I set Brave Search as Default in Firefox (Linux Mint 20.1) and it's disappeared completely

binkyd · 08-01-2021, 09:43 AM

After Firefox updated to 90.0.2 the Search function in Settings has changed and there's no way to add it back - this takes me to the FF add-on page now.

Both a laptop and desktop affected. Anybody know what's up with this?

teckk · 08-01-2021, 10:30 AM

I don't use Firefox. Look around their changelog and see if you can find anything.
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefo.../releasenotes/
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/securi...s/mfsa2021-28/
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb...-release-notes
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/...ox/Releases/90

binkyd · 08-01-2021, 09:12 PM

Thanks.
I couldn't find anything that helped though.

Getting tired of Mozilla breaking itself....
Looking at Slimjet as a replacement. Haven't found any bad news about it yet.

valeoak · 08-02-2021, 05:18 AM

My main machine's software repository still has Firefox on 90.0 so I'm unable to replicate your problem. However, if it helps there is a Brave search add-on for Firefox that you might want to look at.

If you're thinking of changing to a Chromium-based browser, why not use Brave?

binkyd · 08-02-2021, 07:44 PM

Slimjet seems to do everything well - maybe too well with blocking sites. It's just about as fast as Brave and FF and is sitting back in the bushes.
Not pushing themselves. Passes every privacy/security test I can find as well as any other browser.

The default toolbar colour is all blue. It's quite different. Maybe my biggest reason?

(Brave..., well, there's something there I'm not comfortable with cuz I don't know what's bugging me about it and it does work really well..??)

valeoak · 08-03-2021, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by binkyd

Slimjet seems to do everything well - maybe too well with blocking sites. It's just about as fast as Brave and FF and is sitting back in the bushes.
Not pushing themselves. Passes every privacy/security test I can find as well as any other browser.

The fact that it's not open source puts me off when there are alternatives with identical functionality that are libre software.

I know it's probably not much help to you, but my main machine's software repository (I'm running Pop_OS!) updated Firefox to 90.0.2 today and I still have the search options in the usual place:

Code:

about:preferences#search

I wonder if it's something to ask about on the Mint forum? Another thing you could try is upgrading to Mint 20.2 "Uma" (I understand that's the latest LTS version).

poncedeleon · 08-03-2021, 06:50 PM

Never used Brave as a search engine but try Duck Duck Go. Let us know what you think of it. Perhaps you can ask the Firefox community what happened.

poncedeleon · 08-03-2021, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valeoak

The fact that it's not open source puts me off when there are alternatives with identical functionality that are libre software.

I know it's probably not much help to you, but my main machine's software repository (I'm running Pop_OS!) updated Firefox to 90.0.2 today and I still have the search options in the usual place:

Code:

about:preferences#search

I wonder if it's something to ask about on the Mint forum? Another thing you could try is upgrading to Mint 20.2 "Uma" (I understand that's the latest LTS version).

Uma is beta.

valeoak · 08-03-2021, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poncedeleon

Uma is beta.

Not according to this blog post announcing its release; it seems like it was released almost a month ago. That their main downloads page is also pushing 20.2 by default and this blog post explaining how to upgrade to Uma from 20 and 20.1 both strongly suggest that it's no longer in beta.

valeoak · 08-12-2021, 06:18 AM

blinkyd, has your problem on Mint been resolved? Has Firefox 91 made a difference?

binkyd · 08-12-2021, 08:20 PM

Just updated to 91.0
Problem even worse, as no option to "Restore Default Search Engines" either now.

I guess that's it.

ondoho · 08-13-2021, 02:18 AM

FWIW, I use Firefox-ESR and search engine adding/removing/restoring works as expected.

Frankly, I don't believe they would scrap that feature in newer versions.
OP has never provided much detail, just some boilerplate "doesn't work" and "can't find" statements.

There's also the possiblity that Linux Mint added something to FF which overwrites user customisation after upgrades.

valeoak · 08-13-2021, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by binkyd

Just updated to 91.0
Problem even worse, as no option to "Restore Default Search Engines" either now.

I guess that's it.

Have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling Firefox? I'd recommend exporting your bookmarks (if you have any) and after uninstalling and before reinstalling make sure you delete:

Code:

~/.mozilla/firefox

If it still doesn't work, what happens if you type the following in the address bar?

Code:

about:preferences#search

binkyd · 08-13-2021, 08:10 PM

Desktop and laptop
As of 90.0.2, the Search area of Settings is messed up.
Both "Restore defaults" and "Remove" are greyed out.

Uninstalled, purged, reinstalled, same thing.
Update to 91 did not fix it.
Both units.
Uninstalled, purged, installed the Flatpak and it was the same.
Purged it all again and downloaded/installed from Firefox home page.
Same result.

Tried the ESR, too. Must be something with these Mint installs.I have a VB install of LMDE 4, and damn if it isn't going on there,too.

Beats me.

hish2021 · 08-13-2021, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by binkyd

Desktop and laptop
As of 90.0.2, the Search area of Settings is messed up.
Both "Restore defaults" and "Remove" are greyed out.

Uninstalled, purged, reinstalled, same thing.
...

If you first select a search engine, aren't "Restore defaults" and "Remove" active?

AFAIK, "Uninstalled, purged, reinstalled" doesn't affect your profile where most Firefox settings are stored.