How to remove search providers in late 2014 Firefox?

The latest Firefox (now v. 34) has changed the way it administers search providers, so that they can be selected or un-selected, also new ones can be added, but they cannot be removed.

That is annoying me because I use the addon Context search which gives a context menu search option for the selected text which now shows all the search engines ever added, even the ones added multiple times.

How to remove (not just un-select) some search engines?

user162573

Posted 2014-12-11T14:13:39.047

Reputation:

Answers

In Windows:

Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\browser\searchplugins
Remove all XML files except for the ones you want to keep

Here is mine:

enter image description here

And my FF search choices now:

enter image description here

In Ubuntu:

The XML files for the default search engines were located in /usr/lib/firefox/distribution/searchplugins/locale, while the ones added by the user in /home/username/.mozilla/firefox/some_profile_folder.default/searchplugins.

MonkeyZeus

Posted 2014-12-11T14:13:39.047

Reputation: 7 101

that's a good hint for me although I am not in Windows, but in Ubuntu – None – 2014-12-11T16:38:01.867

1@cipricus I'm sure you'll have zero trouble. These are simply XML files so I can't imagine a reason they would not use the same structure in a Linux envronment – MonkeyZeus – 2014-12-11T16:43:08.670

1I will edit your answer to add the paths for Ubuntu – None – 2014-12-11T16:50:40.417

...and if you have added any in Windows 7 that you want removed, they will be found here: C:\Users(User Name)\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\kmyog13g.default\searchplugins

Terry K

Posted 2014-12-11T14:13:39.047

Reputation: 11

Well, the profile name will differ. Other than that, you’re right, of course. – Daniel B – 2014-12-13T12:04:42.530

Firefox 43 now allows removal of the custom search engines.

Click on the magnifying glass in the Search bar on your toolbar, then click 'Change Search Settings'.
Click on the search engine you don't want.
Click the 'Remove' button to take it off your list.

^{Source: Mozilla Support - Add or remove a search engine in Firefox}

For versions of Firefox prior to 43, see the previous version of this answer here.

galacticninja

Posted 2014-12-11T14:13:39.047

Reputation: 5 348