Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode
Revision Information
- Revision id: 691
- Created:
- Creator: Bo102010
- Comment: Fix parenthesis
- Reviewed: No
- Ready for localization: Yes
- Readied for localization by: AnonymousUser
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Safe Mode is a special Firefox execution mode that can be used to troubleshoot issues in Firefox. In Safe Mode, you can reset some settings or disable add-ons that might be the source of the issue. By comparing Firefox behavior in normal mode to its behavior in Safe Mode with various items disabled, you may be able to diagnose issues.
- Note: Windows users may be familiar with a Safe Mode for Windows. Firefox Safe Mode has no connection to Windows Safe Mode.
How to start Firefox in Safe Mode
Click the menu button , click
, select and click in the Restart Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode? dialog.Note: You can also start Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode by holding down the Shift key while starting Firefox.holding down the option key while starting Firefox.quitting Firefox and then going to your Terminal and running:
You may need to specify the Firefox installation path (e.g. /usr/lib/firefox).
firefox -safe-mode
You may need to specify the Firefox installation path (e.g. /usr/lib/firefox).
Safe Mode window
You now have three options:
- Clicking the button cancels your attempt to get into Firefox's Safe Mode.
- Clicking the button starts Firefox in its Safe Mode. While you are in Safe Mode, your extensions and themes will be disabled, and any toolbar customizations will be reverted back to their defaults. These changes are not permanent - when you leave Safe Mode and start Firefox up normally, your extensions, themes, and settings will return to the state they were in before you entered Safe Mode.
- The button is only enabled if you select one of the boxes above it.
Note: The following changes cannot be undone.
You can elect to make the following changes:
- Disable all add-ons: If you select this box and then click then Firefox will start back up in its normal mode, except all your extensions and themes (but not plugins) will be disabled (not uninstalled).
- Reset toolbars and controls: If you select this box and then click then Firefox will start back up in its normal mode, except any toolbar customizations you have made will be lost, such as position of buttons and toolbars.
- Reset bookmarks to Firefox defaults: If you select this box and then click then Firefox will delete your current bookmarks and replace them with its default set.
- Reset all user preferences to Firefox defaults: If you select this box and then click then any changes you have made to Firefox's options will be set back to their default settings.
- Restore default search engines: If you select this box and then click then any of the default search engines you deleted will be restored.
- Disable all add-ons: If you select this box and then click then Firefox will start back up in its normal mode, except all your extensions, themes, and plugins will be disabled (not uninstalled).
- Reset toolbars and controls: If you select this box and then click then Firefox will start back up in its normal mode, except any toolbar customizations you have made will be lost, such as position of buttons and toolbars.
- Delete all bookmarks except for backups: If you select this box and then click then Firefox will delete your current bookmarks and replace them with the default set (This item is labeled Reset bookmarks to Firefox defaults in Firefox 3.5).
- Reset all user preferences to Firefox defaults: If you select this box and then click then any changes you have made to Firefox's options will be set back to their default settings.
- Restore default search engines: If you select this box and then click then any of the default search engines you deleted will be restored.
Exiting Safe Mode
- Click the Firefox menu and select .Click the Firefox menu at the top of the screen and select .Click the Firefox menu and select .
- Start Firefox as you normally would.
- If Firefox keeps starting in Safe Mode see Firefox is stuck in Troubleshoot Mode.
Based on information from Safe mode (mozillaZine KB)