Change default google search in firefox
I’ve just been trying to find out how to change where a search from firefox’s search box goes.
By default it goes to google.com, but i wanted to use google.co.uk. I’ve searched around and didn’t find anything giving a definitive answer so thought i’d write it here.
(Note: You should close firefox before making any changes)
It’s a very simple fix, basically all you need to do is navigate to the firefox directory (“c:\program files\mozilla firefox” is the default for windows) then open the “searchplugins” folder.
Next you need to edit the “google.xml” file and change this line:
<Url type=”text/html” method=”GET” template=”http://www.google.com/search”>
to
<Url type=”text/html” method=”GET” template=”http://www.google.co.uk/search”>
or whichever google locality you wish to use.
I also changed this line (but i’m not sure if it’s necessary):
<SearchForm>http://www.google.com/firefox
Then re-open firefox and search away! 
Guess who just brightened up my day?
Thanks a lot!
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Sweet, this has been driving me mad.
Great. I’m sure I had google.co.uk before Firefox updated itself. Thanks for the advice!
Thanks! Been bugging me for months!
Legend! This has been annoying me all week!
Top man, fairly high on the google search aswell for “how do I set firefox search box to google.co.uk?”
Well done.
Nice hack, unbelievable this is not offered either at google.co.uk itself or at the firefox add search engines page. Come on mozilla and google!
Doesn’t seem to work for Firefox 3.5, I no longer seem to b able to get google.co.uk by default.
The XML file has changed format totally, is really really bloody annoying
Why on Earth don’t they give .co.uk options??? Just damn inconsiderate.
It seems to be ok for me…. I still have the line there and even though mine actually points to the .com it redirects to .co.uk….!
Thanks very much for this fix/tip. I highlight product names on pages, then right click them, Google Search them, and then click Products on the resulting UK page to get a BRITISH product search in Pounds, instead of a bloody American one!
This fix sorts me out. Worked for me in 3.5.3 by changing the line as detailed (not the second one). Initially, it didn’t take effect, but I hadn’t closed the DownThemAll window (counts as a Firefox window). Upon closing the DTA window and starting Firefox, the fix took effect and I was back to UK products searches!
Thanks for that one!
Thanks for the tip. In case it helps anyone else, on Ubuntu Jaunty I found the google.xml file in:
/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins
Thanks for the great tip, mate!
Anyway, here’s what I do to my v3.6. But first, the case is I’m nowhere near Singapore nor the US yet I want my search result come from google.com.sg.
I still use the edit mentioned above, except the domain name is ‘google.com.sg’:
<Url type=”text/html” method=”GET” template=”http://www.google.com.sg/search”>
On the ‘rls’ parameter I change the variable ‘{moz:locale}’ into the default ‘en-US’ such that:
<Param name=”rls” value=”{moz:distributionID}:en-US:{moz:official}”/>
I don’t speak the language FX is written in but I think the redirection starts from the ‘template’ field before ‘{moz:locale}’ overrides it when appropriate.
Hi,
Easier(proper)way to do it, open a new tab and type
about:config
accept the warnings
in filter strings box, type google
it will bring up all google features
near the bottom you will see
KEYWORDS URL
double click the address next to it, and change to .co.uk or .fr or wherever
hope this helps, but be careful editing unknown settings as this file contains the whole rule book for everything firefox does.
This does seem to be a better way to do it, but as you say, you need to be careful editing settings in about:config.
Thanks for the comment
Hi Russ – thanks for the advice. However, I have done this but am still getting ‘google.com’ when I put a search in the top right hand when I’ve opened a new blank tab. I’ve also tried changing all mentions of google.com to google.co.uk showing in ‘about:config’ ‘google’ but it’s made no difference (hope this hasn’t caused more problems but can’t see any where you can restore to ‘default’??)
I had already managed to change my Firefox homepage to open with google.co.uk BUT can’t get the subsequent tabs to search at google uk – this is very infuriating & makes the tabs browsing almost obsolete for me as I’m not really interested in US sites – or so long winded it’s easier to just open up another homepage! Any further advice?
p.s
As my version has a little google search bar any way I set mine to “www.FRoogle.co.uk”
this is google Shopping
so if I want to resarch a price of somthing i search in the URL bar, if i just want a standard google seach it goes in the search bar.
I’m constantly shopping online so this is useful to me =D
sorry talking rubbish,
for product seach its
http://www.google.co.uk/products?oe=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&q=
(froogle was just the beta)
obviously edit the .co.uk to anything you want
or, try this:
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/questions/752662
worked for me now…
in google.xml (firefox )
hl=en
gl=us
I added both of these, which help me as I’m consulting in Japan.
Perfect. Thank you
Thanks for the tip. Still works with Firefox 5.0!
OK. Like, wow,. Sorry to sound 80s’ish. But, been trying to change to ,ca forever. So far your fix is the only one that has worked.
Thank You….
I have the same problem – top search bar defaults to ‘google.com’, I need ‘google.co.uk’. Anyone know how to make this change on a Mac?
Thanks a Million!! its been of a great help.. .
for me i had to change the form search as well..
Thanks again…!!
This plugin sorted me out perfectly!
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/googleuk-ww-search/?src=search
You’re a genius, thanks so much
how to set as google.ca?
Simply change the .com to .ca.
(This is an old post now so there may be a better way but as far as i am aware this still works.)
Even easier if you do not want to use an extension.
This is how I did it:
In the Location bar, type about:config and press Enter. The about:config “This might void your warranty!” warning page may appear.
Click I’ll be careful, I promise!, to continue to the about:config page.
Type browser.newtab.url in the search box
Double-click the browser.newtab.url and set it to whatever search engine you want.
This way, when you open a new tab, it defaults to your Search Page.
OR
If you want to change the actual Search Bow:
Go to “about:config” settings and do these two things =>
1. Type “Keyword.url” in the search box. Right click it & reset it.
2. Type “browser.search.defaultengine” in the search box. Right click it & reset it.
Easy