How to make Thunderbird NOT use Bing as search engine?
Well, if you want to use Google instead, simply install this add-on: Google Search for Thunderbird
Note that this kb article also explain how you can use another search engine: https://support.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/kb/add-search-engine-open-search
I don't think that it is possible to disable it completely.
You can completely disable the Bing search suggestion in the search bar popup menu by adding this to your userChrome.css file:
.autocomplete-richlistitem[type="websearch"]
{ display: none !important; }
The advantages of doing it this way include:
- you don't have to modify the Thunderbird application itself by removing all the search plugins
- you don't have to re-delete the search plugins every time Thunderbird is updated
- it becomes part of your personal, portable profile
- web search is still available to other users on the same machine
- you can still do searches by right-clicking on selected text
EDIT: This does work in TB 24 but it only affects the "Global search bar" (e.g. Ctrl+K) not the context menu provided for selected text.
It's quite easy (at least it worked easily for me):
In Thunderbird, go to Tools > Add-ons > Plugins;
In the search window at the upper right of your screen ('Search all add-ons'), type 'Google';
Look down the list for 'Search Google for Thunderbird';
Click the 'Install' button;
Restart Thunderbird.
Good luck and hope this helps.