# How to disable autocomplete and extended help in the search field

**URL:** <https://discourse.jabref.org/t/how-to-disable-autocomplete-and-extended-help-in-the-search-field/987>\
**Category:** Help\
**Tags:** preferences\
**Created:** [January 3, 2018, 10:07am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/how-to-disable-autocomplete-and-extended-help-in-the-search-field/987 "2018-01-03T10:07:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![adessec](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/adessec/32/272_2.png) [@adessec](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/adessec)\
**Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 10:07am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/how-to-disable-autocomplete-and-extended-help-in-the-search-field/987/1 "2018-01-03T10:07:57Z")

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If I start searching a database with JabRef 4.1, Linux 4.4.103-18.41-default amd64, Java 1.8.0\_151, a drop-down menu appears below the search window although I have tried to globally disable autocomplete in the preferences. Is there a way to totally disable this feature for each and every place where it might pop up?

What is even more boring when using a large database (~ 52,000 entries) is the extended help window appearing from time to time, which tells me that this search includes entries for a lot of fields in the database and that it would be possible to modify my search expression. Again: is there a way to disable this?

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**Author:** ![tobiasdiez](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/tobiasdiez/32/340_2.png) [@tobiasdiez](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/tobiasdiez)\
**Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 11:35am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/how-to-disable-autocomplete-and-extended-help-in-the-search-field/987/2 "2018-01-03T11:35:03Z")

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I think both points you mention cannot be customized right now. I would kindly ask you to create two new issues as [github](https://github.com/JabRef/jabref/issues) so that we can keep track of your suggestions. Thanks!

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**Author:** ![adessec](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/adessec/32/272_2.png) [@adessec](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/adessec)\
**Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 1:08pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/how-to-disable-autocomplete-and-extended-help-in-the-search-field/987/3 "2018-01-03T13:08:18Z")

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Done. Thanks Tobias.