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How to start Firefox if you see an error message, "Firefox is already running but is not responding" (or "A copy of Firefox is already open" error on Mac OS).

All of your personal settings, bookmarks, and other information are kept in your [[Profiles|Firefox profile]]. Firefox needs an unlocked profile to start up, and if the profile is locked, it displays the message, {for win,linux}''Firefox is already running, but is not responding''{/for}{for mac}''A copy of Firefox is already open''{/for}. This article explains what to do if you see this message and how to prevent it from showing at startup. {note}'''Note:''' If this is a recurring problem, see [[Firefox hangs#w_firefox-hangs-when-you-quit-it|Firefox hangs when you quit it]] for possible causes and solutions.{/note} {for win} {for fx34, win7, win8}[[Image:Fx34already-running-Win7]]{/for} {for fx34, winxp}[[Image:Firefox Already Running - Win1]]{/for} {for not fx34}[[Image:Firefox Already Running - Win1]]{/for} {/for} __TOC__ = End Firefox processes = <!-- see https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=399108 and https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=407981 on Firefox delayed shutdowns --> If Firefox did not shut down normally when you last used it, Firefox might still be running in the background, even though it is not visible. {for fx34} {for win7, win8}If you try to open it while it's running, an error message will appear with the option to click {button Close Firefox}. If that doesn't solve the problem, restart your computer or try the following options.{/for} {for mac, linux, winxp}Restart your computer to see if the problem goes away or try the following options. {/for} {/for} {for not fx34} Restart your computer to see if the problem goes away or try the following options.{/for} {for linux} == Ubuntu Linux == # Click on {menu System} and choose {menu Administration}. # In Administration, click on {menu System Monitor}. Here you will find firefox-bin one or more times. # Highlight the listing and click {button End Process} for each one. {/for} {for win} == Use the Windows Task Manager to close the existing Firefox process == # Right-click on an empty spot in the Windows task bar and select {menu Task Manager} (or press {key Ctrl}+{key Shift}+{key Esc}). <!-- <br/> <br/> [[Image:notron360sucks-taksmanager.png]] <br/> <br/> --> # When the Windows Task Manager opens, select the {menu Processes} tab. <br/> <br/> [[Image:Task Manager]]<br/> # Select the entry for '''firefox.exe''' (press {key F} on the keyboard to find it) and click {button End Process}. # Click {button Yes} in the "Task Manager Warning" dialog that appears.<!-- <br/> <br/>[[Image:TaskMgrWarning.PNG]]<br/> --> # Repeat the above steps to end any additional firefox.exe process, if more than one entry is found, then exit the Windows Task Manager. # Start Firefox normally. {/for} = Remove the profile lock file = If restarting the computer or ending the Firefox processes didn't help, it may be that Firefox previously exited without deleting the lock file. # Restart your computer. After it restarts, don't try to start Firefox. # Go to your Firefox profile folder - see [[Profiles#w_finding-your-profile-without-opening-firefox|Finding your profile without opening Firefox]]. # Delete the {filepath {for win}parent.lock{/for}{for mac,linux}.parentlock{/for}} file. #* {for win}If you attempt to delete the {filepath parent.lock} file and receive the error, ''"Cannot delete parent: The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable"'', restart the computer and check your drive for errors (see {for winxp}[http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315265 How to perform disk error checking in Windows XP]{/for}{for win7,win8}[http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Check-a-drive-for-errors Check a drive for errors]{/for}).{/for}{for mac}You need to use a free utility like Onyx or Maintain to turn on visibility for invisible files to show {filepath .parentlock}. This file contains no information, and deleting it will unlock the profile.{/for}{for linux}You will need to turn on the display of hidden files. In the File Browser window, select the {menu View} menu and make sure {menu Show Hidden Files} is checked.{/for} {for win} = Initialize the connection to a file share = If you store the profile on a file share, try accessing the file share beforehand using Windows Explorer. {/for} = Check access rights = Firefox must also have the right to create files in the profile folder. The error can occur if you try to use a profile from a file system mounted with read-only permission (e.g. a remote Windows share which doesn't have "Allow network users to change my files" checked). To check if the profile folder has the proper permissions: {for win} # Go to your Firefox profile folder - see [[Profiles#w_finding-your-profile-without-opening-firefox|Finding your profile without opening Firefox]]. # Go up one folder. # Right-click on your profile folder and select {menu Properties}. # Click on the {menu General} tab. # Make sure '''Read-only''' is not checked marked.<br/> <br/>[[Image:readonlyprofile.png]]<br/> {/for} {for mac} # Go to your Firefox profile folder - see [[Profiles#w_finding-your-profile-without-opening-firefox|Finding your profile without opening Firefox]]. # Go up one folder. # Hold down the {key Ctrl} key while you click on your profile folder, and select {menu Get Info}. # Make sure '''Ownership & Permissions''' is set to '''Read & Write'''. {/for} {for linux} # Go to your Firefox profile folder - see [[Profiles#w_finding-your-profile-without-opening-firefox|Finding your profile without opening Firefox]]. # Go up one folder. # Right-click on your profile folder and select {menu Properties}. # Click on the {menu Permissions} tab. # Make sure '''Folder access''' is set to '''Create and delete files'''. {/for} = Restore data from a locked profile = If you are unable to unlock the profile using the above methods, use the Profile Manager to create a new profile and migrate your data from the locked profile to the new profile. For information on how to do this, see [[Recovering important data from an old profile]]. <!-- MZ credit --> <br/> <br/> '''''Based on information from [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_in_use Profile in use (mozillaZine KB)]'''''