Firefox options, preferences and settings were reorganized in version 56. Settings for download actions that used to be in the Applications panel are now located in the General panel, under the Applications section. For more information, see Manage file types and download actions in Firefox.

Nope. Not there either. Vanished.

When I click General it takes me to the Search panel. In other words, my General panel is also missing.

This is version 56.0.1 It still works on my laptop with version 52.4.0 Can I reload the old version? This is why I hate automatic updates. How do I turn those off?

JasonWhitworth said

This is version 56.0.1 It still works on my laptop with version 52.4.0 Can I reload the old version? This is why I hate automatic updates. How do I turn those off?

You could (for now) get the 'old' Options back :

Type in the address bar about:config (press Enter) (promise to be careful, if aksed) Type and ook for the preference : browser.preferences.useOldOrganization and set its value to true (change it back to 'false' later)

You say :

When I click General it takes me to the Search panel.

Where do you click 'General'  ?

Under Options, "General" appears on top of list, except it is not the General panel. It is the Search panel. Which also appears if I click on Search. The link under "General" is faulty.

JasonWhitworth said

Under Options, "General" appears on top of list, except it is not the General panel. It is the Search panel. Which also appears if I click on Search. The link under "General" is faulty.

This is so weird ...... Could you possibly provide a screenshot where it shows that you've clicked 'General', but are shown 'Search'  ?

If you need help to create a screenshot, please see  :

How do I create a screenshot of my problem?

Once you've done this, attach the saved screenshot file to your forum post by clicking the Browse... button below the Post your reply box. This will help us to visualize the problem.

A screenshot could help.

You could try this: Type about:preferences into the Firefox address bar and press the enter key,

The General panel should come up but in any case, you'll see a "Find in Options" box in the upper right corner of every panel. Type Applications in that Find in Options box and the Applications section should appear. [1]

You shouldn't have to go through all that since the General panel should appear and Applications should be there. [2]

(2 screenshots below)

JasonWhitworth said

This is version 56.0.1 It still works on my laptop with version 52.4.0 Can I reload the old version? This is why I hate automatic updates. How do I turn those off?

No one answered your question. Yes, you can install an older version of Firefox, if all else fails, and turn auto-updates off.

Before doing that you could try a Firefox Refresh first: The Refresh feature (called "Reset" in older Firefox versions) can fix many issues by restoring Firefox to its default state while saving your bookmarks, history, passwords, cookies, and other essential information. See the Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings article for more information.

Your system details shows that you are currently using Firefox 56.0.1 (64-bit). This version was the automatic migration of users from 32-bit Firefox to 64-bit Firefox on Windows 64-bit systems.

To reload an older version see Install an older version of Firefox. Read that page carefully. When you view that page in Firefox 56 on Windows there's a link to the previous version of Firefox, Firefox version 55.0.3 (32-bit).

If you want Firefox 52 you can get the Firefox 52 ESR (Extended Support Release) version here: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/organizations/all/?q=English%20%28US%29

Pic attached.

Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.

• switch to the DEFAULT theme: "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Appearance
• do NOT click the "Refresh Firefox" button on the Safe Mode start window

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-firefox-issues-using-safe-mode
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-extensions-themes-to-fix-problems

You can check for problems with preferences.

Delete possible user.js and numbered prefs-##.js files and rename/remove the prefs.js file to reset all prefs to the default value including prefs set via user.js and prefs that are no longer supported in current Firefox releases.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/preferences_not_saved
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/resetting_preferences

You can use the button on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page.

• Help -> Troubleshooting Information -> Profile Directory:
  Windows: Show Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox

[[You could try this: Type about:preferences into the Firefox address bar and press the enter key,

The General panel should come up but in any case, you'll see a "Find in Options" box in the upper right corner of every panel. Type Applications in that Find in Options box and the Applications section should appear. [1] ]]

This didn't work. Still got Search Panel. When I type Applications in "Find Options" box, I get a grayed-out version.

Cor-el, I don't know how to do all that.

Jason, Cor-el's first suggestion was to Start Firefox in Safe Mode.

Firefox Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode that temporarily turns off hardware acceleration, resets some settings, and disables add-ons (extensions and themes). If Firefox is open, you can restart in Firefox Safe Mode from the Help menu:

• Click the menu button , click Help and select Restart with Add-ons Disabled.

Can you access the Firefox Options General panel Applications settings in Firefox Safe Mode? If you can, then the problem is probably caused by an extension, theme, or hardware acceleration. Please follow the steps in the Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems article to find the cause.

Note: To exit Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before opening Firefox for normal use again.

No, can not open in Safe Mode. Need fix. Can not open my faxes.

JasonWhitworth said

No, can not open in Safe Mode. Need fix. Can not open my faxes.

What happens when you try to open Firefox Safe Mode? How is opening faxes related to Firefox?

In any case, I mentioned a possible fix, a Firefox Refresh. See the Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings article. If that doesn't help you could also try a clean reinstall. See Troubleshoot and diagnose Firefox problems step 4, Reinstall Firefox.

I see you marked my last post as the solution. For the record, what fixed it? Was it the Firefox Refresh or something else?

The Refresh.