Ubuntu MATE always forces search start page in Firefox

[lah7]

The new start page is a fairly recent addition:

Should UM have its own start page?

When users launch the Firefox browser for the first time, they are greeted with Canonical’s start page. Should UM have its own start page with links specific to the distro? Maybe even, there could be user agent matching, so when the page detects you’re on a specific browser, extra options for that browser load in a separate panel? I’m sort of thinking of a remodeled Firefox start, except more browser-agnostic and informative for new UM users. For my idea to come true, it would require one part…

The page itself was intended to compliment the Ubuntu MATE user experience by re-branding Ubuntu's default home page.

• Ubuntu's extension is the xul-ext-ubufox package.
• The configuration that sets this home page are in the ubuntu-mate-default-settings package. Remove that package instead.

What you have discovered is a bug and was never intended to happen. Sorry about this spoiling Ubuntu MATE for you.

I've reported it here:

• Bug #1605887 “Can't change Firefox home page in Ubuntu MATE” : Bugs : ubuntu-mate-settings package : Ubuntu