Changes to toolbars and window sizes are not saved

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  • Revision id: 121950
  • Created:
  • Creator: AliceWyman
  • Comment: edit to Freds revision: Alternative solution (delete xulstore.json file)
  • Reviewed: No
  • Ready for localization: No
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In some instances, Firefox may not remember changes you've made to your toolbar settings or certain other configuration changes.

Note: If toolbars or toolbar items are missing, see Restore the Menu bar in Firefox and Navigation buttons like back, home, bookmarks and reload are missing.

This article explains how to fix the underlying problem that may result in one or more of the following symptoms:

  • You have added, rearranged or removed buttons from your toolbar, but the changes are not saved when you restart Firefox.
  • You have resized or moved the browser window, but the new size and position are not remembered when you restart Firefox.
  • You cannot save new bookmarks.

Here are two ways you can solve the problem:

Solution 1: Refresh Firefox

Firefox's refresh feature will reset toolbar preferences and remove add-ons that could be interfering.

Note: When you refresh Firefox, your bookmarks, browsing history, open tabs, windows, passwords, cookies and web form auto-fill information will be saved. However, your extensions and themes will be removed and your preferences will be reset. Learn more.
  1. Click the menu button Fx89menuButton, click Help and select More Troubleshooting Information.
  2. Click Refresh Firefox… then Refresh Firefox in the confirmation window that opens. Firefox will close to refresh itself.
  3. When finished, a window will list your imported information. Click the Finish button. Firefox will open.
  4. Select whether you want Firefox to restore all or some windows and tabs and click the Let's go! button.
Note: There's a Refresh Firefox button in the Firefox Troubleshoot Mode window, if you can't start Firefox normally. You can also do a manual refresh by creating a new profile and transferring your important data to the new profile.

Solution 2: Delete xulstore.json file

You may have a corrupt xulstore.json file in your Firefox profile. You can delete this file so that Firefox can create a new one.

    • Click the menu button Fx89menuButton, click Help and select More Troubleshooting Information.From the Help menu, select More Troubleshooting Information. The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
    • Under the Application Basics section next to Profile FolderDirectory, click Open FolderShow in FinderOpen Directory. A window will open that contains your profile folder.Your profile folder will open.
    Note: If you are unable to open or use Firefox, follow the instructions in Finding your profile without opening Firefox.
  2. Click the Firefox menu Fx89menuButton and select Exit.Click the Firefox menu at the top of the screen and select Quit Firefox.Click the Firefox menu Fx89menuButton and select Quit.
  3. Locate and delete the file xulstore.json (or rename it, for example, to xulstore.jsonOLD, to keep the old file as a backup).
  4. You can close the profile folder and open Firefox now.