Google Toolbar is not compatible with Firefox 5 or later versions but you can still keep the equivalent features. Many people have been sticking with Firefox 4 (or even worse, 3.6) simply because the popular Google Toolbar add-on has been incompatible with Firefox 5.
Unfortunately, instead of spending a few minutes tweaking it to make it work, Google have taken their bat and ball home and announced that they will not be making the Google Toolbar compatible with Firefox 5 or any future versions either – so there is no point waiting in hope that it will work with the upcoming Firefox 6.
Google made this decision to abandon their Toolbar add-on support even though Firefox is the world’s second most popular web browser – and is the one that Google’s less popular Chrome browser is so desperate to overtake.
Considering that an up to date web browser is essential for your security on the internet, perhaps Google hope this lack of support for newer versions of Firefox will tempt some people to abandon it and swap to Chrome instead – and Google’s world domination can continue unabated, mwahahahaahhaha [repeat Dr Don't Be Evil laughs here].
However, before you think of moving to Chrome, you should bear in mind that Chrome doesn’t have the Google Toolbar either. That leaves just Internet Explorer with a fully supported Google Toolbar – and we just cannot advise anyone used to the speed and versatility of Firefox to take a huge step backwards and take a step backwards and swap to Internet Explorer.
Solution For Firefox 5 and Later – You can upgrade to and use Firefox 5 (and later versions) whilst keeping all the equivalent features of the Google Toolbar:
- Install the Firefox add-on Googlebar – this replicates the Google Toolbar functionality and is compatible with Firefox 3.6 through to Firefox 5 and later.
Note: only 2 features of the official Google product are not included in this toolbar:
- Form filling – because Firefox can do this automatically (it is a feature built into Firefox 5 itself)
- Pagerank (mainly of interest to webmasters) – just install the SearchStatus add-on if you want to add this functionality