The Solution to the Firefox URL Bar Issue!

[chomiji]

This is about the issue that was freaking me out last night, after I upgraded my browser. The http:// protocol prefix wasn't showing in URLs (it did show https:// though) in the location/address field.

So I found this last night just before I logged off, but I was feeling hyper and cruddy and didn't trust myself to deal with it. (Today I'm sick - just some cruddy little bug, I think, exacerbated by stress.)

The solution is from Nicole Cozma at CNET, here. I'm going to put a summary in this post, just in case they rearrange their site so I can't find it again when I need it. (These things happen.)

1. In place of the URL in your location/address field, type the following:
   
   about:config
2. Press enter / return on your keyboard.
    
3. Firefox will give you a hair-raising warning about possibly voiding your warranty if you continue. Give it an understanding nod (optional) and click the button labelled I'll be careful, I promise (no lie, that's what it says).
    
4. You will get a huge list of parameter settings for details of browser behavior. They are in alphabetical order. Scroll down the list until you find
   
   browser.urlbar.trimURLs
5. Note that the setting for this parameter - in the last column on the right - is true. Double-click on the line to toggle the setting to false.

And that's it! Happy browsing!

Comments

[tessercat]

Ahha. :) I have already mucked with my about:config, so I'm not surprised to find other fun things lurking in there.

Thanks for archiving the tip.

[chomiji]

This does explain why FF's Preference settings are so minimal - most of it's on about:config !