Direct URL input broken, goes to search results instead

[kjhank]

Hi,
I noticed a bug, probably introduced in 6.5, when I input a URL in the address bar, Vivaldi will open the default search engine's result page with the URL, even if I type in the entire domain + TLD. It doesn't happen consistently, unfortunately, and I wasn't able to pinpoint any variables that might cause it exactly.
I'd also expect typing in a partial previously visited URL to open the website, not search results, as was the state before 6.5.

Steps to reproduce:

• focus address bar
• type in full or partial URL of a previously visited page (expectedly, shows as typed history)
• press return

Actual behavior:
Vivaldi opens a Google search result page with the URL as the query

Expected behavior:
Being taken to the page with the URL

[alexs77]

I think, I hit a similar issue; please see https://forum.vivaldi.net/topic/93576/direct-search-query-input-broken-goes-to-similiar-searches

For me, search terms go "random".

[kjhank]

@alexs77 Yeah, definitely looks similar. I found another weird behavior related to this. Whenever I want to go to Youtube, my muscle memory would type you and hit enter, which previously would autocomplete youtube's URL and open it. Now it open an absolutely random page, which has never appeared in my history or bookmarks or anywhere else in the browser - some kind of houzz.com.

[kliaqat]

I'm having the same issue on version 6.6.3271.45 (Stable channel) (arm64)

[ImaginaryFreedom]

I am SO FED UP with Vivaldi constantly breaking the address bar!

STOP SCREWING AROUND WITH THIS!!!

This has been going on on/off for at least a year now.

Obviously Vivaldi is piddling around with it because they see it as a revenue generator, but you guys are DESTROYING the user experience!

Earlier this week I tried to go to a website I have been reading for years, one with a very short URL that I usually just type manually because it's quicker than a bookmark. "cnn.com" (which may redirect on the site to "www.cnn.com")

When I tried to type this URL that I type very often, instead of just showing the URL, it throws up a thousand pieces of garbage I don't want.

So I go into the "improved" address bar settings and DISABLE EVERYTHING except TYPED HISTORY.

“Show drop-down when typing”
ON

Show search queries in typed history
OFF

Domain Expansion
OFF

Drop-down Menu Priority

Typed History ON
Best Result OFF
Search/Go To OFF
Search Suggestions OFF
Direct Match OFF
Bookmarks Nicknames OFF
Bookmarks OFF
Frequently visited pages OFF
Browser History OFF
Sync Taba OFF
Vivaldi Pages OFF

IT STILL DOES NOT WORK RIGHT.

So Today I once again attempt to type the same domain I've been typing into browser address bars for DECADES: cnn.com

OHH. Vivvaldi seems to have FORGOTTEN that I've ever typed that domain/URL ever before!

What SHOULD happen is it just fills in the most common URL that I TYPE INTO THE ADDRESS BAR that begins with that domain, which is just the domain itself:

cnn.com

Browsers have worked that way for DECADES.

INSTEAD, it gives me a long URL beginning with that domain THAT I HAVE NEVER TYPED INTO THE ADDRESS BAR! Some random thing from history, apparently.

AND HERE'S THE KICKER:

IT REFUSED to just go to the URL I JUST TYPED, and instead REPLACED it with the URL I DID NOT WANT, sending me to the WRONG PAGE.

WTH???

I had to click the "X" in that bogus URL "friendly suggestion" dropdown to delete it, so THE BROWSER WOULD LET ME GO WHERE I WANT.

I am SO FED UP with this!!

[ryofurue]

I've been constantly frustrated in a similar way since when the address bar became "smart".

My only request is this: There should be a switch to turn all autocompletions into genuine "suggestions".

In the simplest scenario: You type some text and hit the return key . . .

Current behavior: An autocompletion replaces the text and the new text is sent to the browser.

Desired behavior: The typed-in text is sent to the browser as is unless you actively select one of the suggestions.

[Note that there may be a shortcut to select what you have just typed over autocompletions. While I'd like to hear about such a shortcut, it wouldn't be a solution to my problem, because on all other apps, autocompletions are just suggestions which are dismissed unless the user actively selects them. It's only Vivaldi (and Chrome?) that forces completions on the user. For this reason, my muscle memory makes me repeat this frustrating behavior described above.]

[Note that disabling autocompletions isn't a solution to my problem, because suggestions are very often useful.]

I searched the "Feature Request" forum, but haven't been able to locate the same request. Perhaps I should submit this in that forum.

[erix]

My phone just updated to the latest Vivaldi today. Now if I type fast.com (which is Netflix web speed website) I'm taken to a wordpress blog about something.. I must have visited that blog at some point.. but I am now unable to go to fast.com on Vivaldi.

My laptop got the update last week and it started crashing often, with up to 10 tabs..

I think the Devs are deliberately breaking the browser.. I used to use Chrome, and was happy when I moved to Vivaldi.. now I guess I need to find a new home..

[banacan]

My solution was to use the search bar for all searches and only the address bar for directly typed URLs. Now, however, I'm not seeing my search bar. I just posted a question about that this morning. Ugh. This is frustrating.

[mbrown3]

@ImaginaryFreedom

While I don't feel quite as dramatically as this, I do agree with you. The address bar is the main thing about Vivaldi that I hate, for this reason. For me, typing in CNN.com and hitting enter results in literally nothing happening. It's very frustrating, and I do wish they would stop messing with it. Fix it and be done with it. Or, as someone else suggested, give us options to change the settings. Either way, right now it's simply broken.