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I cannot get Firefox to open on my Macbook Pro.

  • 6 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 10 views
  • Last reply by venneman

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I just downloaded Firefox 45.0.2 to run on my MacBook Pro running OS 10.11, El Capitan. When I click the icon to start Firefox, I get a blank browser screen and immediately I beachball/stall. When I open my Force Quit, every time I see [Not Responding] next to Firefox. I have already uninstalled and reinstalled Firefox, but I get the same result.

I just downloaded Firefox 45.0.2 to run on my MacBook Pro running OS 10.11, El Capitan. When I click the icon to start Firefox, I get a blank browser screen and immediately I beachball/stall. When I open my Force Quit, every time I see [Not Responding] next to Firefox. I have already uninstalled and reinstalled Firefox, but I get the same result.

All Replies (6)

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Try to start Firefox in Safe Mode to see if that works.

  • Windows: hold down the Shift key while starting Firefox
  • Mac: hold down the Options key while starting Firefox

Create a new profile to test if your current profile is causing the problem.

See "Creating a profile":

If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.

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I tried it, selected safe mode in the dialog box, and it still locked right up on me.

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Did you try to create a new profile like I wrote in the second part of my above reply?

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I never had the chance, as Firefox stopped responding as soon as I started it. Even in safe mode. What you see in the image I posted is the screen I saw right after starting with safe mode. It stayed that way until I force quit Firefox, about three minutes later.

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Try to do a clean reinstall.

Download a new copy of the Firefox application and save the Disk Image file to the desktop

Your personal data like bookmarks is stored in the Firefox profile folder, so you won't lose personal data when you uninstall and reinstall or update Firefox, but make sure NOT to remove personal data when you uninstall Firefox as that will remove all Firefox profile folders and you lose your personal data.

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As I said in my original post, I have uninstalled and reinstalled several times, hoping there might've been an update and things would work normally.