How to Add a Custom Search Engine to Firefox (and Create Your Own)

Want to add a custom search engine to Firefox so you can search your favourite site straight from the address bar? In 2006 I created QuickOnlineTips’ first Firefox search plugin in about 20 minutes, using the old Mycroft project’s .src format, a 16×16 icon and a trip to the Searchplugins folder. Firefox has changed completely since then. Today you can do it in a few clicks, and site owners can offer one with a small OpenSearch file. Here is how both work in 2026.

Quick answer: In Firefox, open Settings, then Search, scroll to Search Shortcuts and click Add. Enter a name, the search URL with %s where the search words go, and an optional keyword such as “qot”. Then type the keyword and your search terms in the address bar. Site owners can make their site’s search addable by publishing an OpenSearch description file.

Method 1: Add a search engine in Firefox settings

1. Search the site once and copy the results URL, for example https://www.example.com/?s=test.
2. Replace your search word with %s, giving https://www.example.com/?s=%s.
3. Open Settings > Search in Firefox and scroll to Search Shortcuts.
4. Click Add, enter a name, the URL and a short keyword, and save.
5. Type the keyword, a space and your search terms in the address bar, and press Enter.

If your Firefox version does not show the Add button, use one of the methods below.

Method 2: Add a search from the site itself

Many websites publish an OpenSearch file. When you visit them, Firefox can add their search: right-click in the address bar or open the search menu and choose Add “Site name”. It then appears under Search Shortcuts.

Method 3: Create a keyword bookmark

Right-click any site’s search box and choose Add a Keyword for this Search. Give it a keyword, and Firefox creates a bookmark that searches the site when you type the keyword plus your terms. This trick has worked for years and needs no extensions.

For site owners: create an OpenSearch plugin

The old Mycroft .src format was replaced by OpenSearch, a small XML file supported by Firefox, Chrome and Edge. Create a file called opensearch.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<OpenSearchDescription xmlns="http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearch/1.1/">
  <ShortName>QuickOnlineTips</ShortName>
  <Description>Search QuickOnlineTips</Description>
  <InputEncoding>UTF-8</InputEncoding>
  <Image width="16" height="16" type="image/x-icon">https://www.example.com/favicon.ico</Image>
  <Url type="text/html" template="https://www.example.com/?s={searchTerms}"/>
</OpenSearchDescription>

Upload it to your site and link it in the page head:

<link rel="search" type="application/opensearchdescription+xml" title="QuickOnlineTips" href="/opensearch.xml">

Visitors can now add your site’s search from the browser menu. A clear favicon makes it look professional; see how to create a favicon online free.

Chrome and Edge

Chrome and Edge also pick up OpenSearch files automatically. You can add sites manually under Settings, then Search engine, then Manage search engines and site search, using %s in the URL just like Firefox.

What happened to Mycroft and .src plugins?

The Mycroft Project once hosted thousands of browser search plugins, including ours in its News/Technology section. Firefox dropped the old Sherlock-style .src format long ago, and installing plugins by copying files into the program’s Searchplugins folder no longer works. OpenSearch and the settings shown above replaced them. More Firefox tips are in our list of the best Firefox extensions.

Handy search shortcuts to set up

Once you know the trick, a few keywords save time every day: “w” for Wikipedia, “yt” for YouTube, “a” for Amazon, “m” for Google Maps, and a keyword for your own website so you can find old posts instantly. Because each shortcut is just a URL with %s, you can also add internal tools such as your WordPress dashboard search or a company wiki.

FAQ

How do I change the default search engine in Firefox?

Open Settings, then Search, and choose a Default Search Engine from the list.

Why can’t I add a search engine in Firefox?

The site may not offer OpenSearch. Use the keyword bookmark method instead, which works on almost any search box.

Can I remove a search engine?

Yes. In Settings, then Search, select it under Search Shortcuts and click Remove.