Missing address bar and stored passwords and not opening with last open tabs.
I don't know what happened, but the address bar has disappeared from the toolbar, leaving me with just a long search bar. Also, all of my memorized passwords are gone, although all of my bookmarks remain. And even though I have Firefox set to open displaying the tabs that were open when it was last closed, it no longer does this; it opens to a blank page every time, not even to what is set as my home page. If I click on View/Tools/Customize, nothing happens; same result if I click on the "3-bar."
I'm using the latest version of Firefox (56.01 64-bit) and Windows 10 Home. I verified all my options settings, closed and reopened FF, and uninstalled and reinstalled FF to no avail. I also rebooted my computer. I was not upgrading FF or making any other changes (knowingly) when the changes occurred.
I have used FF forever and have no idea what I might have inadvertently done to cause this change, and it's driving me nuts. Please help!
Modified by SuzInMS
Chosen solution
What happens if you click Customize, either in "View > Toolbars" menu or the Customize item you see in the right-click context menu in your last screenshot at the bottom of the list?
If that isn't working then troubleshoot your extensions using Firefox Safe Mode.
Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.
- switch to the DEFAULT theme: "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Appearance
- do NOT click the "Refresh Firefox" button on the Safe Mode start window
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-firefox-issues-using-safe-mode
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-extensions-themes-to-fix-problems
Make sure you have updated your extensions and especially Classic Theme Restorer to the latest versions.
- "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions
All Replies (11)
Don't you mean the opposite and that you lost the search bar and only have a long location bar?
You may have received a special extension as part of a Mozilla Shield study that hides the search bar.
You can open the about:studies page to see currently installed Shield studies and possibly disable specific studies to opt-out.
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/shield
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-extensions-themes-to-fix-problems
Some recently mentioned Shield extensions:
- Search Shield Study
- Tab Center
No, I mean I've lost the address or navigation bar. If I enter an URL, it performs a search rather than going to the website. I also no longer have the forward, back, or refresh options - they were part of the navigation bar that disappeared.
I'm hoping someone can help me find a way to restore the address bar before I'm forced to change browsers, which I really don't want to do.
Modified by SuzInMS
Can you attach a screenshot?
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-create-screenshot-my-problem
- use a compressed image type like PNG or JPG to save the screenshot
You can't normally remove the search bar unless you have an extension like Classic Theme Restorer.
Screen shot attached.
And I'm not trying to remove the search bar, just restore the navigation bar.
Modified by SuzInMS
Yes that is definitely a removed location bar. I assume that you use Classic Theme Restorer since I see an orange Firefox menu button.
Did you check the Options/Preferences of the CTR extension and look in customization mode if you see this toolbar in the Customize palette?
Attached is another screen shot showing that I have selected the navigation tool bar. Also, I've tried using the 3-bar in the upper right hand corner, but nothing happens (no menu opens up). Nothing I've tried makes any difference.
You need to check in customize mode if you can find the URL bar in the Customize palette.
I'm apparently missing something. What is "customize mode"? I thought the customize palette was what I used to get when I clicked on the 3-bar or View/Toolbars/Customize, but I no longer get that.
Chosen Solution
What happens if you click Customize, either in "View > Toolbars" menu or the Customize item you see in the right-click context menu in your last screenshot at the bottom of the list?
If that isn't working then troubleshoot your extensions using Firefox Safe Mode.
Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.
- switch to the DEFAULT theme: "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Appearance
- do NOT click the "Refresh Firefox" button on the Safe Mode start window
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-firefox-issues-using-safe-mode
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-extensions-themes-to-fix-problems
Make sure you have updated your extensions and especially Classic Theme Restorer to the latest versions.
- "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions
Thank you! Starting FF in safe mode and disabling add-ons seems to have done the trick. I now have the address bar back and everything seems to be working normally.
Thanks for your patience and persistence in helping me get this corrected!!!
You're welcome SuzInMS.