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Firefox only starts in a minimized version on the task bar and cannot be stopped. So I have to use edge...

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  • Last reply by cor-el

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I have Firefox fixed to the taskbar, so I can one-click it to start. This has been a fine procedure until a few days ago, when all of a sudden the browser window does not open, but the task bar symbol is underlined. When I click on it it shows a small window, but I cannot maximize it. Also, it cannot be shut down, I have to use the task manager to shut it. From my text you can see that I am using a W 10 upgraded from W 7. What´s wrong? Thanks for any kind of help!

I have Firefox fixed to the taskbar, so I can one-click it to start. This has been a fine procedure until a few days ago, when all of a sudden the browser window does not open, but the task bar symbol is underlined. When I click on it it shows a small window, but I cannot maximize it. Also, it cannot be shut down, I have to use the task manager to shut it. From my text you can see that I am using a W 10 upgraded from W 7. What´s wrong? Thanks for any kind of help!

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I'm not very familiar with Windows 10, so apologies if this doesn't translate well from Windows 7 and the Windows 8-8.1 "desktop" UI:

Sometimes Firefox's window gets "off screen" somehow. You often can force it to appear on the screen by right-clicking the little thumbnail image above the Taskbar and choosing Maximize. Does that work?

One possible cause for this is that the file which stores window sizes and positions has become corrupted. You can remove that file and Firefox will return to standard window sizing.

Method #1: If you can get a maximized window:

Open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
  • (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table on the page, click the "Show Folder" button. This should launch a new window listing various files and folders in Windows Explorer.

Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox and Exit, either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "power" button
  • (menu bar) File > Exit

Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup, then rename xulstore.json to something like xulstore.old. If you see a file named localstore.rdf, rename that one to localstore.old.

Start Firefox back up again. Do windows display normally again?

Method #2: If you cannot get a Firefox window at all:

Shut down Firefox by right-clicking the taskbar icon > Close All Windows.

Using the Run dialog (windows key + R) or the Start menu search bar type or paste the following and press Enter to drill down to the Profiles folder:

%APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles

Here you may see one folder -- in which case, double-click into that -- or more than one folder -- in which case, double-click into what looks like the most recently updated.

Scroll down and rename xulstore.json to something like xulstore.old. If you see a file named localstore.rdf, rename that one to localstore.old.

Start Firefox back up again. Do windows display normally again?


Then, to turn different bars back on, you can use one of these methods to show the toolbar list and select the desired bars there:

To turn on the Menu Bar, Bookmarks Toolbar, or other bars, click it on the list.

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It is possible that your firewall or other security software blocks or restricts Firefox or the plugin-container process without informing you, possibly after detecting changes (update) to the Firefox program.

Remove all rules for Firefox and the plugin-container from the permissions list in the firewall and let your firewall ask again for permission to get full, unrestricted, access to install for Firefox and the plugin-container process and the updater process.

See: