Update Firefox’s search bar with new Google favicon

Published: May 31st, 2008
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Search bar with new Google search iconHave you noticed the new Google search favicon? I am not sure if Google intends to keep it forever but I like the refresh.

You can update the Firefox’s default Google search plugin to show the new Google search icon:

  1. Locate the searchplugins folder in your Firefox install folder. (typically C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\ on Windows).
  2. Open the google.xml file with a text editor.
  3. Locate a section that starts with <Image width=”16″ height=”16″>. You will see it is followed by a long series of characters (the encoded Google icon).
  4. Replace it with this equally unreadable code: the new encoded Google icon. Ensure the closing </Image> stays there.
  5. Save the file and restart Firefox.

Enjoy a fresh new Google search icon!

This entry was posted on Saturday, May 31st, 2008 at 12:44 am and is filed under Firefox, Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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13 Comments on “Update Firefox’s search bar with new Google favicon”

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  1. 1. Pascal
    May 31st, 2008 at 4:39 am

    I tried it with Flock 1.2, Firefox 2.0.0.14 and Firefox 3.0 RC1 it isn’t working

    My OS is Vista SP 1

    [Reply]

  2. 2. Morbus
    May 31st, 2008 at 6:25 am

    It’s really ugly, and even though it doesn’t bother me a bit (as I have ALL my search favicons customized a long time ago), it’s surprisingly dumb how google doesn’t work with alpha channels for transparencies on their favicons…

    If anyone cares:

    Edit: I’m replacing the posted data URI with a link to it: Google’s Blue capital G icon. Percy

    [Reply]

  3. 3. gxg
    May 31st, 2008 at 6:52 am

    Nice, I’ve been wanting to do this ever since I’ve saw the new favicon.
    Thanks!

    [Reply]

  4. 4. Starr
    May 31st, 2008 at 11:10 am

    Works in Mac OS X, too.

    Thanks.

    [Reply]

  5. 5. David Naylor
    May 31st, 2008 at 11:57 am

    Nice tip, but I’ve gotta say, it doesn’t look very Googley!

    [Reply]

  6. 6. Andrew
    May 31st, 2008 at 8:27 pm

    I don’t have a google.xml file :(

    [Reply]

  7. 7. Jordan
    June 1st, 2008 at 6:06 pm

    if you’re running windows vista, make sure you launch your text editor in administrator mode.

    [Reply]

  8. 8. Andrew
    June 2nd, 2008 at 12:39 am

    I got it to work on my Vista machine… I like the new logo. It’s something new and fresh. It also looks like the second g in the GOOGLE logo

    [Reply]

  9. 9. funTomas
    June 3rd, 2008 at 12:22 pm

    A-ha, now gPhone makes sense. Smart PR Googlers indeed.

    [Reply]

  10. 10. Fitch
    June 26th, 2008 at 3:48 pm

    Andrew: the instructions are wrong, it’s in C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\searchplugins\ on Windows

    [Reply]

  11. 11. Nick
    July 25th, 2008 at 12:09 am

    I must say, great little write up. I hate the default Google icon. And this is a definite upgrade. As small as it is.

    [Reply]

  12. 12. Mycroft Project
    July 31st, 2008 at 2:05 pm

    You can also get most variants here:
    http://mycroft.mozdev.org/google-search-plugins.html

    [Reply]

  13. 13. Jim
    August 16th, 2008 at 9:23 am

    Hi,
    I am using
    http://www.mobilefish.com/services/favicon/favicon.php to create my favicons. This site also contains other useful tools.

    [Reply]

5 Trackbacks/Pings (Trackback URL)

  1. 1. Atnaujinkime Google favicon Firefox paieškos langelyje | Radiocool May 31st, 2008 at 2:59 am
  2. 2. Shahvar » آرشيو » تغيير نسخه جديد favicon گوگل در نوار جستجوي فايرفاكس May 31st, 2008 at 5:50 am
  3. 3. foxiewire.com May 31st, 2008 at 6:02 am
  4. 4. Actualiza la barra de búsqueda de Firefox con el nuevo favicon de Google « dy3g0’s trench June 21st, 2008 at 10:53 pm
  5. 5. Firefox 3 tip: search box的icon换成Google的新标志 - Kukoo's Blog July 22nd, 2008 at 9:01 am

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