CNET Editors' note: The Download Now link will prompt a local download of the Firefox extension. To install the extension directly, open the file using your Firefox browser.
CNET Editors' review
The Google Toolbar for Firefox is a free add-on for Mozilla's Firefox browser. It adds a toolbar to the Firefox interface that includes a field for Google searches as well as icons for quickly launching Google Mail, Google Earth, and a variety of other useful features.
The Google Toolbar for Firefox is easy to install, and most users will simply need to download and run the program and restart Firefox, though some may need to enable it in the browser's add-on manager. We restarted Firefox and clicked Tools/Add-Ons to open the Add-On manager. We clicked Options on Google Toolbar's entry, which opened a tabbed settings dialog accessing Search options; Tools, such as spell check, bookmarks, translation, and a new feature, Sidewiki; Sharing, which enables easy sharing of Web pages with friends via a wide range of e-mail and social media resources; Buttons, which selects Google features to appear on the toolbar; Layouts, for changing the look; and an AutoFill feature for Web forms. After making a few changes, we closed the dialog, restarted Firefox, and clicked Sidewiki, since it was the most intriguing new feature. This is an expandable sidebar that lets Web surfers attach "wikis"--comments, notes, and even videos--to Web sites. Readers can vote to rank the value of comments, report abuse, and share entries; it's probably moderated to discourage trolls, too. You access it via an entry on the toolbar or by clicking a small blue tab. We also love the Search for News Articles feature, the Search Highlighting tool, the customizable Autofill feature, and quick access to Google Earth.
We didn't post any comments in Sidewiki (yet) but we heartily approve of Google's ongoing effort to bring openness to the Internet and the world at large through free tools like Gmail, Google Earth, and Google Maps, and now Sidewiki. We've never been much of a fan of search engine toolbars, until now.
Publisher's Description
From Google:
The Google Toolbar for Firefox adds the power of the popular search engine to your browser, along with numerous other features. The toolbar lets you search Google directly from your browser, and also checks your spelling whenever you type in Web forms, and automatically fills out forms for faster online shopping.
Google Toolbar for Firefox is in the Firefox Add-ons & Plug-ins category of the Browsers section.
What's new in this version: Version 7.1.20101113 is compatible with Firefox 4 Beta.
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All versions:
3.2 starsout of 63 votes
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Current version:
2.7 starsout of 17 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Why all the noise? Google tracks Ya!"
Version: Google Toolbar for Firefox 7.1.20101113
Pros
Its a really cool toolbar....But NO THANKS!
Cons
Who out there wants to be tracked?
Summary
The reason why I uninstalled my google chrome and went with FireFox was to get away from folks that report what I do and where I go the Big Brother.
Firefox is alot more secure, and is customizable to your own taste.... -
"Firefox 10 wont allow Google Toolbar to be installed"
Version: Google Toolbar for Firefox 7.1.20101113
Pros
Even if the bookmarks don't work and you can't sign in to Google, there are still some features I would like to keep. Oh well.
Cons
Even with the add-on compatability reporter installed, Firefox 10.0 will not let the installation proceed.
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"wish i could download it."
Version: Google Toolbar for Firefox 7.1.20101113
Pros
sounded good.
Cons
says toolbar is not compatable to firefox 9,,,,
Summary
hope they catch up!
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"Great add-on & it DOES work."
Version: Google Toolbar for Firefox 7.1.20101113
Pros
Works great. Easy to install.
Cons
Must install add-on compatibility reporter from Mozilla to get it to work.
Summary
Been using the Google Toolbar for years and love it. Those who say it's not compatible with new versions of FF are both right and wrong. It IS compatible if you also install the add-on compatibility reporter so there's just another step involved to get it to work. The toolbar cannot be downloaded directly from Google any longer but it can be obtained here: http://google-toolbar-firefox.en.softonic.com/download - but make sure you install the add-on compatibility (available as an add-on from Mozilla) reporter first.
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"Google no longer supports Toolbar in Firefox 5+"
Version: Google Toolbar for Firefox 7.1.20101113
Pros
The pros are that, including the main GOOGLE features, there are many other buttons that can be added from a myriad of different companies.
Cons
No suport and no "Feedback", so when we have a problem, like for example we don't like their decision to discontinue supporting FireFox, then we cannot tell them, and are they even reading our complaints here?
Summary
I really don't like this decision of theirs. Just because many of the toolbar features are already supported in FireFox doesn't mean that they are as good.
And besides, I depend on many of the buttons that are supplied by third parties too. For example, on my toolbar, I have Google Dictionary, because I'm living in Norway, so I often see Norwegian that I cannot understand, so I use it to translate it to English. Then I have 4 AccuWeather buttons, 1 for Stavanger, Norway, where I live, 1 for where my daughter lives in California, 1 for where my friend lives in another part of California, and 1 for where my Dad lives in another California city, so when I talk to them, I can discuss the weather with them and read the weather report for their cities. I also have a button for Google Maps, and one for MapQuest, and one for Dictionary.com. These are buttons that you cannot get with FireFox--at least I don't think so. I don't know how to use FIreFox add-on features, and I don't want to spend the time to figure it out. Google Toolbar has it all in one place and it is easy to learn.
I really wish they would continue to support FireFox!
http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2011/07/google-toolbar-for-firefox-has-been.html
The con is that Google doesn't seem to have a way to tell them that we don't like their decision, no feedback, no "contact us", nothing. They have a lot of angry customers when the've decided not to support FireFox and we can't tell them. -
"Loved the Google Tool Bar"
Version: Google Toolbar for Firefox 7.1.20101113
Pros
It did everything I wanted to do and more until I updated Firefox to version 5.0.
Cons
Doesn't work with Firefox 5.0, very disappointing to say the least.
Summary
If using an early version Of Firefox, get it - you won't be sorry. If using Firefox 5.0, realize that you cannot even download it. Not good at all, especially when you are used to using it.
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"Doesnt work"
Version: Google Toolbar for Firefox 7.1.20101113
Pros
Doesn work so no pros
Cons
Doesnt work in Firefox
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"Does not download with Firefox 5 "upgrade.""
Version: Google Toolbar for Firefox 7.1.20101113
Pros
Does not work, so no pro.
Cons
Does not work, so all cons
Summary
Why would this even be offered if it doesn't work???
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"Firefox and google"
Version: Google Toolbar for Firefox 7.1.20101113
Pros
So far i dont see anything pro for this browser
Cons
what I Do SEE is it trashing my Google Translater and also causing me to redownload my yahoo toolbar EVERY TIME I turn on the pc.
Summary
I dont care much for Google but I WAS USING their Translater before with no problem UNTIL I upgraded Firefox.Im very disappointed as usual in browser upgrades.
I have online schooling on 1 pc because it wont accept firefox,only accepts internet explorer, and I have an online game on the OTHER pc because it only accepts firefox.
GO FIGURE.
Seriously,I do not know why in this day and age some1 cant come up with a UNIVERSAL browser.
It causes aggravation. -
"Not Compatible with Firefox 5"
Version: Google Toolbar for Firefox 7.1.20101113
Pros
Google Toolbar is very user friendly
Cons
It is not compatible with Firefox 5. It won't even let you download it.
Summary
The title of the download is: Google Toolbar for Firefox - Download.com.
And yet it won't download for Firefox 5. Someone really ought to fix this.
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