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Drag and drop from firefox to Windows desktop stopped working after updating to Firefox Quantum 68.0 (64-bit)

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After updating to v68 (x64) earlier today, drag and drop of pictures from Firefox to Windows desktop, stopped working

What I tried so far

Tried turning it off and on again didn't work

Started firefox in safemode with no add-ons didn't work

Started windows in safe mode and then started firefox in safemode with no add-ons didn't work

Drag n Drop + holding Ctrl key didn't work Drag n Drop + holding Alt key didn't work

Created a new profile didn't work

Re-installed v68 didn't work

uninstalled and erased ALL firefox files, then installed v68 didn't work

Installed v68 on a fresh install of Windows didn't work

Installed a fresh copy of Windows on a freshly assembled computer and made a fresh installation of v68 Firefox didn't work

Is there something else I can do, in order to fix this problem, besides using Google Chrome

After '''updating to v68 (x64) '''earlier today, drag and drop of pictures from Firefox to Windows desktop, stopped working '''What I tried so far''' Tried turning it off and on again ''didn't work'' Started firefox in safemode with no add-ons ''didn't work'' Started windows in safe mode and then started firefox in safemode with no add-ons ''didn't work'' Drag n Drop + holding Ctrl key ''didn't work'' Drag n Drop + holding Alt key ''didn't work'' Created a new profile ''didn't work'' Re-installed v68 ''didn't work'' uninstalled and erased ALL firefox files, then installed v68 ''didn't work'' Installed v68 on a fresh install of Windows ''didn't work'' Installed a fresh copy of Windows on a freshly assembled computer and made a fresh installation of v68 Firefox ''didn't work'' Is there something else I can do, in order to fix this problem, besides using '''Google Chrome'''

Modified by Wag669

Chosen solution

I'm not sure how to react right now.... Earlier today, dragging and dropping to desktop didn't work, I tried to drag and drop a url on desktop, in order to check if creating a shortcut on desktop would work. It worked So, naturally, I tried to drag a picture and it worked....

I just called a priest, I think my PC is in need of an exorcism

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All Replies (20)

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jscher2000 said

Hi Straydog, what happened with JavaScript? ... However, it's not clear what Firefox should do in this situation ... Anyway, I'm sure it will be discussed in appropriate channels.

Thank you for your reply. In my opinion I would suggest what I wrote at the end of my last post: "Users must be allowed to choose what they want at their own responsibility". For this there must be a setting in the options or elsewhere.

Sorry I didn't want to bring here the JavaScript problem because it is out of scope for this thread. I started using NoScript.

Now, back to this thread. As I said before, apart from the default profile, where the "-no-deelevate" parameter suggested by JBL works fine, I couldn't find a way to apply it to any other profile because to start another profile I will have to use parameter "-p" And I couldn't make it work with both parameters. What am I doing wrong? Which other way can be used to start a profile allowing to save links and images? Any chance with about:config? Can you help on any other way, please?

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You should be able to specify both parameters on the target line. "<path-to-firefox.exe>\firefox.exe" -no-deelevate -P "profile-name"

See also:

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Thank you all for the tips and help.

I have never changed UAC from its default setting. I did not realise I had to add a profile name to the Firefox link with both parameters. Now it works, but I still believe that an option should be offered on the settings, not to complicate people's life and push them to come to support wasting the time of the nice helping people.

Thank you cor-el #answer-1236627. You always solve everything here Thank you jscher2000 #answer-123659 for teying hard.

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philipp said

hi, please try resetting the windows user account control settings to their default and restart the system once to see if this helps with the drag and drop issue: https://support.microsoft.com/help/975787/

Greetings, I reset the UAC as stated and it worked for me. Firefox is back to working just the way I like it!.... Thank ye for the helpful NFO! =)

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I am having the same problem with drag and drop

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Mary said

I am having the same problem with drag and drop

Please try this:

  1. Open Firefox and go to the "about:config" page
  2. click on the "i take the risk" button
  3. search for "launcher" it should return browser.launcherProcess.enabled
  4. double click on it to set is default value to false
  5. Restart Firefox
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Hi Mary, you have several different options depending on how securely you want to run Firefox.

Firefox 68 uses a new launcher process to reduce unwanted DLL injections and to run Firefox with reduced privileges to reduce the risk from zero-day vulnerabilities.

(1) Enable the default level of UAC - most secure, re-enables drag-and-drop

(2) Keep UAC disabled and use workarounds. For example, to copy an image to the desktop, instead of drag-and-drop, use right-click > Copy Image, then right-click > Paste on the desktop.

(3) Keep UAC disabled and change how Firefox starts up by adding a command-line switch to your Firefox shortcut (-no-deelevate). This bypasses the reduction of Firefox's privilege level.

(4) Keep UAC disabled and disable the launcher process, which both bypasses the reduction of Firefox's privilege level and reduces protection against DLL injection (least secure).

This article has the details on #1 and #3: Drag and Drop errors with Firefox Launcher Process enabled and Windows UAC disabled - How to Fix.

Modified by jscher2000 - Support Volunteer

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how do i disable the process launcher disable with out going through a entire work around

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Launcher Process Enabled

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thanks dibbled the launcher

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the disable launcher worked thank you both for the info

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Same thing for me, drag and drop doesn't work anymore since the V68 release. Forum for the frenchies...https://support.mozilla.org/fr/kb/obtenir-assistance-communaute/discuss/8035

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Wag669 said

Mary said
I am having the same problem with drag and drop

Please try this:

  1. Open Firefox and go to the "about:config" page
  2. click on the "i take the risk" button
  3. search for "launcher" it should return browser.launcherProcess.enabled
  4. double click on it to set is default value to false
  5. Restart Firefox

This is work for me. Thank you!

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thank you this did it

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Thank you so much, it works well now.

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Note that this new launcher process is a security feature to protect against third-party software injecting DLLs in Firefox and disabling it decreases your security. The only real solution is either not to run Firefox as administrator or make sure not to disable UAC.

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cor-el said

Note that this new launcher process is a security feature to protect against third-party software injecting DLLs in Firefox and disabling it decreases your security. The only real solution is either not to run Firefox as administrator or make sure not to disable UAC.

Please answer me why I can drag and drop from other 7 browsers (Opera, Chrome, Vivaldi, IE, Avast Secure Browser, Cyberfox, Cent Browser) and only from Mozilla is not possible. I think this Mozilla protection is a great inconvenience. If a hacker wants to break you, he'll do it!

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This is the solution!

  1. Open Firefox and go to the "about:config" page
  2. click on the "i take the risk" button
  3. search for "launcher" it should return browser.launcherProcess.enabled
  4. double click on it to set is default value to false
  5. Restart Firefox
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dberov said

Please answer me why I can drag and drop from other 7 browsers (Opera, Chrome, Vivaldi, IE, Avast Secure Browser, Cyberfox, Cent Browser) and only from Mozilla is not possible.

Good question! Is it because they are running with administrative privileges?

Firefox 68's new launcher process to reduce unwanted DLL injections and runs Firefox with reduced privileges to reduce the risk from zero-day vulnerabilities. There are four workarounds for the problem in this thread:

(1) Enable the default level of UAC - most secure, re-enables drag-and-drop

(2) Keep UAC disabled and use workarounds. For example, to copy an image to the desktop, instead of drag-and-drop, use right-click > Copy Image, then right-click > Paste on the desktop.

(3) Keep UAC disabled and change how Firefox starts up by adding a command-line switch to your Firefox shortcut (-no-deelevate). This bypasses the reduction of Firefox's privilege level.

(4) Keep UAC disabled and disable the launcher process, which both bypasses the reduction of Firefox's privilege level and reduces protection against DLL injection (least secure).

This article has the details on #1 and #3: Drag and Drop errors with Firefox Launcher Process enabled and Windows UAC disabled - How to Fix.

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jscher2000 said

dberov said
Please answer me why I can drag and drop from other 7 browsers (Opera, Chrome, Vivaldi, IE, Avast Secure Browser, Cyberfox, Cent Browser) and only from Mozilla is not possible.

Good question! Is it because they are running with administrative privileges?

Firefox 68's new launcher process to reduce unwanted DLL injections and runs Firefox with reduced privileges to reduce the risk from zero-day vulnerabilities. There are four workarounds for the problem in this thread:

(1) Enable the default level of UAC - most secure, re-enables drag-and-drop.


(2) Keep UAC disabled and use workarounds. For example, to copy an image to the desktop, instead of drag-and-drop, use right-click > Copy Image, then right-click > Paste on the desktop.

(3) Keep UAC disabled and change how Firefox starts up by adding a command-line switch to your Firefox shortcut (-no-deelevate). This bypasses the reduction of Firefox's privilege level.

(4) Keep UAC disabled and disable the launcher process, which both bypasses the reduction of Firefox's privilege level and reduces protection against DLL injection (least secure).

This article has the details on #1 and #3: Drag and Drop errors with Firefox Launcher Process enabled and Windows UAC disabled - How to Fix.

I use Mozilla already 10 years, I like this browser and always I collected important or interesting links by drag and drop without enabled UAC. In my opinion, enabled UAC is not a solution to the problem and I disagree with you that users have to change some Windows settings to be able to drag and drop from Mozzila.

Mozilla must be a user-friendly browser and if Mozilla users liked and want to work by drag and drop, then Mozilla needs to make it work.

If Mozilla needs to be improved, let Mozilla do that in the browser itself and not using Windows settings.

If Mozilla needs to rise a secure of the browser, let do it without forcing users to change some Windows settings!

Mozilla should be independent of Windows and work properly without using Windows settings!

Every Windows user has favorite settings preferences for Windows and works with Windows as he likes and is not properly Mozilla to force people to change their settings in Windows!

Do you remember the problem before a few updates with the missing and not working extensions and people were wondering how to fix the problem, just like now users ask for a solution for drag and drop?

Unfortunately, after the last few updates, Mozilla is becoming more and more unpleasant. Many extensions liked from the users already not work, Mozilla loads the pages slower and already some users avoiding Mozilla and using Chrome or another one...

I just can not work normally with Mozilla 68 since the last update. I take a decision to uninstalled Mozilla 68 and I installed an older Mozilla 66, then I wrote a script which prohibits the updates and I solved my problems for the moment.

I hope Mozilla will listen to their users' preferences and make the browser faster and more enjoyable to work to win back their fans who have fled to Chrome and other browsers.

Excuse my bad English, this is not my mother language.

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