"Gah Your tab just crashed" After a Windows 11 updated in November 2024
My laptop (a Lenovo Ideapad220s) did an automatic Windows 11 update (I believe it was the 2H24 update). After that Firefox (version 133, 64 bit) would only open with the message "Gah. Your tab just crashed". Nothing I tried has worked, not any of the remedies found in support pages. I somehow did a Firefox software update and it shows as a separate icon and has not migrated any of the passwords and bookmarks I had in the software version that keeps crashing (my default browser). Trying to get access to the encrypted passwords to the many sites I've got with Firefox I opened the browser in troubleshooting mode. In this mode I have access to all the passwords saved over time, and the browser seems to work fine.
Any suggestions on what I need to fix or if this is related to the Windows update? I'd like not to have to go through the two-step process to use the browser.
Thanks!
All Replies (7)
Hmm, this is strange.
Was there anything in the address bar on the crashed tab, or was it crashing on the built-in new tab page?
If you currently see all the data you want to see, that is great, but it would be more convenient if you could run in regular mode and not just Troubleshoot mode.
If you check the right-click > Properties for your different Firefox shortcut icons, do they have the same command line on the Target tab, or are there differences in how they start up?
I too have this issue, have had FF for years on several computers and on Android but this install on a new Windows 11 laptop is really frustrating especially when I am forced to use Edge as a browser, I am going to try DuckDuckGo in the meantime but seeing all my synced data is with FF I can't be without FF for long.
Did you ever get a resolution to your specific issue?
@jscher2000 @Pete There was nothing I could do with my meagre knowledge to sort it out. I got used to starting DuckDuckGo in Troubleshooting mode until one day the app didn't crash when opening and had no more problems. I suppose there was some sort of glitch in either the DuckDuckGo or Windows 11 that was sorted in the subsequent updates.
I had Firefox and Duckduckgo for years. Today? I suddenly got the "GAH. Your tab crashed." Reinstalled Firefox to no avail. Couldn't reach Firefox for help, because it, too, crashed. I'm self-taught with this stuff and don't know a whole lot.
I can't get tabs to open in a new install of Firefox on Windows 11. I think it is something to do with DuckDuckGo and related to a Windows Update. Elsewhere I found something about killing this: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Mozilla
What exactly that means I'm not sure. Deleting something from your profile? Sounds a bit risky to me. Any suggestions welcome. I might try getting rid of DuckDuckGo in the meantime or just run everything with Edge till a fix comes along.
Cheers,
Mick
Oh dear-uninstalled DDG and no good-nothing will open, every tab crashes. Never known Firefox to not work-I have an account synced across devices so having a rethink about that now. Any suggestions welcome.
Hi Mick, please try restarting Firefox in its Troubleshoot Mode. In that mode, Firefox temporarily deactivates extensions, hardware acceleration, any userChrome.css/userContent.css files, and some other advanced features to help you assess whether these are causing the problem.
If Firefox is running:
You can restart Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode using either:
- "3-bar" menu button > Help > Troubleshoot Mode...
- (menu bar) Help menu > Troubleshoot Mode...
and OK the restart. A small dialog should appear. Click the Open button.
If Firefox is not running:
Hold down the Shift key when starting Firefox. (On Mac, hold down the option/alt key instead of the Shift key.) A small dialog should appear. Click the Open button.
Note: Don't use the Refresh without first reviewing this article to understand what will be deleted: Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings.
Any improvement?
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