Google bang does not work on iOS

eskidost

Google bang does not work after performing a Kagi search on Safari for iOS. I have the Kagi Search app installed, it's enabled, and it's updated to the latest version on the App Store.

Steps:

Perform any Kagi search on iOS by typing into the address bar
Tap on the search bar in the results page
add a "g!" (or only "g" if short bang is enabled) at the end of the query.
Tap search again

I should see Google results for the search. Instead Kagi removes the bang and serves Kagi results.

eskidost

~~After a restart of the phone, the issue seems to have been fixed.~~

The issue came back so it’s not fixed.

Asg

Same for me, also if I go to google.com and search for something I get redirected to Kagi. Now running almost out of searches fo this month...

Restart did not fix the issue

rhpt

Using the Google bang redirects the search back to Kagi instead of going to Google.

I don't have Google as my default search engine
I am using version 2.2.1 of the Kagi app
Restarting my devices did not fix the issue

Using the bang should send the search to Google

tedspikes

Same here, very annoying. I will add that going to google.com manually, typing (or pasting) in your query and hitting search also throws you back to Kagi

eskidost

I started experiencing this again so a restart didn’t actually fix it.

nanoscrew

@tedspikes @eskidost @rhpt @Asg I've published a new TestFlight build (2.2.2) that allows you to choose the search engine which should redirect in the extension popup window (this applies to both iOS and macOS). If you're not already part of the tester group, you can join here to get the beta build: https://testflight.apple.com/join/nx6Gvf4h

After installing 2.2.2, open the popup to select a search engine you don't expect to use Bangs with. You'll need to grant the extension permissions on that search engine. Bangs will then work for other search engines (but not with your selected redirect engine).

Submit feedback in the app or here on kagifeedback if you encounter issues.

rhpt

Version 2.2.2 fixes the issue with the bang. However, in the extension popup window you need to pick the same search engine as the default Safari search engine otherwise it won't redirect to Kagi. For example, I picked Yandex on the popup but Safari's default is Ecosia. When I perform a search, it takes me to Ecosia instead of Kagi. When I set Ecosia in the popup, searches run on Kagi.

Vlad

rhpt That sounds like expected behavior?

rhpt

Vlad I think that should be mentioned in the popup when you tell the user to pick a search engine. Some people may not realize you have to pick the same one. Maybe say, pick the default search engine for Safari

eskidost

I tried 2.2.2 and while it fixed it when I first tried it, right now I’m still experiencing the issue.

eskidost

For reference I’m using Ecosia for both the extension and Safari search engine. Btw it’s flaky, started working again after I wrote the message above. So the issue seems to appear and disappear randomly. What can I do to send more diagnostics to you when the issue manifests itself? Is there anything I can do?

Artfuldodger

This behavior occurs on both Kagi legacy and new iOS application. I am currently updated to the latest version available to me for both.

Steps to reproduce:

Perform a typical Kagi search
Once the results are rendered add a !g to your search query and search again.

The expected behavior is a redirect to google search. However it appears my browser is redirected to Google and then redirected again right back to Kagi with the bang portion of the query stripped out. Other bang searches seem to be working as expected.

erik

I didn't see this one so I reported one here as well, with some extra info.

I have reproduce it on desktop safari and included a video of that as well.

erik

I wanted to compare Google and Kagi results. There was an example here:

https://kagi.com/search?q=%22WindowProperties%22+%22Window.prototype%22

with

https://www.google.com/search?q=%22WindowProperties%22+%22Window.prototype%22

When I clicked the second link I still ended up in Kagi. Then I tried to copy - paste it into the address bar and again it was hijacked.

If I temporarily disable the Kagi extension the problem disappears.

I found the example here.

Steps to replicate:

Open Safari with Kagi extension activated
Click on the google link above, notice it redirects to Kagi
Try to copy the link into the address bar and press enter, notice it redirects to Kagi
Try to write !g after the query, notice you end back on Kagi
Disable kagi extension, notice the link now works

Kagi does not redirect if I click a link pointing to Google or paste a link to Google into the address bar.

erik

I see this is a duplicate of https://kagifeedback.org/d/3256-google-bang-is-not-working

Mine seems to contain some more info though:

this happens with Google links as well
this happens also when typing a google address into the address field
a video of it