Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings

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  • Revision id: 16416
  • Created:
  • Creator: Michael Verdi
  • Comment: broke instructions out into different OSs, added link to basic troubleshooting, added note about windows media plugin and reinstalling addons, note about 64-bit windows
  • Reviewed: No
  • Ready for localization: No
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Have you tried diagnosing Firefox problems without any luck? Does Firefox just make you sad? This article will show you how to fix Firefox and make it run like new.

Just pick one of the three methods below to get started (the first one is the fastest and easiest).

Note: The big problems this article won't fix are ones caused by other software on your computer, including malware. If the solutions in this article don't work, see Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware and Configure firewalls so that Firefox can access the Internet for more help.

Just fix Firefox — I don't care about saving anything

This is the quick and easy fix. It's also the procedure to use if you can't get Firefox to run at all. No bookmarks, browsing history, saved passwords or add-ons will be saved.

Note: Use Internet Explorer to view and complete these instructions.
  1. Delete the Mozilla Firefox folder on your hard drive. By default, it's located in: C:\Program files or C:\Program Files (x86) if you're using a 64-bit version of Windows.
  2. Download and install Firefox from mozilla.com. Be sure to uncheck Launch Firefox Now in the last step. See How to install Firefox on Windows for details.
  3. Create a new profile and start Firefox. See Profile Manager - Create, remove or switch Firefox profiles for details.
Note: To view Windows Media files in Firefox you'll need to re-install the plugin. You may also want to re-install any add-ons you used before.

Video goes here

Note: Use Safari to view and complete these instructions.
  1. Delete Firefox from your Applications folder.
  2. Download and install Firefox from mozilla.com. See How to download and install Firefox on Mac for details.
  3. Create a new profile and start Firefox. See Profile Manager - Create, remove or switch Firefox profiles for details.
Note: You may want to re-install any add-ons you used before.

Video goes here

Note: Use Google Chrome to view and complete these instructions.
  1. If you installed Firefox with the distro-based package manager, you should use the same method to uninstall it - see Install Firefox on Linux for details. If you downloaded and installed the binary package, simply remove the folder firefox in your home directory to uninstall it.
  2. Download and install Firefox from mozilla.com. See Install Firefox on Linux for details.
  3. Create a new profile and start Firefox. See Profile Manager - Create, remove or switch Firefox profiles for details.
Note: You may want to re-install any add-ons you used before.


Fix Firefox and save my bookmarks

This is the easy fix with the added bonus of saving your bookmarks. No browsing history, saved passwords or add-ons will be saved.

Video goes here

Note: Use Internet Explorer to view these instructions.
  1. Backup your Firefox bookmarks to your desktop. See Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer for details.
  2. Download Firefox from mozilla.com but don't install it yet.
  3. 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.
  4. Delete the Mozilla Firefox folder on your hard drive. By default, it's located in: C:\Program files or C:\Program Files (x86) if you're using a 64-bit version of Windows.
  5. Install Firefox. Be sure to uncheck Launch Firefox Now in the last step. See How to install Firefox on Windows for details.
  6. Create a new profile and start Firefox. See Profile Manager - Create, remove or switch Firefox profiles for details.
  7. Restore your bookmarks. See Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer for details.
Note: To view Windows Media files in Firefox you'll need to re-install the plugin. You may also want to re-install any add-ons you used before.

Video goes here

Note: Use Safari to view these instructions.
  1. Backup your Firefox bookmarks to your desktop. See Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer for details.
  2. Download Firefox from mozilla.com but don't install it yet.
  3. 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.
  4. Delete Firefox from your Applications folder.
  5. Install Firefox. See How to download and install Firefox on Mac for details.
  6. Create a new profile and start Firefox. See Profile Manager - Create, remove or switch Firefox profiles for details.
  7. Restore your bookmarks. See Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer for details.
Note: You may want to re-install any add-ons you used before.

Video goes here

Note: Use Google Chrome to view these instructions.
  1. Backup your Firefox bookmarks to your desktop. See Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer for details.
  2. Download Firefox from mozilla.com but don't install it yet.
  3. 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.
  4. If you installed Firefox with the distro-based package manager, you should use the same method to uninstall it - see Install Firefox on Linux for details. If you downloaded and installed the binary package, simply remove the folder firefox in your home directory to uninstall it.
  5. Install Firefox. See Install Firefox on Linux for details.
  6. Create a new profile and start Firefox. See Profile Manager - Create, remove or switch Firefox profiles for details.
  7. Restore your bookmarks. See Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer for details.
Note: You may want to re-install any add-ons you used before.


Fix Firefox and save my bookmarks, history and passwords

This fix is kinda complicated. This is for long-time Firefox users with lots of info stored in Firefox. No add-ons will be saved.

Video goes here

Note: Use Internet Explorer to view these instructions.
  1. Set up Firefox Sync. See How do I set up Sync on my computer? for details.
  2. Download Firefox from mozilla.com but don't install it yet.
  3. 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.
  4. Delete the Mozilla Firefox folder on your hard drive. By default, it's located in: C:\Program files or C:\Program Files (x86) if you're using a 64-bit version of Windows.
  5. Install Firefox. Be sure to uncheck Launch Firefox Now in the last step. See How to install Firefox on Windows for details.
  6. Create a new profile and start Firefox. See Profile Manager - Create, remove or switch Firefox profiles for details.
  7. Connect your new copy of Firefox to your Sync account. See How to sync Firefox settings between computers for details.
Note: To view Windows Media files in Firefox you'll need to re-install the plugin. You may also want to re-install any add-ons you used before.

Video goes here

Note: Use Safari to view these instructions.
  1. Set up Firefox Sync. See How do I set up Sync on my computer? for details.
  2. Download Firefox from mozilla.com but don't install it yet.
  3. 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.
  4. Delete Firefox from your Applications folder.
  5. Install Firefox. See How to download and install Firefox on Mac for details.
  6. Create a new profile and start Firefox. See Profile Manager - Create, remove or switch Firefox profiles for details.
  7. Connect your new copy of Firefox to your Sync account. See How to sync Firefox settings between computers for details.
Note: You may want to re-install any add-ons you used before.

Video goes here

Note: Use Google Chrome to view these instructions.
  1. Set up Firefox Sync. See How do I set up Sync on my computer? for details.
  2. Download Firefox from mozilla.com but don't install it yet.
  3. 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.
  4. If you installed Firefox with the distro-based package manager, you should use the same method to uninstall it - see Install Firefox on Linux for details. If you downloaded and installed the binary package, simply remove the folder firefox in your home directory to uninstall it.
  5. Install Firefox. See Install Firefox on Linux for details.
  6. Create a new profile and start Firefox. See Profile Manager - Create, remove or switch Firefox profiles for details.
  7. Connect your new copy of Firefox to your Sync account. See How to sync Firefox settings between computers for details.
Note: You may want to re-install any add-ons you used before.