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After update to Firefox 57, New Tab is empty (no most/last visited websites or cogwheel)

  • 9 replies
  • 38 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by cpad007

As the title says after the update to version 57, my new tab is completely empty. No cogwheel at the top right side or search box in the middle.

My question would be on how to get that page back and working.

If this feature has been removed then unfortunately I would have to move to something else :/

Screenshot included.

As the title says after the update to version 57, my new tab is completely empty. No cogwheel at the top right side or search box in the middle. My question would be on how to get that page back and working. If this feature has been removed then unfortunately I would have to move to something else :/ Screenshot included.

Chosen solution

Is your new tab page or home page set to about:blank? If not try refreshing Firefox to solve your problem:

The Refresh feature (called "Reset" in older Firefox versions) can fix many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your bookmarks, history, passwords, cookies, and other essential information.

Note: When you use this feature, you will lose any extensions, toolbar customizations, and some preferences. See the Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings article for more information.

To Refresh Firefox:

  1. Open the Troubleshooting Information page using one of these methods:
    • Click the menu button New Fx Menu, click help Help-29 and select Troubleshooting Information. A new tab containing your troubleshooting information should open.
    • If you're unable to access the Help menu, type about:support in your address bar to bring up the Troubleshooting Information page.
  2. At the top right corner of the page, you should see a button that says "Refresh Firefox" ("Reset Firefox" in older Firefox versions). Click on it.
  3. Firefox will close. After the refresh process is completed, Firefox will show a window with the information that is imported.
  4. Click Finish and Firefox will reopen.

Did this fix the problem? If so mark as solution!

Thank you.

Read this answer in context 👍 3

All Replies (9)

Hello, click the cog and enable the options you want to see, here is the tab page the cog is in the top right like so: https://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/photon-firefox-57-3-1.png

I've set

browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.aboutHome.enabled browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.enabled;true browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.prerender;true

to true but still no result.

Hey, Mkll

No cogwheel :/

Chosen Solution

Is your new tab page or home page set to about:blank? If not try refreshing Firefox to solve your problem:

The Refresh feature (called "Reset" in older Firefox versions) can fix many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your bookmarks, history, passwords, cookies, and other essential information.

Note: When you use this feature, you will lose any extensions, toolbar customizations, and some preferences. See the Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings article for more information.

To Refresh Firefox:

  1. Open the Troubleshooting Information page using one of these methods:
    • Click the menu button New Fx Menu, click help Help-29 and select Troubleshooting Information. A new tab containing your troubleshooting information should open.
    • If you're unable to access the Help menu, type about:support in your address bar to bring up the Troubleshooting Information page.
  2. At the top right corner of the page, you should see a button that says "Refresh Firefox" ("Reset Firefox" in older Firefox versions). Click on it.
  3. Firefox will close. After the refresh process is completed, Firefox will show a window with the information that is imported.
  4. Click Finish and Firefox will reopen.

Did this fix the problem? If so mark as solution!

Thank you.

The solution put me on the right track, but things were still a bit wonky. The first refresh didn't solve the problem, but the second time did - however the add-ons that I tried to download all gave "unable to download due to connection error". Restarted Firefox again and everything worked fine.

Hope this helps someone else...

tbird60 said

Hope this helps someone else...

No, LOL, this isn't going to "help anyone". Nobody else will experience this non-issue, due to hacking their about:config to bits! xD

Mkll said

Is your new tab page or home page set to about:blank?

This shouldn't matter (!?), because setting the home page (How to set the home page) from about:preferences to about:blank will still show the cogwheel.

Screenshots: 1) https://s26.postimg.org/se59wqcft/General.png & 2) https://s26.postimg.org/bdmdo1rop/Wheel.png

P.S. Btw., as far as the "first and second" refresh goes ^^ Firefox is being reset, effectively, when using the about:support page. Honestly, I would've suggested to make a new profile - if things are so far gone..:)

@ Profile Manager - Create, remove or switch Firefox profiles

I had the same issue after updating to Firefox 60 but setting "browser.newtabpage.enabled" to "True" fixed it for me.

dnyanesh said

I had the same issue after updating to Firefox 60 but setting "browser.newtabpage.enabled" to "True" fixed it for me.

How do I set this? I've been updated to 60 as well and while the refresh works...it only works temporarily. I'm back to a blank screen with New Tab after a few instances of opening up a new tab.

cpad007 said

dnyanesh said
I had the same issue after updating to Firefox 60 but setting "browser.newtabpage.enabled" to "True" fixed it for me.

How do I set this? I've been updated to 60 as well and while the refresh works...it only works temporarily. I'm back to a blank screen with New Tab after a few instances of opening up a new tab.

Nevermind: about:config and then scroll to the correct line...double click and it changes to TRUE. This seems to be working.