Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings

Revision Information
  • Revision id: 170168
  • Created:
  • Creator: Tonnes
  • Comment: mention _chrome_ subfolder, not Chrome
  • Reviewed: Yes
  • Reviewed:
  • Reviewed by: AliceWyman
  • Is approved? Yes
  • Is current revision? No
  • Ready for localization: Yes
  • Readied for localization:
  • Readied for localization by: AliceWyman
Revision Source
Revision Content

This feature is available on Firefox for desktop or laptop computers.

If you're having problems with Firefox, refreshing it can help. The refresh feature fixes many issues by restoring Firefox to its default state while saving your essential information like bookmarks, passwords, and open tabs.
Important: Since Firefox will revert to its original state, your own configurations and customizations, including extensions, extension data, and about:config preference configurations are removed. If you've made accessibility configurations, you may need to change them back after refreshing.

Refresh Firefox

  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.

What does the refresh feature do?

All of your Firefox settings and personal information are stored in a profile folder. The refresh feature works by creating a new profile folder for you while saving your important data.

Add-ons which are normally stored inside the Firefox profile folder, such as extensions and themes, will be removed. Add-ons stored in other locations, such as plugins, will not be removed but any modified preferences (such as plugins you have disabled) will be reset.

Firefox will save these items:

  • Bookmarks
  • Browsing and download history
  • Passwords
  • Open windows and tabs
  • Cookies
  • Web form auto-fill information
  • Personal dictionary

These items and settings will be removed:

  • Plugin settings
  • User styles (chrome subfolder containing userChrome and/or userContent CSS files, if previously created.)
Note: Your old Firefox profile will be placed on your desktop in a folder named "Old Firefox Data". If the resetrefresh didn't fix your problem you can restore some of the information not saved by copying files to the new profile that was created. If you don't need this folder any longer, you should delete it as it contains sensitive information.