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Bookmarks toolbar disappearing - cause & fix

  • 3 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 11 views
  • Last reply by mt3ch

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I recently experienced this issue, and found no solution on googling it. I noticed too that others had the same issue. Having just experienced and fixed it again, here are my observations;

Cause: I have my Firefox set to remember last session. Occasionally, I X out of my main window not realising that there was an ad popup underneath (even though I use adblock). These ads, for whatever reason, have the ability to hide the bookmarks toolbar in their window. That means when you close and reopen, even if you went to a normal site, the bookmarks stay off. It will persist through reinstalls and all kinds of workarounds in my experience.

Fix: Refresh Firefox. Click the Three lines, Help, then Troubleshooting Information. Here you can manually refresh firefox, and it will open with your bookmarks showing again (and a few minor cosmetic things go to default, so you may have to re-tick menu bar and customise how you like your main buttons to look etc). I didn't try this with anything other than having one tab open on google the last time it happened to me.

Not a question, but hopefully useful for anyone who has experienced this, wasn't sure where else to put it.

I recently experienced this issue, and found no solution on googling it. I noticed too that others had the same issue. Having just experienced and fixed it again, here are my observations; Cause: I have my Firefox set to remember last session. Occasionally, I X out of my main window not realising that there was an ad popup underneath (even though I use adblock). These ads, for whatever reason, have the ability to hide the bookmarks toolbar in their window. That means when you close and reopen, even if you went to a normal site, the bookmarks stay off. It will persist through reinstalls and all kinds of workarounds in my experience. Fix: Refresh Firefox. Click the Three lines, Help, then Troubleshooting Information. Here you can manually refresh firefox, and it will open with your bookmarks showing again (and a few minor cosmetic things go to default, so you may have to re-tick menu bar and customise how you like your main buttons to look etc). I didn't try this with anything other than having one tab open on google the last time it happened to me. Not a question, but hopefully useful for anyone who has experienced this, wasn't sure where else to put it.

All Replies (3)

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https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/update-firefox-latest-version?cache=no Did you update Firefox to the latest version 65.0.2 February 28, 2019


Separate Security Issue: Update your Flash Player or remove it using these links; Uninstall Flash Player | Windows {web link} Uninstall Flash Player | Mac {web link}

Note: Windows users should download the ActiveX for Internet Explorer. and the plugin for Plugin-based browsers (like Firefox).

Note: Windows 8 and Windows 10 have built-in flash players and Adobe will cause a conflict. Install the plugin only. Not the ActiveX.

Flash Player Version 32.0.0.114

https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ Direct link scans current system and browser Note: Other software is offered in the download. <Windows Only>

https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/otherversions/ Step 1: Select Operating System Step 2: Select A Version (Firefox, Win IE . . . .) Note: Other software is offered in the download. <Windows Only> +++++++++++++++++++ See if there are updates for your graphics drivers https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/upgrade-graphics-drivers-use-hardware-acceleration

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Note that this issue can be caused by a problem with using "Restore Previous Session" as the startup setting, so if you restore the session automatically on the next start then try to disable this feature.

  • Options/Preferences -> General -> Startup

Once the Bookmarks Toolbar has reappeared then you can re-enable the "Restore Previous Session" startup setting and check if the Bookmarks Toolbar stays visible on next starts.

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Tealtraum said

Cause: I have my Firefox set to remember last session. Occasionally, I X out of my main window not realising that there was an ad popup underneath (even though I use adblock). These ads, for whatever reason, have the ability to hide the bookmarks toolbar in their window. That means when you close and reopen, even if you went to a normal site, the bookmarks stay off. It will persist through reinstalls and all kinds of workarounds in my experience.

I had the same problem due to the same cause - a pop-up window being left as last window to close and Firefox was set to remember sessions.

There was no need to refresh Firefox. I just did as cor-el suggested and the problem was fixed.