Firefox Community Forum

I'm getting the following error message:

The bookmarks and history system will not be functional because one of Firefox's files is in use by another application. Some security software can cause this problem.

I don't know what prompted this concern on my Windows 11-based laptop, but I only noticed this last night doing some research for another issue. I don't have any of my bookmarks showing up in the bookmarks section, nor will it allow me to click the star on any tab to bookmark the page. I have restarted and shut down my laptop several times and this is not solving the concern. Let me know if you need more information or if I need to start this inquiry again elsewhere, but again it sounds like the same concern.

I have included a screenshot of the exact error for accuracy's sake. Like everyone else here, I'm trying to get my bookmark and history access back up and running but not sure how to go about it.

I couldn't get past the first fix suggestion because I am not sure how to restart Firefox (https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/fix-bookmarks-and-history-will-not-be-functional?as=u&utm_source=inproduct&redirectslug=The+bookmarks+and+history+system+will+not+be+functional&redirectlocale=en-US). I have restarted my laptop several times but the issue still persists.

Please advise.

Ironically, I am not having this issue on my older PC that is still operating on Windows 10. I can view history and access or add bookmarks with no concern to my knowledge.

Firefox had been a safe haven for anti-AI, and used to be my go-to search engine. If this AI bullshit continues, no one will respect or use the browser. Stop implementing AI garbage that steals data

I've been searching for three days now for a solution that will work to restore my profile from a crashed windows-7 machine to my new windows-11. Nothing listed in any forum or help desk works as described. I used to be able to just rename the folder to the exact file name on the new PC, but windows 11 won't let me do anything. It always needs admin permissions and even after I activated the admin account and assigned a password, I still cannot copy to the folder or rename the folder. Every attempt to do this on W-11 fails. It shouldn't be that hard and I'm tired of wasting days playing with this. I have important bookmarks, passwords etc. I want restored, and I need help. Nobody wants to pick up a phone anymore to assist!

I have never used "sync" because I have multiple PCs and each used for different applications and yes some go back to W-7, the operating system that actually worked well. Each PC has Firefox and a distinct bookmark file.

I went to "about:profiles" and created a new profile thinking I could copy to the new folder, but when i switched profiles I couldn't get back to the original default! HELP!

Sam

What are the step-to-step instructions in order to use Free VPN? (see attached image) I did a query on the web and it came back stating that Firefox VPN was not free. I am confused. Thank you for your prompt assistance.

Previously downloading files did not close the source website. Now when downloading a file, the source website is closed. Requires logging into the source website for each file downloaded. How can closing the source website be stopped.

This what you said: "Today we’re introducing a free built-in VPN in Firefox, a new IP-protection feature designed to keep you even more private while you browse. We’re starting by offering an industry-leading 50 gigabytes of free VPN-browsing each month." But all I see are the paid options. I want to try before I (might) buy. After all, you constantly preach that we have to be careful & trying to be careful.

Hello,all, The built-in translation button in Firefox disappeared on the Reddit website.

Please add a fixed access key for the 'Translate button'. I also recommend introducing an automatic website translation function. Thank!

This is the 3rd time I have had to post this. I am getting very frustrated. I DO NOT want the search engine within my address bar. Nothing anyone from you "community" helped to disable the search engine in my address bar. Opera, Edge, Chrome, the user can disable the search engine in the address bar. Why is Firefox so different? And difficult?

As of yesterday my Firefox browser no longer displays some screens within Amazon Prime correctly. It displays what should be images as text, which is difficult to read, unlike Microsoft Edge, which displays the Amazon webpage correctly. I am running Windows 10 with a support extension through October 2026, so could it be an update from Microsoft Windows or Mozilla Firefox that has caused the problem. Thanks for your help.

Michael Archer [edited email from community support forum]

Hi this can anyone shed anylight on this please? I was using Facebook earlier today with no problem then now it won't run nor open yet it runs fine in Google Chrome. I've cleared out the Cookies ect and re-tried but its not pitching anything.

Many thanks Rob

I have been using Firefox profiles for years, long before the announcement of the new profiles UI. The new profiles UI launhed with FF 144. I'm on the latest version, which is 149.0.2 and I still don't have the new UI. Specifically, I do not see my profiles in the new UI.

When FF launches I see the new UI but my profiles are nowhere to be see as you can see in the screenshots:

https://postimg.cc/gallery/tFXz00m

I have 2 profiles and they each have their own name.

Instead I am presented with 2 option "Original Profile" and "create new Profile". When I click on orignal profile, Firefox opens my default profiles which has its own original name. However, when go throught the new UI o switch profiles, I do not see my other profile. Moreover, if I click manage profiles, I don't see either of my profiles.

The only way I am able to launch my 2nd profile is the old fashiong via "about:profiles".

Why can't I see my profiles in the new UI?

On my 2nd profile, I don't even have the new profiles UI.

Why dont't I have the new profiles UI months after you launched it?

Please help!

I have noticed that since around Friday, April 24th, 2026, that Youtube videos will sometimes refuse to load properly. The page for the video will come up, but buttons on the page will not load, and nor will the video. This started happening around mid-day, when prior to it, things had been fine. At first I thought it might be tied into the 'ambient mode' option on Youtube itself., But even after shutting that off, I found it was still happening at ranodm.

Is this something new Yotube is doing in their continued (idiotic) fight against ad blockers, or is there an actual glitch in the browser or, more likely, a glitch in Youtube? Like I said, this seems to occur at random and I can't trace the cause for it. I'll include a screenshot of what I'm seeing. But if anyone knows what's happening here, I'd appreciate it.

I should add that I am on Windows 11 and using the new version 150.0 for Firefox. (Congrats on that, by the way.)

I'll be honest, I keep hearing some other browser can block youtube ads innately. (Brave, I think it was called?) and while the idea is cool, I'm not giving up a browser I've used for over 20 years for it. If Firefox can find a way to implement a similar means of blocking Youtube ads innately, I;d love it. But for now, I just wanna know what the devil is happening with the site. Can anyone help?

Hello, Randomly but frequently enough to be annoying, Firefox freezes my entire laptop. I have windows 11. It freezes so badly that I have to hold down the on/off button until it goes off. I looked it up outside of Firefox help and, per suggestions, turned off the hardware accelerator. That seemed to work for a little while but now it's happening again with greater frequency. There doesn't seem to be any exact situation that causes it which makes it very hard to diagnose. But it's enough that I'm thinking of looking for another browser so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Why when I search ABOUT:BLANK TAB, an empty page displays instead of the site I am searching for? I then have to go back and try again and again until it finally displays.

Cleared Cache, searched for extensions and not sure what to look for...they were verified by apple to be "normal". What else? Macbook Air 2023 running Sonoma 14.8.1