Question

I'm kinda surprised this isn't a bigger issue yet, if it's not just me. Doing a Google for "Firefox iCloud compatible" returns this thread as the third result behind general Apple support pages. Hopefully this will be resolved soon, as I only use and recommend Firefox to all my friends - now it blows up in my face when they can't use other services I also recommend. I have been using Firefox since before it was called Firefox, and won't likely change because of this. But it's the first time I've had a problem I really can't solve, even with a difficult fix. There just doesn't seem to *be* a fix. I'm wondering if this is because of IonMonkey in FF18.

I have the same issue. My mouse clicks do not register any response. Use Windows 7 and Firefox v18. Have no problem in Explorer.

Okay, so I've done a lot more testing, and still - nothing! Absolutely nothing works, or makes any difference at all. I have completely removed Firefox, all it's leftover folders and profiles, and started from scratch with no imports or any data. On a fully fresh FF 18, iCloud.com still does NOT work. On a fully fresh FF 19 Beta 1, it does NOT work. On a fully fresh FF 17.01, it DOES work.

Downgrading to 17 is the only way I've been able to make any progress whatsoever. This is not a reasonable solution for me, or any of my "clients" whose computers are set to auto-update, as having the browser update from 17 to 18 would break it again.

The strangest part is that iCloud.com does work on my iMac (in Windows 7 64; OS X untested thus far) that has upgraded to FF 18. Again, though, not a satisfactory answer or solution because it is not my primary computer. I could really use some more feedback from anyone and everyone on this. So far, my only possible explanation is that it's some sort of hardware configuration that is tripping up Firefox. For example, my laptop (primary) is Intel Integrated Craphics (yes, crap-hics) and my iMac is NVidia (or similar) dedicated graphics card. The iMac does have hardware acceleration on - that option makes no difference on my laptop though except for the addition of UI graphics issues on Win 8.

It is possible that other elements are overlaying parts of the screen and make links un-clickable.

You can check which element has focus if you right-click a link and open the Inspector.

• https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Tools/Page_Inspector
• https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Tools/Page_Inspector/HTML_panel
• https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Tools/Page_Inspector/Style_panel

My FF at work was also automatically upgraded to v18 but icloud works on that computer. It's running Windows 7 64-bit. In terms of add-ons, both machines are running pretty much the same add-ons, so it shouldn't be that. Hope someone can find a fix/workaround soon. I hate using IE!

I have tried the Inspector Toolbar, and while most of the CSS and Javascript are well out of my knowledge range, it doesn't seem to be an overlap issue. Each icon (Reminders, Mail, etc) is seperate, clickable, and appears correct overall. It's just once inside any of them, they completely fail. Using the Inspector Toolbar inside them does not help me understand anything, as well. Each element seems completely seperate and appears functional and without rendering issues (no misaligned borders, no overlapping items, etc). The Error Console does say there are about 300 (give or a take a few hundred) errors in the CSS, and each one says "Declaration Dropped" - but how would I fix that anyway if it's either iCloud's fault or a rendering bug in Firefox?

This theory of overlapping elements should also be more consistent (or less?) - basically it only occurs on my one laptop and none of my other 3 computers. They are Windows 7 64+32, OS X M. Lion, and even Ubuntu. It works on all them in Firefox 18 - except my Windows 8-64 laptop. Seems like that's the answer, but everyone else in this thread is running 7-64, so that can't be it. I've also done an absolute, complete, and highly thorough removal of all things Firefox, with a fresh install. None of those worked, except the previously mentioned downgrade to Firefox v17.

I am totally at my wit's end on how to fix this. I've tweeted @mozillafirefox but of course no answer yet. Maybe I shall bug them more. Get it...bug? (/claptrapvoice)

Look thru the Windows 8 Bugs at Mozilla to see if you can find a related Bug report.

If you can't find a related Bug, you can file a Bug report with Bugzilla.
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/

https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Bug_writing_guidelines

Since you seem to have it narrowed down to an issue with Firefox in Windows 8, make sure that you make that the "prime suspect"

If the links are correctly detected then it is possible that JavaScript that attaches an onclick handlers isn't working properly and may need to be updated.

There are issues with 1.2.x versions of MooTools that aren't not compatible with current Firefox releases as a possible cause, but other script libraries may have similar issues.

• http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/18.0/releasenotes/

Unfortunately, no progress has been made anywhere. I've searched through the bugs database and have found nothing similar. The only iCloud related issues date back from July to December of last year - way before Firefox 18 (stable) was out. Also, most of them refer to Android - which ironically has had the same sounding issue as I'm having. None of those fixes have worked - they mostly involve cache and cookie problems. Like I've said, full resets have not worked so it's NOT that. I've also changed cookie settings manually on, off, and always save and makes no difference. Not that I ever conceived a cookie problem causing that many issues, I was desperate enough to try. I've tweeted Mozilla, Firefox, and Firefox Help to no answer (at least directly back on Twitter).

This is going to have to be fixed on Apple's site most likely - or in Firefox's rendering engine somewhere. It can't be limited to just Windows 8 however, as many people posting have said they are running 7. Also, it DOES work in Firefox 17 on Windows 8 - it's something specifically in 18+ alone.

Thanks to everyone who helped or posted! I hate to say that is issue is unresolved, but it is. I will leave this up and check back occasionally to post any updates. I will keep trying things out as well, if anyone has a new idea.

I'm a sad Firefox.

Same problem here. Windows 8. Firefox 18. icloud.com page loads but can't take any actions. Firefox 17 worked ok.

Just tried IE10 and everything works properly. Problem is clearly FF 18.

Since a Bug report doesn't exist (per djdisconess) someone who is having this problem with iCloud really should file a Bug report so that the Mozilla developers know of this problem.

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/

https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Bug_writing_guidelines

As this page mentions at the top of the list of What's New - Faster JavaScript performance via IonMonkey compiler - the problem might be with IonMonkey, if this problem is with JavaScript.

I have just posted a bug report.

Thanks for filing the report - looks good! I will post any updates or changes when they (hopefully) come out!

This is that new Bugzilla report.
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=832414

The mouse click will open iCloud in my FF toolbar and open the iCloud page. I can open applications such as Mail, Contacts, Calendar with the mouse. After that the mouse is useless. I can't open emails, edit my contacts or calendar. Tried a few of the suggested steps from others but to no avail other than all my recent history is cleared.

The only fix right now is to downgrade to Firefox 17. If you do that, though, you'll have to turn off automatic updates. I really only recommend it if you really can't do without iCloud.com in Firefox. I recommend using iCloud in Chrome in the mean time, if you want to keep your Firefox up to date otherwise.

Good news, everyone! It seems like this has been fixed in Firefox 19 Beta 3!! As far as I know, this is the only recent change to my computer. I will be double checking this is the root cause by downgrading back to 18 and seeing if it still occurs.

If you are having this issue - try the latest Firefox Beta! www.mozilla.org/beta/

I may have be hasty in choosing a solution - I am unsure if this will work for everyone. I have not been able to recreate this issue anymore in Firefox 18.0.1 or 19 Beta 3. It was either fixed in 18.0.1 or was an issue with 3rd party software. The thing is, I'm the only user on my computer and I know EXACTLY what was installed or updated. There hasn't been any Windows Updates since January's Patch Tuesday, and I've tested several times since then with no luck (until Beta 3).

Downgrading from Beta 3 to 18.0.1 I did not do a clean install. I always did a clean install with fully removed profile and everything in previous tests, and it did not help the issue.

Basically, I'm completely stumped as to why it suddenly started working when Beta 3 is the only thing that's changed (I checked Windows Updates and restore points for any installs - nothing has changed since Patch Tuesday - I did not update any plugins for Firefox, but they never affected this bug active or disabled anyway). It is strange that downgrading does not reintroduce the bug, as I did previously have it in 18.0.1. So far, all I know is it does work in 19 Beta 3 again.

This could have been something simply fixed on Apple's website as well. It would explain why it works in 18 and 19 suddenly - when nothing else ever made a lick of difference. Hopefully someone else can confirm that is has started working for them as well!

djdisconess,

Thanks for posting and keeping us updated.

I downgraded to v17 when there was no apparent solution and actually installed Chrome to try that browser out. I actually didn't miss Firefox at all, although there were just a few add-ons that I wish Chrome had an equivalent of (like Tab Mix Plus).

Anyway, after seeing your post, I upgraded my v17 to 18.0.1, and to my surprise, iCloud/mail now works. I didn't upgrade to v19 beta 3, so they must have fixed something in the previous versions.

Anyway glad it's working again, but like I said, I might actually stick with Chrome for now.

My Firefox updated to 18.0.1 and my iCloud works fine as it should now.

Just in case you didn't see my last post on the bug report . . .

iCloud now works for me again also. What's strange is that I didn't change anything. I didn't downgrade, I didn't upgrade (still using Firefox Version 18.0), I didn't make any system changes whatsoever. It just started working again for no obvious reason.

Since everyone subscribed to this thread uses Firefox with iCloud, perhaps I can ask an off-topic question.

For the longest time, I've noticed that when I'm in the mail app of the iCloud.com website, and viewing an email that has HTML content and it's showing in the right-hand side window, the scrolling is extremely slow when using the scroll-wheel of my mouse. I don't notice this when I use Chrome or IE, it's only in Firefox.

Does anyone else have this problem? Is there a fix for it?

Again, I apologize for taking this thread off-topic.

Just so anyone who doesn't know - you can unsubscribe from e-mail updates on the top right hand side of the page!

I have no problem with your question though, and I've had very similar issues on some computers. Most of the time, the scrolling gets worse and jerkier the older the computer is. It also seems like certain graphics cards just don't get any love from Firefox. There's a couple of quick things to try - the first is simply disable smooth scrolling from Options>Advanced>Smooth Scrolling. It has been on by default for a while, but if you have an older profile it may have never turned on in the first place. If it's on, try it with it off. If it's off, it may help with it on.

Hardware Acceleration may also help or hurt some pages, depending again on the graphics and processing power of the computer. This option requires a browser restart to disable or enable. It causes me a lot of graphics glitches in the UI on Windows 8 (not 7, though) with older Intel Integrated Graphics. It may or may not affect scrolling at all, but it's something to try.

Lastly, this should definitely help if the smooth scrolling option in Firefox just isn't enough or isn't quite right. It's an add-on called SmoothWheel - http://goo.gl/harzB - It is pretty reliable for me, and it is almost infinitely customizable. It can really smooth out (no pun intended) the scrolling effects on older hardware, or just let you tweak it for your preferences. It does not work on all pages (it has self checks to maximize effectiveness and compatibility) but a huge majority are vastly improved. I typically just use the default settings myself. It recommends to leave Smooth Scroll enabled in Firefox - that option will kick in on pages where SmoothWheel is not compatible.

Hope this helps! If anyone is bothered by these updates - please unsubscribe! The iCloud issue does seem to have been fixed on Apple's end so there is not much more to add to it.

Thanks for replying djdisconess, I've tried disabling the various options but didn't change anything. I also tried the SmoothScroll add-on but that didn't help either.

Just to clarify, the scrolling of the email message headers in the middle column of the mail app is unaffected. It scrolls at a speed that's consistent with scroll speeds for other webpages. However, when I hover on the right-hand preview pane and scroll, it becomes extremely slow, where each rotation of the scroll wheel would only scroll about 1/10 of the page compared with the normal scroll speed. I don't think it is related to the computer as this happens at work & at home (with my work computer being much faster).

It feels like the scroll rate for the right-hand preview window is wrong compared with the scroll rate for other parts of the mail app windows, and for other webpages in general.

Hope this describes my problem better.

I see what you mean now. I was thinking more of a jerky slow - this is a steady scroll just far below the normal speed. I appear to have this issue on Windows 8 as well. Works as expected in Chrome. It seems more like an issue with Firefox or Windows misinterpreting the "amount" of scroll to use.

By setting my mouse to scroll '20' lines at a time instead of the default 3, it appears to scroll at a normal expected speed (everything else scrolls really fast). Turning the rate down presents the problem again. This definitely means (to me, anyway) that it is a bug somewhere in the scrolling that is controlled by Windows, or that Firefox is somehow misinterpreting the scroll lines. This is a workaround of sorts - if you use SmoothWheel and turn scroll lines higher (20 was my first guess) - but any other browser or program will scroll ridiculously fast, so it's not very practical.

Basically, it seems like a bug in Firefox's mouse controls (or Windows) and not specifically related to iCloud. It could just be presenting on iCloud because of a certain way they write the page or just a perfect combination of circumstances. I'm totally unsure of how to actually fix it though.

I'll see if I can find a Bugzilla report or anything like that, but if you want to make another support page thingy or anything send me a link and I'll subscribe to it. My personal e-mail is my username at the most popular e-mail client that starts with a G.com