Users of the Firefox browser for Android have been reporting that they are seeing a blank page when trying to load the main Google Search site.

The issue:

Android users with Firefox can’t access Google Search (including intl sites and localized domains like google.de, .co.uk, .com.br). Instead, they see a blank page.

Cause:

A server-side bug on Google’s end related to User-Agent (UA) sniffing, which serves an empty page to newer Firefox versions.

Affected versions:

All Firefox versions on Android (>= 65) including Mobile 121.0, Nightly 123, and older.

Chrome not affected:

The bug is specific to Firefox.

Solutions:

  • Use a different browser (Chrome, etc.) or search engine (DuckDuckGo).

Advanced users can:

  • Change Firefox’s UA in developer settings or with add-ons.

  • Request the desktop version of Google from Firefox settings (region-dependent).

Status:

  • Problem identified as critical and escalated.
  • Still unresolved at the time of reporting.

Additional notes:

  • Disabling Firefox’s Enhanced Tracking Protection doesn’t fix the issue.
  • Some users report google.co.in loading the desktop site instead of mobile.
  • Katlah@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    1211·
    11 months ago

    “bug” aka purposely making firefox unusable on one of the largest websites in the world so more people use chromium

    (these allegations are based solely on prejudice against google and its subsidiaries, and do not necessarily hold true in reality)

    • KptnAutismus@lemmy.world
      23·
      11 months ago

      perfectly reasonable and logical prejudice, i might add. we really need to get people to use alternative search engines. google has been sucking fat balls for a long time now. either people are going to start to switch, or the frog will continue boiling.

    • Cyborganism@lemmy.ca
      13·
      11 months ago

      Even if it’s for only a short period of time, it’s enough to do a lot of damage. Especially as people are becoming privacy conscious and are looking to start using Firefox.