Please Note: Google has stopped supporting the Toolbar for Firefox. There will be no further updates or security fixes from Google. This tutorial only enables the Google Toolbar on Firefox. If you feel like breaching your computer’s security, do not follow this guide.
Update (04/11/2013): Mozilla released the Firefox 20 few days ago and very close to release official version 21. This tweak still works, therefor, you still can enable Google Toolbar on Firefox 20 and later versions.
Firefox, the favorite browser for most of the people released the Firefox 20 few days ago. Since it is a major version upgrade, some of the Plugins, Addons and Extensions went incompatible. Google Toolbar for Firefox is one of them.
Being a Webmaster, Google Toolbar is one of my favorite extensions for Firefox, and I frequently use it for checking backlinks and indexed pages. However, since my Firefox automatically upgraded to version 8, the Google Toolbar vanished from its place.
I dug a little deep and found the solution to make the Google Toolbar compatible with Firefox 19 and newer (Firefox 21, latest). It is now working perfectly like before and all the features are kept. Here is how I did it.
- First, check the current version of Google toolbar. Type about:addons at the Firefox address bar and hit enter. Select the Extensions tab from the left. Check the version number for Google Toolbar for Firefox. It should be Version 7.1.20110512W if you are using the latest version. If not, update it.
- Go to your Firefox Profiles at AppData >Roaming > Mozilla> Firefox > Profiles > Default Profile > Extensions and look for the directory where the Google Toolbar is installed. Mine is located at {3112ca9c-de6d-4884-a869-9855de68056c} directory.
- There should be a file called install.rdf in that folder. Open it in a text editor like Notepad or Notepad++ (free and open source).
- Now you need to change the maxversion to 25. Find this line
17
<em:maxVersion>4.0.</em:maxVersion>
around line number 17 and change it to
17
<em:maxVersion>25.*</em:maxVersion>
Save the file and close the editor.
- Restart the Firefox and the Google Toolbar should be back and working.
Try it and let us know if that worked for you. Also, make sure your addons are set to upgrade automatically so that you get the officially compatible version when Google release the upgrade.
Tip to find the Profiles folder:
Sourav shared a nice tip to find the Profiles folder in Windows.
2. In the Run box, type in %APPDATA%
3. Click OK. A Windows Explorer window will appear.
4. In this window, choose Mozilla → Firefox → Profiles.
● To fix the login issues, bookmarks and other issues related to autologin, please see the Martin’s comment.
Search for: www.google.com/accounts
Replace with: accounts.google.com
Save the file and restart Firefox.
Article by Abhik
Hi, I am Abhik and this is my blog ItsAbhikDotCom. I am a Blogger and Online Marketer by profession. I love to talk about WordPress, SEO, SEM, Blogging, Online Marketing and different ways to Make Money Online.
So far Abhik has written 599 awesome articles at ItsAbhikDotCom
Twitter: @itsabhik | Facebook | Google+ | Blog → ItsAbhikDotCom
I am Abhik from Kolkata, India.
{ 433 comments… read them below or add one }
This stopped working when FF updated itself to v21.
I had been using it before this but now there is no install.rdf file for me to edit.
Amy ideas ?
I’m on firefox 19.0.2 now. This workaround still works. I’ve increased maxversion to 20, so that it’s ready for next version.
Abhik = Genius!
This appears to be a workaround if the toolbar was previously installed. Is there a workaround in place if doing a clean install of firefox and the toolbar?
Only if you have a copy of googletoolbar.xpi.
You can then extract, modify the install.rdf, repack and install without any problem.
Thanks for the reply. I’ve managed to the xpi file. Any chance you can advise how to extract, modify etcc? Thanks again
How to Install & Enable Google Toolbar in Firefox 16, 17 and 18
Yup, it works!!!
Thanks to the comments section, Google Toolbar still works on version 17.
I jumped from version 14 to version 17 after my version kept on behaving really slow for mysterious reasons all week long. *hint hint* conspiracy theories.
I opened the required file, install.rdf , with Windows Notepad, changed the number from 17 to 19, saved the file, closed it and restarted Firefox and out came my Google Toolbar.
Thanks to the author and the helpful guide by Sourav.
I have used this technique twice from this useful webpage and it hasn’t failed me yet.
Follow the 2 tips:
Step 1 —>
Tip to find the Profiles folder:
Sourav shared a nice tip to find the Profiles folder in Windows.
1. Press “Windows key + R” to open the Run box (or, you can click “Start → Run…” on Windows 2000/XP)
2. In the Run box, type in %APPDATA%
3. Click OK. A Windows Explorer window will appear.
4. In this window, choose Mozilla → Firefox → Profiles.
Step 2 —>
Profiles > Default Profile > Extensions and look for the directory where the Google Toolbar is installed. Mine is located at {3112ca9c-de6d-4884-a869-9855de68056c} directory.
There should be a file called install.rdf in that folder. Open it in a text editor like Notepad or Notepad++ (free and open source).
Now you need to change the maxversion to 19. Find this line
[php]17.*[/php]
around line number 17 and change it to
[php]19.*[/php]
Save the file and close the editor.
Restart the Firefox and the Google Toolbar should be back and working with the latest versions of firefox
- Finish -
The above Step 2, I have copied it from the text and changed the respective numbers for Firefox version 17.
Do note that the line in my file is 17.* instead of [php]17.*[/php]. There is no [php] and [/php] inside my file, probably yours too.
Hope I’ve helped a few desperate souls.
God bless & Merry Christmas
While you are quite correct that the google toolbar does function under FF17, starting with FF 16, if the google toolbar is enabled, tear-off tabs no longer function properly. Would you please let me know if you are experiencing the same problem. If so, have you developed a work-around?
na 17 tez google toolbar dziala bez problemu po zmiane numeru w pliku install.rdf
Translation:
for 17 google toolbar also works without a problem after changing the number in the file install.rdf
The workaround stopped “working around” this morning with Firefox 16.0.2. Any idea why?
Wrong!! It’s still *working around*.
I mean it stopped working for me, and I have no idea why. The plugin seems to be working OK, but in fact all I can see is a blank space instead of the Google Toolbar. If I right click anywhere in the blank space, the pop-up menu still has Google Toolbar options, but if I click on any of them, nothing happens.
I just can’t figure out why it’s not working. It doesn’t make any sense to me. No software updates, no changes in the configuration file, nothing at all. It just stopped working out of the blue O_O
Enter
16*instead of16.*at max version and see if that works.Thanks a lot for your suggestion. Unfortunately, I had already tried but that didn’t work either. I’m at a total loss…
Thank you. Just installed this again for the latest version (17?) and wrote up to 19. Good to have Google toolbar back.
Will this work for FF 16 now too? I don’t want to install 16 until I know for sure.
can someone tell me where is the lib directory? i can’t find it
Its the same directory that install .rdf is at.
So, it worked before, but now is not for Firefox 15.0.1. What is wrong? Could you help me please?
{ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}
2.0.
20.*
Darwin
Try 20* instead of 20.*
This worked great for Firefox 15.0.1. Thank you so much. I changed the max value to 17, FYI.
Thanks again!!!
You guys rock! Thanks bunches for the advice! This time I set it to 20, so hopefully it will work for a while
Many websites out there claim to teach you how to do this, but none worked for me except yours. I utilized your advice for firefox 14 & 15. Works Great!!!
Thank you very much!
You are most welcome.. Make sure to give this page some social love by sharing it with your friends
Change the number from 14 to 15 or greater in the following line and google toolbar will start working on firefox 15
From
14.*
to
16.*
can someone pls tell me how to get at 2nd step .
2. Go to your Firefox Profiles at AppData >Roaming > Mozilla> Firefox > Profiles > Default Profile > Extensions and look for the directory where the Google Toolbar is installed. Mine is located at {3112ca9c-de6d-4884-a869-9855de68056c} directory.
Press Windows Key + R. Then enter %APPDATA% at ‘Open’ text field and click OK (or just hit Enter).
That’ll bring up the Roaming Application data folder. Find the folder Mozilla in it.
This fix worked fine for me in FF 14, but not in 15. I’ve tried the additional tweaks suggested by other users, but still no go. Any further suggestions? (I’m using Win 7.)
Did you change the max version value?
Yes, I changed it to >20, but it still does not work for me in FF15. I don’t know why.
It worked for FF15. Thank you so much!!
you can adjust the version number in 20 or 99 so that you don’t have to adjust this with every Firefox update! I have my number at 20 with Firefox 15 and it works fine!
just updated to FF 15 and this technique works, here is what i have
16.*
I can’t get this to work with v15. I have installed the addon, updating the maxversion etc but when I go to the addon options and try to save settings the buttons don’t work. All I want is to use the in built google translate.
Any ideas why I can’t save button (or cancel button) inside the addon options/settings window?
What are you doing at the addon settings? Please read the instructions carefully.
I confirm that this method works for the latest update of Firefox (15).
Just updated Firefox and then applied the fix as described above. I first used it for Firefox 14.
Many thanks to Abhik
Thank you Terry for confirming. It’s working for me too
AMAZING! it works for firefox 15 now when i change it to 15 instead of 14!!
Thanks! works fine, use grep to get to file faster/easier
I have followed your instructions and my Google toolbar has not come back. I am using XP. Please advise.
What’s the maxversion value in your install.rdf reads?
You can try 15* instead of 15.*
It works in Firefox 15. Thanks!!
Thank you very much indeed.
Working on firefox 14.1
Thanks for the advice. Google tool Bar is up and running at first attempt in Firefox 14. Will same fix apply when Firefox 15, 16, 17 etc come out, by just changing the max number or could I put in a higher max number now?
Thanks
Yes, the procedure will be the same.
Thanks for reply. I have sent the number to 20 and FF 14 is working fine so should be able to do updates without keep changing the number.
Thank you for your post, very helpful. And do you notice the Google Toolbar’s “Hovering over” translate does not work on all of Google sites. Any idea how to get it fix?
FireFox:14.0.1
Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit
Thank you it worked for me.
Thanks ………
Your instructions worked for 14 on one computer, but not my other one.
Any additional suggestions?
Thank you.
I compiled an xpi extention that eneble google toolbar in all version of Firefox till 19.00 version.
To install,go to “file”-”open” and browse the file from your desktop.Install.That’s it
Download the file from: http://www.mediafire.com/?z7cfukhoy3hrism
My name is Mircea,and this blog open my eyes about “how to enable Google Toolbar in Firefox” for the first time.I tried many times to compile it,but no result.When I finally did it,I was verry happy about this.Now,I want to share my hapiness with all of this blog users.Thank again to Abhik for this blog
Great job! Works perfect!!
..The upper post save me for 14.0, but not now..
Well done! Works in version 16 just fine! Thanks a million!
Thank you it worked for me. You are indeed a hero! Hover over a word and the translation appears again on version 14!!
Thanks a million!
I followed your instructions a while back when it first became unsupported. Then FF automatically download 14.0.1, which afterwards kept crashing. It was recommended to do a refresh of FF and now my Google Desktop does not work. I noticed that I have 7.1.20100701W. I tried to download the newer version, but it said it was incompatible and did not finish the installation. So I closed FF and restarted, but Google Toolbar does not show up.
Any suggestions how to resolve?
Thanks,
I’m keeping to use Google toolbar on Firefox 14 with your hint. Thanks a lot.
It absolutely worked for me, thanks a bunch for the workaround! *does.happy.dance*
You are amazing. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Pretty much the same steps on a Mac, too! Sightly different directory location, but it was easy to figure out just by searching for install.rdf with the system files included.
1. install the Check Compatibility plgin/add-on and Add-on Compatibility Reporter 1.1
2.install Google toolbar
3 Restart firefox
Followed the instructions and i have got Google toolbar back
Thank You Abhik….!!!!
Hi Cleverwabbit,
i have installed the google toolbar with firefox 14….so its working….try out..!
You so brilliantly fiqured out how to get around Firefox 12 and 13, do you think this will work with 14 that just came out?
Thanks so much!
Thank you, it worked as directed.
But how concerned do I have to be over “breaching my computer’s security”?
hi
thanks for the google toolbar fix for firefox.great.can it be changed to version 15, 16, … when these newer versions come along?
also, please can you let me know how you check backlinks and indexed pages.
many thanks
Abhik,
Thank you so much for your fix to enable Google Toolbar. I really appreciate it.
What if you have Firefox 13 installed and you have never installed Google Toolbar before, how do you go about installing Google Toolbar ?
1. Uninstall current Firefox
2. Install Firefox 4
3. Install Google Toolbar
4. Upgrade Firefox to the latest version.
The Add-on for Google Toolbar is no longer present in the Add-ons option in Tools. I have tried to download Version 7.1.20110512W again but have not found anywhere to do this. I only get sites that have a version for Internet explorer. Can you tell me where I can download it again. The laptop I want to reinstate the toolbar on is running XP and the toolbar was available on it.
John,
Below is the link for Google Toolbar 7.1.20110512W:
http://www.mediafire.com/?d5xv1p4n2pu47n4
It’s already modified to accept up to Version 20 for Firefox.
Regards,
Jay
Jay
Thanks for the link, it has worked perfectly. Sorry about the delay but I’ve only just been able to read the comments on either of my laptops. Was there at problem with the system on the website?
Thanks again
John
amazing!!!
thank you so much
you’re my hero!!
thank you
I just followed instructions exactly and now the Google Toolbar is GONE. Don’t even have a little google search window.
What do you mean by *Gone*?
Have you followed all the steps?
right click on the home icon… (little house) and see if you checked on the toolbar
… it should be there.. or go to your addons-list and see if it’s there… good luck!
namaste and freedom4all
Thanks a lot. Worked like a charm
I have succesfully used your method of getting Google Toolbar to work on both mine & my partners laptops, however when I uprade to the lastest version of Firefox google toolbar version 7.1.20110512W add-on was deleted. I can’t find anywhere to download it again. Can you help.
Thank you
John
John,
Below is the link for Google Toolbar 7.1.20110512W:
http://www.mediafire.com/?d5xv1p4n2pu47n4
It’s already modified to accept up to Version 20 for Firefox.
Regards,
Jay
os = ubuntu 12.04 FF + 13.0
Applied this extra step and it all opened correctly
http://davidcocke.blogspot.com/2012/06/google-toolbar-on-firefox-13.html
Everything works fine except the Google bookmarks button. Google bookmarks is my favorite as it helps to add the websites irrespective of the system i am using and go back to the same website at latter point from another system….Any help?!?!
It worked. Thank you so much. Easy and fast.
Working great for me with Win7 build 7601 and FireFox 13.1! Thank you!
I found a way to modify the needed files inside the signed Version 7.1.20110512W installer XPI file and then I could install the unsigned modified XPI file without downgrading Firefox.
To do this I unzipped the XPI archive file. Next I modified the install.rdf and the toolbar.js files per the instructions given else where on this page. To unsign the modified XPI installer do not include the META-INF folder when rezipping the modified and unmodified files. Now the zip file that has the modifications needs the extension renamed to .XPI. I was then able to load this with the install add-on from file option inside Firefox 13.1 after ignoring the trust warning dialog.
Have a very good day!
Yes, it’s worked, Thank you!
Yes it worked for me too – thanks!
Many thanks for precious workaround. I’ve now upgraded from version 6 (which for some reason will NOT now show streetview) to 13 AND I’ve got my Google Toolbar back. Very many thanks.
Nice, Worked no problem, I can’t bare the thought of FF without my google toolbar.
Thank you very much. It works perfect
http://www.mediafire.com/?d5xv1p4n2pu47n4 – sign in and version modded xpi install
Hi,
Squall , It’s work perfectly. thanks
THANKS!!!!!!
Didn’t work with Firefox 13. On opening with Notebook++ The line
4.0.*
wasn’t there but what was there was
16.0al.*
so wasn’t sure what to change it to so I made it
14..* as suggested and on closing and opening firefox I got same message when trying to install Google Toolbar, namely it doesn’t work with Firefox only Internet Explorer. also tried >13.
Also couldn’t find toolbar.js at all
You, perhaps, got an incomplete installation.
there are several install.rdf files in my Mozilla folder are you sure your editing the default profile (or the profile are currently using). the default as stated is {3112ca9c-de6d-4884-a869-9855de68056c}. Tip click help on the toolbar, Troubleshoot under Application Basics click the show folder button this will open the Mozilla folder. Now in the search area type install.rdf and look along the right hand side under the folder column you should see the string of number above, That’s the install.rdf you need to edit. If your not using the default click on the date modified column and select the most recent date.
I forgot to mention when you open the install.rdf you can’t see 4.0.* so click the edit button, Find, enter the copy and paste the above in the blank find space and click find next, That should take you to it then as state change the 4.0 to 14.0
sorry for some reason the line I’m typing is being truncated you need to copy and paste the line stated in the article I’ll try to write it one more time, em:maxVersion>4.0.*</em:maxVersion
You need wrap your codes with the
code tag.This fix worked great until yesterday when I had to restart my laptop. When I opened Firefox, the space for the Google toolbar is there, but it’s blank.
Google toolbar is enabled in my add-ons and is checked in the toolbars. I even tried resetting the “maxversion” back to 4.0, saving the file, closed firefox, reopened it and the space for Google toolbar was gone. Set maxversion to 14. again, saved and opened Firefox and the space for the toolbar is there again, but cannot see it.
Any ideas as to why or what I might do to fix this? Thanks so much!
Sorry, but I couldn’t replicate the issue.
I probably have restarted my laptop thousand time after applying this fix.
I had as well and never had this issue before. I did a system restore and it seems to have resolved the problem.
Thanks. Your fix worked perfectly.
Well I just followed these instructions and when I opened up Firefox again, Google Toolbar still wasn’t there and I lost all my open tab groups, I ended up losing hundreds of tabs *cries*
You must’ve done something wrong then. Recheck your steps.
it doesn`t work because google does not suport mozilla anymore.i can`t install google toolbar anymore on my mozilla browser :[[[[ i try what you Abhik said but it didn`t work.
Yes it does work – first time. Great to have it back.
Terrific work-around – browsing SOOO much easier again. Well done abhik!
Many thanks worked great ……Do not like my toolbar missing
I have a Mac desktop and a MacBook Air. I have a google tool bar on the iMac but the Macbook Air says it’s incompatible with my FireFox version.
I don’t know how to locate those files on a Mac. Can you help? I want that toolbar!!
Awesome. What the heck is wrong with Google and Mozilla? Why can’t they play nice together? I guess Google is being Microsoft”ish” and not wanting to support any other browser but their own crap.
Thanks a’lot
after the update to version 12.0 i thought “F*** Damn shite… i should not have done that”
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Awesome. Thanks a million, works great.
I do not have the install.rdf file. I have 3 others but only 1, extensions.rdf, even had the “maxVersion” text in it. I changed all those to no avail. Any thoughts?
Nevermind. I did a search of my harddrive and found it. It must have been in a hidden directory or something. Works!!
Thanks! Great fix!!
works perfectly, Thanks a lot!
Awesome fix Abhik ! Thanks for sharing this information with all of us.
I’ve been staying with version 12, as the toolbar still worked because of changes made to the toolbar.js files. Your “FIX” made version 13 & 14 work and hopefully beyond.
Thank you again for sharing your expertise! I recall my parents saying too many years ago “Sharing is Caring”
Working great, Thanks a lot for support and tip
I have mozilla ver. 13.1 and your tip works perfectly, thank you so, so so much
How can i install the addon if i dont have it in my addon list?
You can’t.
You need to downgrade (uninstall the latest version of Firefox and installing the compatible version), install Google Toolbar and then upgrade Firefox overwriting the existing 3.6.28 installation.
Here is the link to download Firefox 3.6.28.
I was having the same problem as Abhik. Had a computer crash and reinstalled everything including FF 13. Downgrade!…not bloody likely now that I’ve set up everything the way I like it. Took me hours to get FF 13 looking the way I like it except for Google toolbar. When I need that I’ll go IE. Thanks anyway.
Thank you so much!!
What are you some kind of tech genius? That was a beautiful workaround to get Google Toolbar to work in Firefox 12. Don’t think I could have figured that one out, and I’m a pretty good IT guy. It worked perfectly. Thank you. For a couple years now I remained with Firefox 4.0 because it was the last version that the Google Toolbar actually worked in, but I was having trouble recently watching videos online in that version. I noticed I could watch them in IE (which I don’t use), but not in Firefox. Figured it was time to finally upgrade. Upgrading fixed the video problem and your fix worked to get Google Toolbar back. Only problem I had was when I tried to add Notepad to the Send To drop-down menu, I kept getting an Error message stating “User/Admin/SendTo” not accessible” or something like that. Instead I opened the “install rdf” folder in Notepad by going to File/Open/ in Notepad and pasted in “%APPDATA% in the File Name box,, Opened ‘Install rdf’ in notepad, edited it, saved it and that was it. Thanks again!
Fantastic – works like a charm – thanks so much!
Works excellent in FF 13! I am one happy camper
. Thanks for this it’s appreciated!
thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanks
If Mozzila skips it again, I think I will change to google chrome
NB: it seems like it’s google strategy….mmmmm
Works in Firefox 13.0.1…..thanks!!
I am having the same problem as others. I don’t have the Google Toolbar installed at all and when I try to DL it, it won’t allow me to. What is the fix for this? Thank you for the help.
Thank you very much, it worked. For me it’s the last time I do search the web for this, if Mozilla skips it again, Mozilla is history here… just saying. Again many thanks.
With the above steps and using a addon
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/checkcompatibility/
Seems the only way to get it to work. at least since firefox 13
hello people, hi, i’m in the newest version of firefox which is beta firefox 14, and my google toolbar was disabled, how can i enabled it back, please some one help, please, i love google, please, respond as quickly as u can, than k u…:)
Many thanks my friend!!!! Now it is working again in firefox 13. I only downloaded the add on and instal the tool bar.xpi. You saved me! =)
Hi! Thanks for the tip. I really appreciated it and now I have my Toolbar back along with my bookmarks
But I had to set the version number to 20.0* – it was already in the file as 14.0* I’m guessing from the last time. What was weird though was that I had Google Desktop and Calendar still available on the toolbar but nothing else which was really strange, but now it’s all back. Thanks!
I, unfortunately, do not have the file name you mention above (install.rdf), but did find another RDF file named “extensions.rdf” so I tried the same thing with it. It seems to have a similar line in the code. After changing it in that file, it does not seem to work. I am using Firefox 13. I actually had it working in 12, but just upgraded to 13 today – dang! Any other thoughts on what I should try? Thanks very much.
Oops – sorry! After checking through the folders a bit more closely, I did find the file in the extensions folder (had a very similar name to the one you show above). And it worked great! THANK YOU!!!!
Hi guys, I think I’ve found the way to enable Google Toolbar for Firefox 13 on Mac OSX, first double-click the Macintosh HD icon on desktop, then go to the following path:
Users -> -> Library -> Application Support -> Firefox -> Profiles -> xxxxxxx.default(complete name for this part may varies in for every machine) -> extensions,
Inside “extensions” folder, you may see many folders with names like this: {3CE993BF-A3D9-4fd2-B3B6-768CBBC337F8}. In that case I’m not sure that everyone will have the same name for Google Toolbar, mine is named {3112ca9c-de6d-4884-a869-9855de68056c}. So I would suggest using some hard way: look into these folders one by one, looking for install.rdf file with keyword like “Google” and “Toolbar”. If you find one install.rdf file with the keywords in it, then that’s it, that’s the file for Google Toolbar, just change the minVersion and maxVersion values in line 16 and 17, then save the file, restart Firefox, you will see the Google Toolbar is back!!
Thank you man. i used to enable it with the addon compatibility reporter , but it didnt work with firefox 13 anymore
it couldnt enable google toolbar in ff13 . but your method works thanks. :X
I am using a mac OS 10.6.8 also, and can’t find the Firefox profile file you are talking about.
Please advise. Thanks.
thank you very much but do have a question. The main reason I wanted this back was for the translation as I need to visit a lot of foreign websites in my work. Previously sites were translated automatically . this no longer works, instead you have to click on the icon in the toolbar and each time you click on a link or go to a new page on that site you have to reclick( previously translation was maintained)
even with this annoyance, it is is still better than using a 3rd party translator or any of the firefox addons which were just terrible.
Like a charm!
Thanks very much.
Thanks for this article, you don’t know how much I’m pleased to find a solution that works.
It’s perfect for someone who has the Google Toolbar installed but disabled by Firefox. Unfortunatly however, you don’t seem to offer any advice for people who haven’t already got the toolbar installed. I just bought a brand new computer so even though your article would work, it was pointless for me because I didn’t have the toolbar already installed.
You would make a lot of people very happy if you provided a trusted download source for the Google toolbar because Google doesn’t let anyone download it anymore. I eventually found a copy on Softpedia which is a safe place to download from.
I’m sure you get tons of traffic to the article because your ranked 1st on Google for many of the relevant search terms to do with installing the Toolbar. Maybe you could provide a Softpedia affiliate link source to the Toolbar to make yourself some cash. (Not sure if they offer an affiliate program or not though)
Here is the last mirror link on Softpedia left thats still available to download the toolbar:
http://download.softpedia.ro/dl/cf552e9d397768a3d2d26391f563f981/4fd91df0/100023970/software/INTERNET/BROWSER/EXTENSIONS/google-toolbar-beta-win.xpi
Thank you very much from Lyon, France. Toolbar is back, and I’m happy !!! Thank you again !
Problem is, I uninstalled google toolbar after firefox told me it was not compatible. When I try to download the latest version firefox won’t even try to install it because it’s not compatible. Is there any way around this?
I did an upgrade of Firefox the other week from v12 to v13 and it stopped allowing me to use the Google Toolbar completely, so I removed it eventually. Now when I tried to re-install it, Firefox 13 won’t even allow you to install the XPI file that I downloaded from Filehippo.com’s site – using Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 after Firefox would not allow me to get the XPI file at all. So if you are using Firefox 13, how do I and others go about restoring Google Toolbar now? I tried looking at the XPI file in Wordpad and its not readable. I have “GoogleBar Lite” but it is not as good, and it doesn’t even offer Google Translate which I miss now. Is there any solution to this solution that I can use now to get Google Toolbar back? Thanks for any help you can provide. Donald
Besides edit install.rdf, you need to install addOn “checkcompatibility 1.3″, Enable it, Close and Reopen Firefox, it works for me on version 13.
You don’t have to do anything other than editing the install.rdf file to enable the Google Toolbar.
Damn it works!
Thanks for giving peace to many headaches out there
You’re a lifesaver.
Thanks!!!!! this Google Toolbar in Firefox 12 and 13 tip WORKED!!!!!! thanks
Unfortunately, I can’t do this, as I don’t seem to have the requird file. I’ve searched everywhere for it, I don’t have it. Can someone upload theirs anywhere, please? I would really appreciate it!
manny thanx , i am happy it work !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you!!!! You saved me! I really need the bar, I use the ‘translate’ function every moment!
thanks, it worked indeed and was a real life-saver
WOO HOO ! ! !
U b D Man Abhik.
Your instructions worked like a champ.
Good on ya.
Respect my friend. I do all that you say and …. toolbar is back!!!!
Thanks a lot.
Worked perfectly on Mac OSX Ver. 10.6.8. Thanks for the help!
Hi, could you please teach me where to find the related file on Mac OSX 10.6.8? The file structure in Mac OSX is different from that of windows. Thanks in advance!!
I’m using a mac also. I cant find the file either.
Thanks Man
It Worked One Time
You’re The Coolest Tech Guy Alive
Thanks much. worked as written, like a charm
Windows 7 / firefox 13
Thanks Abhik. Excellent advice and the tweak worked perfectly. However, the path where install.rdf is located might vary between systems. My instance of install.rdf (on a Win XP SP3 PC running FF 13) was found at …\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6yy0o5mi.default\extensions\{3112ca9c-de6d-4884-a869-9855de68056c} – via Windows Explorer search facility.
It worked but only in a limited way. Yes I got back a google toolbar, but it’s now a primitive one. I can’t chose “search site” for example. The drop down options of “more”, “add search type” and “manage” do nothing when I click on them.
I do have translate and autofill though.
Thanks a lot! When I upgrade to FF13 Google Toolbar went away and the internet connection became slow and unreliable. After i changed the row in install.rdf file all got back right! My O.S. is lubuntu 12.04.
Awesome.
Thank you so much!! It worked perfectly!!
YES!!! Thank you!! oohhh I’m so happy this worked!
You’re a genius! Please keep updating this as Firefox keeps updating their browser, I definitely bookmarked this page!
Thank you again!
Bless you!!!!!
I was truly panicking. I use every one of those buttons. I can’t believe they think it’s okay to be without it (and I mean Google) It’s not on Chrome either
Thank you!!!!!
It works perfectly with Mac too!!! Thanks a lot Abhick and Dennis!!!!
Luca
Changed the 4.0.* to 14.* and saved the file. Still no toolbar
I too have the problem that the toolbar was somehow removed and I can’t seem to get it installed. I tried extracting the xpi, changing the file and recompiling the xpi- but it said that it was corrupt
Brilliant! Never changed a setting like that before but it was clearly explained and worked first time (once I had figured out what I had to do to use Notepad++). Thank you.
After searching for the correct file, I finally found it, changed it as you specified, restarted Firefox and the Google toolbar returned.
Awesome!! Thanks for the tips
Where is the Appdata directory? (i’m using windows 7)
Thanks Abhik,very good work at first, is very well explained : )
I was able to get this to work with Google Toolbar 7.1.20110316w – but only because I couldn’t update to the newest. How can this be done? When I try, I’m told that it’s not compatible with Firefox 13.
Install an old copy of Firefox e.g. version 7, update Google toolbar, then update Firefox. You might find that the first FF update takes you back to v12.0 then you have to update again to v13.0. Then run the change to the install.rtf file and restart FF.
Thank you so much!!! it totally works, I was having a toolbar meltdown!!!!!
YOU ROCK!!
Is there a way to do this with a mac? my auto update just turned off my google toolbar and I am lost without it!!!
Thanks very much buddy, it worked perfectly. Thanks for sharing
Muchísimas gracias, ha funcionado perféctamente, y la explicación perfecta y muy detallada, sin ella no habría dado con la solución.
Me reitero, muchísimas gracias por compartir su trabajo.
English, please
Dear Abhik,
I searched all over the web to find the Google Toolbar installer for Firefox (version 7.1.20110512W) and I cannot find it anywhere, a lot of sites re-direct me to the google url, which is now not available anymore! Can you please reply me by email and send me the file or the URL so I can follow your (above) instructions to maintain using the Google Toolbar in FF higher versions? Thank you very much!!!!! T.
Thanks god, it worked!!! i had some dificults finding the folder but it worked !!
Thank you so much – worked immediately, and the instructions were clear even for someone totally non-technically minded like me. I am a translator and I am always searching for things and I rely on Google toolbar so much.
That worked great! Thanks so much.
Please disregard my previous message. I must have made a mistake when re-editing the install.rdf file. I redid it and it now works.
Works a treat ! ….. thanks
Thank’s a lot !!!
So easy….
This had been working perfectly for me with FF 13 and XinXP. However, there was an update today, and the toolbar disappeared. I made sure that the install.rdf file was ok, and indicated that the tookbar works OK on the extensions compatibility page. However, when do view-toolbars the google toolbar is not there. What should I do, since I truly like having it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It works perfectly with the new update today ( Version 13). THANKS FROM BRAZIL!
Jerry: I did it first time and works after today update. Maybe if you try to reinstall google toolbar.
how can i do on mac
On a Mac, go to Help>>Troubleshoot Information. Under Applications Basics there should be a Profile Folder section. Click ‘Show in Finder’. Drill down to the extensions folder and find the folder specified in step 2 of the guide. Follow the rest of the guide from there. Voila.
Is there anyway to GET the Google Toolbar installed? I do not have it. I got rid of it before I found this page.
It works perfectly, thanks!
OMG I got my google toolbar back. .yay I am thrilled. .Win XP sp3 FF 13
Thanks Felix!!!
It worked wonders!
Thanks for all the help…Much appreciated
it works !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
))))))))))))
Thank you, works perfectly. Thanks a ton for for figuring it out. My google toolbar seems to to be working perfectoly smoothly too, no glitches in using it either. Thanks again, much appreciated.
It helped!
Thank you so much!!
THANK YOU !
Thank you for info! 100% absolutely works!!!
You rock, thank you!!!
it works for me thank you
Thanks a lot!
It’s still working!!!
Works for me, though not all Google toolbar functions properly work. It prompts for login, but does not actually show me as signed in, after I enter my user ID and password. Better than nothing…
Win XP, FF13. Worked for me just fine. Thanks!
Using Win7 Ultimate 64 with FF13 and it worked fine. Thanks a lot.
I am a complete illiterate, but I sort of followed your instruction(!) and now have my Google toolbar back. Thank you.
I’m using window 7 ultimate , there is no such profile or directorate , please advise
regards .
AWESOME!!
It does work! Thank you so much
Now if someone can email me the install file for Google Toolbar Windows 7 64-bit version, I’d have my Google Toolbar on my new work computer, too!!!! (My home is a 32-bit version)
Hi Abhik, many thanks for the hints. I have seen that a couple of points where still missing, so I have tried to merge all points together in an end-to-end fool-proof step by step guide as follows:
1) Uninstall Firefox if higher than 4
2) Install Firefox 4 from: http://www.filehippo.com/download_firefox/history/
3) Install Google Toolbar from: http://www.filehippo.com/download_google_toolbar_firefox/
4) Update Firefox to last release
5) In the Run box, type in %appdata%
6) Go to your Firefox Profiles at AppData >Roaming > Mozilla> Firefox > Profiles > Default Profile > Extensions and look for the directory where the
Google Toolbar is installed. Mine is located at {3112ca9c-de6d-4884-a869-9855de68056c} directory.
There should be a file called install.rdf in that folder. Open it in a text editor like Notepad or Notepad++ (free and open source).
Now you need to change the maxversion to 14. Find this line:
4.0.* around line number 17 and change it to
14.*
Save the file and close the editor and keep Windows Explorer open (it will be needed at point 10)
7) Restart the Firefox
8 ) Install in FireFox the ADD ON Disable Add-on Compatibility Check at: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/checkcompatibility/
9) Now the Google Toolbar should appear!
10) With the Windows Explorer open at the end of point 6), Open the directory lib and edit the toolbar.js file with a text editor like Notepad++ and
Search for: “www.google.com/accounts” (without “http://”)
Replace with: accounts.google.com
in ALL OCCURRENCE
Save it
11) Open FireFox, and log in into your Google Toolbar
If I uninstall the latest Firefox, do I lose the associated files, such as bookmarks, etc?
Worked like a charm. Thanks
If you not have installed de extension, download de XPI and uncompress (with 7-zip for example), create a folder in the firefox extension folder and move the files in there. Edit the extensions.ini files in the profile folder and add the path of the plugin (the created folder). Now you can edit install.rdf in this folder and the toolbar is installed.
I just use Search Status now, only difference is I can’t check out cached pages. With YSE gone now, they aren’t as useful as they used to be.
the toolbar mysteriously worked until now even with FF12.0 whitout me having to do anything for like 6 months and automatic FF updates. Works no longer, can’t find a button to update the toolbar Addon. My version is 7.1.20110512M.
It worked !
I’m can’t thank you enough!
I was going crazy without the toolbar.
(Firefox 12)
THANKS, DUDE!!!! Worked perfectly for me =DDDD
Thank you! it works again, i missed it so much.
This didn’t work for me. I kept searching and found something that did. It’s an add-on for Firefox called “Disable Add-on Compatibility Checks”
I found it here:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/checkcompatibility/
To find a profile folder in the default location on Windows 2000, XP, Vista, or Windows 7: (even if it is hidden do the following steps)
———————————————————————————————————————-
1. Press “Windows key + R” to open the Run box
(or, you can click “Start → Run…” on Windows 2000/XP)
2. In the Run box, type in %APPDATA%
3. Click OK. A Windows Explorer window will appear.
4. In this window, choose Mozilla → Firefox → Profiles.
Each folder in the “Profiles” folder (e.g., “xxxxxxxx.default”) is a profile on your computer.
For more information go to http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
For me by changing max version number to 11 it only worked for Firefox 11 not later versions as text implies( I’m running Firefox 13).I set the number to 25 and bingo all fine.Hopefully will now be OK up to the release of Version 26
Many thanks for the info. – Steve
Thank you for the information, I will try it
You are awesome. Worked like a charm.
This is definite nice tips to enable Google toolbar for Firefox 10 and 11 but I want to ask that how to enable Google toolbar for Firefox 12.0? I have searched at several time but not found relevant links there. Please suggest about that whatever thing …
Instead of 11, I put in the number 20 and it worked! Thanks
Does not work with firefox 13 beta for me
never mind, i changed the number from 13 to 20 and now it works….thanks !!!
thanx buddy..its working.
Thank you Sir ! (Deep bow ) You…are a life saver ! (On Win 7 64 )
Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit, Firefox 12. Located folder and file for my profile, changed line to 12.* and all working. Thank you!
HELP!!!!! Folder was not there. I downloaded the toolbar again, and the Firefox prevented its installation. I can’t even find the toolbar file that was downloaded. I did all this on another computer using WinXP and it was fine. Windows 7 is not allowing me to do what I want.
if you are looking you should go here http://www.filehippo.com/ then go to browsers and plugins then scroll down to google toolbar and bingo there she is
Thanks. This worked for me.
Works perfectly in Windows 7. Brilliant! If only I’d known it was so easy 12 months ago!
Put in 20 and your’re covered for the next set of updates.
Many. many thanks.
salve —anche usando il traduttore ( sono come alle prime armi ) non riesco a capire come fare -purtroppo la versione di firefox è la 12 (ultima ) potessi riavere la n.4 sarebbe bello— ho bisogno del pulsante del traduttore – sono negato sull’inglese ( sorry )
^^
prejudice — even with the translator (as are a beginner) I can not figure out how to do-unfortunately the version of firefox is 12 (the last) could regain the No. 4 would be nice — I need a translator button – are denied on English (sorry)
Thanks a lot from France. It works great.
Thank you very, very, very much!
Greetings from Brazil!
(+1)
“Worked in Firefox 12 (had to change code from “11.*” to “12.*” of course).”
Worked in Firefox 12 (had to change code from “11.*” to “12.*” of course). I was looking for the file location for a long time and couldn’t find it but thanks to Amitai’s comment I was able to locate it.
I did not have Google on Firefox 10 or 11. I tried the update–no go. Uninstalled Firefox. Installed Firefox 4.0 fixed the install.rdf. Worked on Firefox 11 installed max 19.0 and then Google was on Firefox 12.
Really is nice having a smart guy offering free fixes. Thank you so much. I love my add-ons and only use Chrome for slow sites.
Help. Even though I am an old computer user (going back to the ’50s, web stuff is not in my purview. My Google Toolbar was working in Firefox 10 or 11, but it went away. I went to try the fix suggested, but don’t seem to have the toolbar any longer. I did install Groowe Search Toolbar and it works, though the compatibility page says that it shouldn’t. But I want the real Google Toolbar.
I can’t find the toolbar any longer. Is there a way that I can reinstall it and do the fix. The Google page says that it is not available, but it would work with the fix. What should I do?
Last year I put “20.*” immediately and haven’t had any problems.
great !! – it works also on FF 11.0 portable version – Thanks !!
Worked until yesterday (Firefox 11 / Windows 7 / GTB 7.1.20110512W)
Today back in our network it works no longer.
works for me on firefox 10 and 11.
Thank you
This fix is for windows because on Linux it doesn´t work . Damn, I need the auto translation web page function sooooooooo bad !!!!!!!
I need Russian webs translated . As soon as I log into a website any other translator can´t hack it and I don´t know what the people are saying.
Would really lie a fix for linux. Tks.
Have you tried Fast Translation (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/fast-translation/?src=api)?
worked .. for Firefox 10 ESR ,
Thanks ..
Thanks to you everything was working OK but today something happen and the toolbar went way.I did tray everything but I am not able to bring the bar back.Any help.I am with vista
totally worked! thank you so very much : )
It worked, thanks
Sweet… worked absolutely!!!
You da man! This worked flawlessly.
Running WinXP
Works! You, sir, rock.
Works like a charm!
Its working!!! thx Amitai and Amitai !!
this did not work for me; win 7
share: shows loading about 90% and then stops…………… so share still does not work
Thanks, it worked!
Path to install.rdf in WinXP (don’t ask, company policy) is:
C:\Documents and Settings\{USER_NAME}\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\2dhzie8z.default\extensions\{3112ca9c-de6d-4884-a869-9855de68056c}
Worked. Thanks!
Awesome!
It works with this trick in FF11!
Thank You so very very much!
I have the same issue as a couple of others here – I make the change in install.rdf to 11.* (which i have done before for previous releases with no problem), but the Google Toolbar shows as completely blank in FF. Any ideas?
Update: I figured it out! Thanks to a tip from another site… right click on the navigation bar area and select “Customize,” then choose “Restore Default Set.”
I tried this and it worked until last week when an automatic Firefox update caused the toolbar to disappear and leave simply a light blue space/line where it was, even though it says under View that the Google toolbar is enabled. Under Tools, I click the Adds-On Manager and under the Options section for the toolbar there is nothing in the Buttons window that I can click to put on this blank toolbar line. Is there some way to get buttons added when they are none listed here? Or even something to indicate that this is even the toolbar? Thank you.
this worked! I was so upset losing this toolbar! thanks so much!
awesome. worked i XP
this actually works, just follow the instructions, loads of help thanks
Thank’s!!!! It really works!!!
re:It’s NOT the Firefox installation directory.
It’s the Firefox Profiles directory under Application Data folder.
I cannot find either the profiles directory much less the app data folder. Using Win 7 home prem 64 bit.
Thanks, Bill
I don’t understand.
first, i can’t install the google tool bar for firefox 11, so i can’t find the directory where the Google Toolbar is installed.how to do it ???pls help
You need to have Google Toolbar installed from previous versions.
The best you can do is downgrade to Firefox 4.6, install Google Toolbar and them upgrade Firefox again.
The “fix” described in the article works only if you had Google Toolbar installed, and it was then disabled when you upgraded Firefox. If you’re on Firefox 11 but never installed Google Toolbar, then — to the best of my knowledge — you won’t be able to install it.
What you CAN do is uninstall Firefox, get an old version of it (from places such as oldapps.com), install G.T., upgrade Firefox to the newest version (the one you had in the first place), and then try the fix above.
Or you can just say a big SCREW YOU to Mozilla and Google, and use MSIE and/or Bing instead. After a while, you won’t be able to tell the difference.
Go to C:\Users\[your username]. The AppData folder is hidden, so you need to type it in the location bar. At the top of the window, click inside the address bar. The clickable folders now change to the directory tree list, i.e. if your username is example, it now says:
C:\Users\example
Type \AppData and press ENTER. It should now read C:\Users\example\AppData
And now just continue on to Roaming > Mozilla > Firefox > etc.
big thanks
thank you very much
It’s a shame you didn’t bother to check what Google has to say about this. They are no longer supporting the toolbar for Firefox, so there won’t be an “upgrade” – ever. Your ‘fix’, and any of the other fixes offered on the Internet, is simply hacking a tool that will never be compatible with Firefox. Now, you may think its ok to run unsupported Internet software, personally I think it’s asking for trouble and anyone doing it deserves any security issues and/or instabilities that may arise.
I’m afraid sensible users will have to either abandon Firefox and run the toolbar in IE or Chrome, or stick with Firefox and abandon the toolbar. I did the latter and find that most things can be done other ways, the only thing I miss is the search history in the search toolbar. The ‘blame’ for this mess should be divided between Mozilla and Google. Google for not properly supporting the toolbar, and Mozilla for developing a browser dependent on add-ons for functionality and then not-ensuring that Firefox is backwards compatible with respect to add-ons.
I agree with Tom!
Many thanks for this tip and instruction set!
For some reason today (the coming of Spring?), I got on an update kick and after installing and upgrading other computer programs, I upgraded to Firefox 11 from a much earlier version (3.x or so–this was much overdue)–but without thinking, i didn’t create a backup of the earlier version or even think to install the latest version side-by-side to the old. Imagine my surprise when earlier add-ons no longer worked (so much for seamlessness, Firefox . . .).
In the end , I figured that I could live without most of the deceased add-ons, but then there was the Google Toolbar issue. And you came to the rescue–many thanks, again!
Too good to be true! Worked for me on Firefox 11.0! Thank you!
First off you should have mentioned that you must have google toolbar previously installed or else this would not work… so the first step would be to ensure you have it installed OR downgrade firefox to version 4.0 then install the toolbar upgrade your firefox then do this fix… frustrating I had to figure this out myself.
culdnt fine the file until did a search, found it at C:\Documents and Settings\Phillip\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profilesud9tz3d.default\extensions\{3112ca9c-de6d-4884-a869-9855de68056c} and editing this worked (OS is win XP sp3)
this worked perfectly. But since Firefox 10 all of a sudden the share page via gmail stopped working. i noticed it stopped working then the progress bar for loading the gmail window changed from being a flat light blue to a striped dark and light blue. so now the progress bar gets stuck and after some time it will display a msg on the window saying that it can’t be loaded and suggests me to disable labs or go to Google help. very weird. That was the button I most used of all. The button with the gmail icon and some chain links over it.
I don’t understand item number 2….could you expand on it please……Go to Firefox profiles??….where are they????totally lost
Go to your Firefox Profiles at AppData >Roaming > Mozilla> Firefox > Profiles > Default Profile > Extensions and look for the directory where the Google Toolbar is installed. Mine is located at {3112ca9c-de6d-4884-a869-9855de68056c} directory.
You, sir, are a genius. Worked for me on Firefox 11.0. Thank you VERY much for the instructions!
I am running version 3.6.27 and your directions do not work for me. I cannot upgrade to a newer version because then my hp fingerprint reader does not work. Any suggestions.
Also, running windows vista. Thanks
I am on FF11 and this worked great! Since I don’t want to mess with it every few weeks, I set “Max Version” to 45.
I downloaded Firefox 11, and there was no Google toolbar. I found your post and tried it. It worked! I just changed the 4 to an 11.
I recently installed v.11 of FF. When I get to the extensions window, I see 5 directories like {3112ca9c…}. All of them have install.rdf in the directory. Which one do I choose to change? I changed the 4.0 to 10 in one of the install.rdf files, saved it, restarted FF 11, and no Google Toolbar. Did I select the wrong directory and install.rdf file? Should I change the 4.0 to 10 in all 5 install.rdf files? Thanks for your help.
The one that has
[sourcecode language="plain"]<em:name>Google Toolbar for Firefox</em:name>[/sourcecode]
Around line #22
I-D-O-L =)
Doesn’t seem to work with Firefox 11? Changed the line, but it doesn’t work
Great Tip. Thanks. I lost my google toolbar overnight with the upgrade to 10.0.2. It is now back right where I want it. Thanks again.
Abhik, I’m having a lot of problems with the toolbar for firefox 10. Using the solution I got the toolbar back but it’s not working at full capacity. Several buttons are missing, preferences cannot be edited, translate no longer works and alt text is disabled on other sites. Should I try again with a previous version of firefox or is there a newer version of the google toolbar that 7.120110512?
max was already set at 10. I tried to set it to 11 still would not allow google toolbar to work. Google toolbar version Version 7.1.20110512W would not download because it said that it was not compatible with Firefox 10.0.2. Any addituional help would be appreciated.
It didn’t work for me ,too. You can do this way, it’s what I did: 1. install firefox 3.6 to the same directory of your current firefox or better yet uninstall the old one and install a fresh one to make it sure it will work 2. install google toolbar 3. install add-on compatibility reporter ,go to–https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/add-on-compatibility-reporter/
4. after doing step 1-3 , update your firefox to ff 10. Everything works fine for me.
Did not work for me
Inside my extensions folder, there were no separate folders for all plugins. There was just one install.rdf file (and two other img files: icon & preview) and there it already had the maxversion set to 10.0.
I even checked to see if I was checking the correct folder (right clicked on shortcut and went to the target folder for firefox from there).
It’s NOT the Firefox installation directory.
It’s the Firefox Profiles directory under Application Data folder.
Thanks a lot. That helped and it works now
Abhik… Just ONE word.. THNKS…!!! =D
Only one function missing, the last 9 viewed pages when you open a new Tab; but I think I can deal without that.
Thnx again!
Hi Abhik,i’m an amateur pc user, but i was able to do it with your help.
Thank you so much dude!
omg. you did it! thank you thank you thank you! i’ve bookmarked your page!
You Are my hero
http://www.mediafire.com/?d5xv1p4n2pu47n4
For XP this is what I did: Install Firefox 4 then Install Google toolbar
Use Notepad to open C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\extensions\{972ce4c6-7e08-4474-a285-3208198ce6fd} install.rdf.
On line 17 Change to 10.*
Install Firefox 10
Toolbar will now appear in Firefox 10
For some reason my Firefox 10 erases the old Firefox 4 install.rdf file and resets it with its own. When I go into the new file and change to v10.*, Firefox still does not enable the Google Toolbar (Win XP Pro). Any suggestions?
Retract above comment – forgot to install compatibility addon.
Followed your instructions and it worked perfectly! Thanks!!!!!
Works perfectly! Thanks
Worked for me, thanks
Perfect… now Working properly……Thanks
Excellent! I had lost all hope… Thank you very much! I don’t understand why they don’t suggest it if it’s so simply and it works so well!!!
Thanks so much! I’ve been postponing updating Firefox because I would lose the Google toolbar. Your instructions were clear and it worked. Thanks.
Didn’t work for me. I’m using Firefox 10 with Vista. I did everything you said, but no luck.
Works perfectly on Firefox 10. Thank you!
Same as Jack above. Worked great! FF is / has been my fav since start and GoogleToolbar has been the most useful part.
Thanks again.
I have Firefox setup 8.0. I somehow lost my google toolbar. I reopened the setup for 8.0, went and downloaded the last google toolbar, restarted, it somehow updated to 10 and the toolbar is there with all my settings. So using your method to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Hi Abhik,
I followed your instructions exactly but I don’t have the install.rdf file. I looked in every folder in every directory, but it’s not there. Please help! I really don’t want to downgrade to FF 4 again, but I will if I can’t get this to work
Thanks in advance!
Well, the file must be there if you already have the Toolbar installed.
Go to run (Windows Key + R), type %APPDATA% and hit enter. That’ll bring up the Roaming Application Data folder. Then go to Mozilla> Firefox > Profiles > Default Profile. You’ll find the install.rdf file there.
I have several profile setup on Firefox. When I upgraded to Firefox 10.0 I can get the Google Toolbar on 2 of my profiles. On the third profile I never installed Google Toolbar. I am not trying to install it but cannot. I keep getting a message that Google Toolbar is not compatible with Firefox 10.0. Is there a workaround for this?
Awesome!!! It works great. Thank you so much for this information. You totally rock.
I have just installed FF10.0.2, but can’t seem to make this work for me
I’m using Win 7
1st, I can’t find the install.rdf file in appdata, I found it in
C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\extensions\{972ce4c6-7e08-4474-a285-3208198ce6fd}
2nd, when I opened the file install.rdf, I found this
10.0.2
10.0.2
I changed it to 10.*, 10.0*, 20.*, 20.0.*…. etc and still not working
I even change the minVersion to 4.* and 4.0.*
Can you help me out please, I’m desperate of having Google Toolbar working
Go to run (Windows Key + R), type %APPDATA% and hit enter. That’ll bring up the Roaming Application Data folder. Then go to Mozilla> Firefox > Profiles > Default Profile. You’ll find the install.rdf file there.
It’s not there. There are a lot of files, but no install.rdf file in “default profile” folder for me. This is my url “C:\Users\Hanna&Tony\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\b1f8gkkn.default”
I even go to “C:\Users\Hanna&Tony\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\b1f8gkkn.default\extensions” and couldn’t find install.rdf
I did a search and still can’t find it
It should be there in a directory that starts with “{” under extensions.
There will be more than one directory name starting with “{” if you have other addons installed. You need to find the folder where the Google Toolbar is installed.
My FF do not have google toolbar installed, because the first version of FF I installed is 10.0.2. Therefore I can’t install Google toolbar from the beginning.
I checked my friend’s laptop, who also have never installed the toolbar, his laptop also do not have install.rdf in %AppData%\Roaming….
So I was thinking of uninstall FF 10.0.2, install the older version , install the toolbar and then install the new version of FF to see if the toolbar will still there or not.
What do you think?
I don’t have those { folder, but I have files that look like this
{79c50f9a-2ffe-4ee0-8a37-fae4f5dacd4f}.xpi
{d10d0bf8-f5b5-c8b4-a8b2-2b9879e08c5d}.xpi
@Tony: to install Google Toolbar in FF 10.0.2 you have to follow the “old” way: open a new tab, type “about:config” in Firefox addressbar and press Enter. It’ll confirm, click on “I’ll be careful, I promise! button”. Now right-click and select “New -> Boolean”. Give it name “extensions.checkCompatibility.10.0″, and set its value to “false”. Restart FF and install Google Toolbar again.
(you can read http://www.askvg.com/how-to-fix-broken-firefox-extensions-and-make-them-compatible-with-new-version/ for some other info).
Thank you rapuz, it works wonderfully
Tony
Great fix. Brill! Fabulously convenient. I was regretting ff10 until I found your fix.
Thanks so much.
thank you, your description was really helpful on my Firefox 10 installation.
Hi there, I have just upgraded from FF 3.6 to 10 and installed the toolbar perfectly as you suggested. Thank you. I would like to suggest that you explain how to do the AppData as this took some research. Also can you advise how to enable the “most visited” pages which shows 9 thumbnails. I have checked on google toolbar info and the part they advise to check/uncheck is not there in the options.
GRRRRRRR Okay – 3 hours and I still can’t get this to work…. To tired now @ 4am to even try and continue. Bookmarked page – will try again tomorrow. NOT going to happen tonight…. sad sad face…….
wow very good tip i applied this tip on my firefox 10.1 and worked perfectly thanks Abhik
I put 20. immediately, so I don’t have to do that every few weeks
Because it’s Firefox10 already. Guess it works!
Thanks!
I use the most recent firefox version & It worked perfectly, thanks!
This sounds like a great trick however, where do you get to the “AppData” file?
Any hep is greatly appreciated!
It’s a hidden folder under \Users\ in Windows 7. If you are on XP, then you’re looking for \Documents and Settings\\Application Data\.
Hi, thanks for all of this!
It worked like a charm! Finally I can use Firefox again.
Thank you soooo much!
Does not work with the new firefox 10….do you have any other ideas?
Works fine!!! THANKS!!!
On Ubuntu 10.04 / Firefox 10 (last update)
But I’ve tried to add some buttons onto the google toolbar and it makes freeze firefox,
leaving the toolbar as original works fine, so use the personal toolbar to add buttons.
Thank you so much
it works
i can use my google toolbar
compatible with firefox 10!!!!!!
Thanks a lot… good job
Thank You very much for this tips…..It’s Working……..Thanks once again…….
Just updated to FF 10 and lost the Google toolbar. Checked the rdf file, it was already set to 10.* I can’t enable the Google toolbar.
Regards Bernard
Same problem here i updated FF to ver10 and the toolbar not working. I even tried using the “Add-on Compatibility Reporter” extension still not working. In the install.rdf file Max = 10 already.
This didn’t work for me until I changed the rdf file to 10.0.* (not 10.*) After that the toolbar reappeared.
i have install Firefox 10 but there no install google toolbar.
Awesome, worked for me. thankz
Thank you very much, I always test out Firefox portable before updating my installed version I was just messing with Firefox 10 portable and used your solution to install it on the portable version I moved the folder you mentioned {3112ca9c-de6d-4884-a869-9855de68056c} to the portal version updated the install.rdf and restarted Firefox portable a paged opened up on Firefox portable telling me about a new add-on and I just clicked yes and then restarted again now I have Google toolbar working perfectly. Thank you so much again.
You are a genius. Thanks so much, I really needed Google toolbar on my Firefox. Thanks Abhik.
Will this fix let me use the google toolbar function that auto translates foreign languages into English. The loss of this feature is the only thing that keeps me from upgrading from firefox 4.6 I do not know if I install the latest FF version that I can go back to 4.6.
I just tested it and it indeed translated the whole webpage into English (US) with a single mouse click. Can someone reconfirm it?
However, you better test it with another installation of Firefox.
Worked like a treat, easy to follow steps took me about 2 mins, thank you very much!!!!!
Thanks, worked for me with FF9.01 on Ubuntu 10.10, folder was at:
home/name/.mozilla/firefox/pct87wg5.default/extensions/{3114gk9c-de6d-4884-a869-9855cf48056c}
look for sub-dir chrome with google-toolbar.jar in it.
How do you get Goggle Tool Bar into FF9. When I try to download message is not compatible with FF9 and nothing downloads. How do I get this process started.
Got the folder and did the necessary changes as suggested Toolbar is installed but it is blank and cannot see the search window or the toolbar in FF9.01. Kindly help.
Hi abhik I am not able to find appdata folder on my computer. please help. I see google toolbar but it is blank and cannot see the search window or the toolbars in FF9.01
Hi,
I just tried the same steps which you had listed but i m unable to edit the INSTALL file as i m getting a message “ACCESS DENIED”.
PlZ HELP ME!!
Hi Abhik,
Its a useful info and did worked……………. Thanks a lot ………….. Had a query – that now and even earlier my Google bookmarks are not shown from my personal PC. Even if I try to sign in it gives me a error. I am able to see the bookmarks from my office PC.
Kindly help
Thank you, it works!
Thank you very very much!!!
This brought my toolbar back!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
If you could update the article with the comment about run, %appdata% you gave to the last person, it would sure help some of us who aren’t as educated as we are adventurous with our computers.
Thanks again!
please help!
when you say : Go to your Firefox Profiles at AppData >Roaming > Mozilla> Firefox > Profiles > Default Profile > Extensions
what does it mean? where do I find the Firefox Profiles? I don’t know what it is (in my computer or on the Firefox browser????)
Its in your computer.
Go to run, type %APPDATA% and hit enter.
Thank you… it works…so relieved I needed my autofill data…Worked perfectly.
Thanks for your genius…Why can’t Google fix this mess.
Brilliant!!
Yea! That really is amazing. Who woulda thought? It worked perfectly. The path to my install was different too, but I found it and voila! Thanks Thanks!
You life saver, Abhik! That’s amazing. Just proves Firefox are being sneaky and don’t want us to use it. It’s basically changing two digits and that’s it. Although the path to my install file was totally different.
hi i have installed mozila version 9 but there not install google toolbar and any addons so please suggest me how i can add any addons, i need your help, please suggest me .
thanks
Hi, thanks for the suggestion.
But I get stuck at step 1. Can you please help?
I have Firefox 9.
I try to install google toolbar 7.1.20110512 from http://www.google.com/toolbar/ff/index.html
I get the answer: Toolbar not available for Firefox 5 or newer versions
Any suggestions?
Many thanks!
Takis
Thanks it worked great except I have GTB version 7.1.20110316w instead of 7.1.20110512W and when I go to install 7.1.20110512W I get an error that it is not compatible with Firefox 9.0.1. Any suggestions on how to update GTB?
Excellent tip and guide-thank you-all sorted and worked the first time.
Matt
Sydney
Australia
extra!!! thanks!!!
God bless ya!!
strange thing here is; it worked fine in all versions up to 9 although the max was 4.0
Thanks
Abhik
Your advice is very helpful. Thanks for sharing!
I have had a problem with the bookmarks since FF5. What I do to over come it is this. Go to google.com/bookmarks and sign in from there. It works every time. You can do the same thing for history, too.
Hope this helps.
Working perfect with Firefox 9 + Google Toolbar Version 7.1.20110512W
Thanks a lot
Thomas
Everything worked, i see the toolbar, however, I too cannot sign in!! The most important thing for me was my book marks… but not having the ability sign in and see my bookmarks is a bad one…
If there is another flag that we can change to make google think we are logging in from a compatible version of firefox… by all means… i’m up for it…
open toolbar.js and search / replace:
find: http://www.google.com/accounts
replace: accounts.google.com
It should now work.
EDIT:
open toolbar.js in the lib directory and search / replace:
find: http://www.google.com/accounts
replace: accounts.google.com
It should now work.
open toolbar.js and search / replace:
find: w w w.google.com/accounts (remove spaces)
replace: accounts.google.com
It should now work.
hey I can’t find the http://www.google.com/accounts, do you know about where it is, within the toolbar.js
I found the two of the w w w. google.com/accounts and it’s still not letting me sign in
Great work! Was a snip for Firefox 9.0.1.
If it is that simple, wonder why cannot Google and Firefox save us all this trouble?
For non geeks like me who find it difficult locating the profiles folder, they can find the procedure on Firefox help.
Hi, i cannot follow the instructions at the top as i have no clue where to find the path to follow:
You said:
“Go to your Firefox Profiles at AppData >Roaming > Mozilla> Firefox > Profiles > Default Profile > Extensions and look for the directory where the Google Toolbar is installed. Mine is located at {3112ca9c-de6d-4884-a869-9855de68056c} directory.”
How and where do I find the start:
AppData >Roaming > Mozilla> Firefox > Profiles > Default Profile > Extensions….
(my language in FF is German, but I think you still can tell me where in the computer to find that path. Does it start in FF or elswhere in my computer?)
Can anyone help? Thanks !
If Windows 7, C:\Users\\AppData\…
Good tip, works great with Firefox 9. Thanks
Thank you so much for this Abhik. I am using FF 9.0.1 and everything works fine. The only problem I have is that when I go to the AutoFill section, there is no longer the option for “credit cards.” I use this feature a lot. Is there a fix for it? I also can’t “sign in” like other people have mentioned. I don’t know if these two problems are related. Any help would be great. Either way, thanks for everything. I love Google Toolbar!
Thanks dude..It’s working pretty good…..Thanks alot..I worried about this problem……
tnx Abhik! this is a great help..and you are also
For slow people like me. When editing 4.0. replace the 4.0 with the corresponding version of FireFox you are using. I changed it to 5 and it didnt work, duh it need to be 9.
Thank you so much. I did not update my FF since 3.6 because of the Google toolbar. Now the vital functions i depend on are functional in FF 9.1.
Nice work around.
The toolbar works. However cannot use the bookmarks to import from Firefox. The bookmark tab asks me to sign in. After I sign in it ask for it every time. Does not seem to work for some reason.
the toolbar works well too, but i also can’t login.
Using FF 9.0.1
Any idea?
Got Mozilla 9.0.1 – did all what you said but it does not work ! I’m in Spain and may be a problem ? Anyway thanks for your eficient help, it’s the only one I did found and… Happy New Year 1020
The Google toolbar update works great in FF 9, thanks so much.
Abhik, Excellent job. It works for me.
Thanks a lot bro!!!
Hamid
it worked on firefox 9 thank you very much
Thank you, Abhik…I just have a recommendation. How about instead of updating the “install.rdf” file to the latest version of FF, (eg. 9.*) just put it to 25.*? That’s what I did and it’s working perfectly fine on FF 7. That way I won’t have to go in and change the .rdf file every time that a new FF version is released. (At least all the up to version 25!)
Made the change and Google Toolbar appears
, but it won’t sign me in?? Running Firefox version 9.0 with hte latest Google Toolbar version.
Any ideas?
It happened since Firefox 7, Google Toolbar has not been functioned normally such as cannot sign in to use Bookmark or other Google services. However, clicking the buttons (Gmail,etc.) will help you to sign in automatically!
Its working….! …………Great………Thanks a lot abhik……..
how about on a mac? I’m trying to find the isntall rdf file with no luck.
Sorry, I don’t have Mac to try things out. However, the process will still the same.
Use Command+F to bring up the search bar.
For MAC users:
the install.rdf can be found in the Library, and then just follow the thread:
Library > Application Support > Firefox > Profiles > tcdbvjuh.default > extensions > {3112ca9c-de6d-4884-a869-9855de68056c} > install.rdf
I did exactly as Abhik instructed, opened install.rdf with Text Editor, changed the max version to 10, saved and closed Text Edit.
Then restart Firefox, and yes…. my beloved Google Toolbar was there!
Thank you, thank you, Abhik!
thanks!!
Just a note for Mac User: pay attention!!!
The right path is:
MacintoshHD > User > Your name > Library > Application Support > Firefox > Profiles > your folder (mine has a name like numbers and letters.default) > Extensions > {3112ca9c-de6d-4884-a869-9855de68056c} > install.rdf
And one simple suggestion: don’t use the next version, be generous: I put until 20.*!!! It’s better!
Luca
Hello Abhik,
Am using FireFox 8.0.1.
Followed instructions on How to Enable Google Toolbar in Firefox.
But unfortunately Google Toolbar is not displaying.
Any suggestions.
Thanks,
Paul
It should work. Do you already have Google Toolbar installed?
same situation here. toolbar shows up in views, a space is provided for the toolbar on the browser, but the tool bad isn’t displayed.
Anyone try FF 7.x yet?
I am using it on FireFox 7 without any problem..
Got it working in FF 7.0.1.
First uninstalled FF 9, then installed FF 3.6.25, then installed Google Toolbar v? updated to 7.1.20110512W from Filehippo. Found install.rdf changed as per your suggestion. However my file was slightly different 2.0
4.0.*
Changed to
5.0
9.0.*
No 2nd line of maxVersion.
and GT in FF7 was running.
Thanks a lot for work around.
Good one.
I followed instructions exactly as written. Still, FF 5.0 will not display bookmarks in my Google Toolbar. Any new ideas on how to get my Google Bookmarks back? Thanks.
Have you enabled the Bookmark button from toolbar options?
Google Toolbar Options > Tools > Check the Bookmarks checkbox.
Yes, the Bookmark button in toolbar options is checked. Still unable to sign in for bookmarks. Any other suggestions? Thanks.
Strange, it’s working fine for me on FF 6.0.2.
Dear Ahbik.
Thanks a lot for your help. First, I uninstalled FF6 replacing it with FF4.0. When Google Toolbar was downloaded I got inmmediately last version (7.1.20110512W). After changing parameter 4 to 6 in “Install.rdf” updated FF to 6.02 version and that’s it: Google Toolbar is again in FF6.02 working finely.
Nothing bad for a +70 year old neophite.
Thanks again
Glad to be your help
Thanks, I was wondering how to do this on my other computer that I am trying out Firefox 6.0 on.
Hi Abhik, looks like you’re doing great but pls give some hints so I can start the procedure.
1) In my case Google Toolbar (GT) is not shown as an addon in Firefox 6. So, how to check its version?
2) When I try to download GT last version from Google site, Firefox prevents to install it or downloaded it.
Thanks
This only works if you have Google Toolbar already installed since FF 4.x
I am using FF6.0, and had to edit the install.rdf line to read:
6.0.*
rather than “5.0″ for this to work. With 5.0 as the string the toolbar was still disabled in the “about:addons”. While this makes sense, the advice tends to imply the “5.0″ will work for either version.
Otherwise, great find and thanks for sharing! It is a true crime how this was handled by Google. Shame on them for “being evil”.
Hi Abhik really nice post! I’ll try it. thanks
thanks a lot!
works great!
Good to learn about setting google toolbar on firefox. Thanks
5.0 without google toolbar was a dealbreaker for me. this great tip is working so far, thanks!
hmm.. might have spoken too soon. on opening a new tab, the recently viewed pages or bookmarks screen is gone.
That’s strange!!
It is working pretty fine for me.
great work abhik…its working in all our pc’s thanx a lot
martin
Been having problems with getting google toolbar to work in firefox 10. Got it to work on old laptop but now new laptop cant get it to work.
Dowloaded & installed firefox 3.6 (also tried 4) & google toolbar. Then c:/drive- programs(x86)- firefox- extentions- install.rdf ({972ce4c6-7e08-4474-a285-3208198ce6fd})- opened in notepad++, but every time i edit it & try & save it.wont let me says check if another program has this open but everything closed, BUT if i drag install.rdf file onto desktop i edited & saved changes draggeged it back but when firefox updates to 10 says google toolbar will be disabled……….so so annoying, any help much appreciate please
Good tip. But I think google will update the toolbar pretty soon.
Thank you.For me, this is something as same as Albert Einstein discovery .Everybody love Google Toolbar,but this is the first time when I think somebody is enough smarter to do something amazing like solving this problem.It’s working perfect in Firefox 10.01.I could not install in the first time,but after an little thinking I solved in this way:
1 – I unpacked the mozilla 3.6 with Uniextract.In “nonlocalized’ folder I runed “firefox.exe”
2 – I downloaded google toolbar with Internet explore to my desktop.
3 – In Mozilla,go to File/Open file and browse to that xpi Google Toolbar from my desktop.Install Google Toolbar.
4 – DO EXACTLY what Abhik told you to do (edit that install.rdf and modify)
5 – Close Firefox 3.6
7 Open Firefox 10.01 that I had allready installed.I see an notify that said i have an new extension and pushh install(allow)
PROBLEM SOLVED
Thank you again Abhik,GOOD bless you