the address bar and it did not give me any options as you described in your third picture display. It just remained blank.
However I went to your other post “The Best Working Method to Get Classic Address bar in Mozilla Firefox” and was successful.
Entered “browser.urlbar.maxRichResults” after accepting about:config in the address bar and it appeared as if it was there all the time…double clicked on it and set it to “0” and it works.
Thank you VG and God Bless.
These methods do not work
First of all, thanks to the author. This tip WORKS for me.
@Bonnie
I wouldn’t be so definite. I don’t use ANY features of the url bar and this enlargement was the last thing I couldn’t disable otherwise. So, again, thanks for the tip.
I feel like I’m fighting Mozilla on this one.. Not much catering for non-normies. Seeing the addons that initially drew me to Firefox is to this day still dead after they dropped support for legacy addons, this nail in the coffin makes me wanting to start looking towards alternative browsers… There are many good open-source firefox-a-like suggestions. Waterfox for instance
Thank you thank you thank you!
Ugh, thank you. There is something so visually annoying and disruptive about having that URL bar pop out. It just makes the world feel like it’s broken. This simple fix restores sanity, peace, and calm to the world. It has the potential to cure coronavirus and quell the riots. Thank you again.
That is SO much better now that StupidBar is turned off. I am so tired of people setting up my browser interface with new “features” that try to do something for me. I know what I want to do and don;’t need any help with it.
Thank you that works perfectly – amazing that we can still disable it in the first place!!!!
Mozilla needs to stop having diversity hires designing the UI elements, that is what is causing all these UI regressions over the years.
Very interesting.
Unfortunately, this fix does not work for me in FF 83.0
Suggestions?
🙂