On Firefox, you can choose which search engine you want to be the default. Google is one way to get the answers you’re looking for, but you may also know other search engines available from the search bar like Bing, DuckDuckGo, or even Wikipedia. However, with the advent of AI, many users are using chatbots like ChatGPT to obtain their information.
If you’re a frequent user of this AI model, why not make things easier and assign it as your default search engine on Firefox? This article will show you how.
ChatGPT as Default Search Engine for Mozilla Firefox
When it started, ChatGPT as a browser search engine was an option only available to paying members. OpenAI (its parent company) has since made the option available to all. Seeing as so many use ChatGPT as a go-to for information, it only makes sense.
Firefox is renowned for protecting user privacy and runs a pretty tight ship in that regard. While other browsers make it easier for you to add the chatbot, there are a few extra hoops to jump through with Mozilla (the makers of Firefox).
Firefox isn’t a Chromium browser (like Edge, Chrome, etc.) and the addon that brings GPT to these won’t work for Mozilla. You’ll need to add ChatGPT manually. Here’s how:
Step 1. You’ll need to start by opening the preferences menu. You can do this by typing “about:config” into the address bar of Firefox and hitting “Enter.”
Step 2. There’ll be a warning message about advanced settings. Click “Accept the Risk and Continue” to proceed to the next screen.
Step 3. In the preferences menu, type the following into the “Search Preference Name” search bar: “browser.urlbar.update2.engineAliasRefresh”
Step 4. Make sure the “Boolean” option is checked and click the “Plus” button.
Step 5. If the entry is marked “true,” you’re on the right path. If not, click the “Toggle” button to change it.
Now that the Boolean is created, you can add ChatGPT to your browser’s search engine options. Here’s what to do next:
Step 1. In the topmost address bar (where you typed in the URLs), type in “about:preferences#search” and then hit “Enter.”
Step 2. Click the “Search” tab in the sidebar and then scroll down until you see the “Search Shortcuts” box.
Step 3. Hit the “Add” button right below this box.
Step 4. A new window will pop up. Enter the search engine name, URL and alias. Name the first “ChatGPT” and “https://chatgpt.com/?q=%s” as the address. As for the alias (the search shortcut), type in “@ChatGPT” or whatever is your preference.
Step 5. Click “Add Engine” to finalize the option.
Step 6. Scroll back up to the top of the “Search” menu to “Default Search Engine.”
Step 7. Choose “ChatGPT” from the dropdown menu.
Firefox should now use ChatGPT for all searches unless specifically told otherwise.
Beware Third-Party Extensions
From the above steps, you might understand why some users want to cut corners and use a third-party extension to add ChatGPT. While some third-party extensions might do the job, it’s worth remembering that these are not official Mozilla solutions. You may run the risk of accidentally installing something you don’t mean to install.
