Firefox address bar tweak

Posted by Matt Thommes on August 16, 2007 | Post type: Gain

While browsing the web - it's a luxury that we don't have to manually type in a URL, because our favorite sites are already saved as bookmarks. But sometimes it's necessary to go in and manually edit a URL in the address bar.

Screenshot of Firefox address bar

Have you ever began typing in the URL bar in Firefox, switched applications, and came back to Firefox to resume typing? Did you notice the entire URL was then highlighted again?

Screenshot of Firefox address bar

If you begin typing right away, it will erase the entire URL, and you'll be typing into a blank box. This is obviously not what you want. Ideally, you'd like to continue typing from where you left off.

By default, it seems Firefox automatically highlights the entire URL, when you switch focus back to it from another application.

You can change this setting, but it's not directly available in the Preferences menu. You have to use about:config.

In the address bar, type about:config, then hit Enter.

Screenshot of Firefox address bar

You'll see a giant list of items, under the headings: Preference Name, Status, Type, Value. You're only concerned with one of these items: browser.urlbar.clickSelectsAll.

To find this item fast, go to the Filter field, and type urlbar. This will narrow down your choices. You should see browser.urlbar.clickSelectsAll:

Screenshot of Firefox about:config panel

Notice it is currently set to true. We'll change this to false. Right-click on that line, and select Toggle:

Screenshot of Firefox about:config panel

It should change the value to False.

That's it! You're done! You may have to restart Firefox for the change to take effect.

Now when you begin typing a URL, switch applications, switch back to Firefox, and resume typing, you'll be in the right spot!

About the author(s)

Matt Thommes is an independent publishing enthusiast, mobile blogger, content creator, informative writer, web developer from a suburb of Chicago. Never one to conform, Matt intends to promote the effect the web has on our lives, in an effort to intensify, instruct, and clarify all that is happening around us.

Comments

Note: Comments may be viewed by authors, but if you have a more specific question you'd like to ask them, please email matt.thommes@paininthetech.com.

# Andy Atkinson at 8/16/2007 9:45 am cst

The "Alt-D" keyboard shortcut works for Firefox on Windows (and OS X, Linux I think) and in Internet Explorer, so for me its second nature to press Alt-D then key around to edit URLs.

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# Vilh. at 8/21/2007 6:19 am cst

Use right arrow when you returt til Firefox and continue the url.

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# Edward Turtle at 1/24/2008 2:47 pm cst

On Ubuntu Linux as default Firefox comes with a non-automatic highlighting address bar and I find it annoying, I prefer it as it is. But thanks for telling me about it, it's cool to know.

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# Andy at 9/10/2008 8:30 am cst

This is an excellent tip. This has ALWAYS annoyed me and I just assumed there was no way to customize this type of behavior. Now, can anyone tell me why in FF 3 they appear to have damaged the Alt+D functionality? Most of the time these days, hitting Alt+D gives me a windows bong and does nothing.

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# rajesh at 8/17/2009 10:46 am cst

"I'll be careful , i promise".

Quick Link to this comment: http://TTIP.me/c5266

# rajesh at 8/17/2009 10:49 am cst

"i' ll be careful,I promise".

Quick Link to this comment: http://TTIP.me/c5267