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Drag and drop from firefox to Windows desktop stopped working after updating to Firefox Quantum 68.0 (64-bit)

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After updating to v68 (x64) earlier today, drag and drop of pictures from Firefox to Windows desktop, stopped working

What I tried so far

Tried turning it off and on again didn't work

Started firefox in safemode with no add-ons didn't work

Started windows in safe mode and then started firefox in safemode with no add-ons didn't work

Drag n Drop + holding Ctrl key didn't work Drag n Drop + holding Alt key didn't work

Created a new profile didn't work

Re-installed v68 didn't work

uninstalled and erased ALL firefox files, then installed v68 didn't work

Installed v68 on a fresh install of Windows didn't work

Installed a fresh copy of Windows on a freshly assembled computer and made a fresh installation of v68 Firefox didn't work

Is there something else I can do, in order to fix this problem, besides using Google Chrome

After '''updating to v68 (x64) '''earlier today, drag and drop of pictures from Firefox to Windows desktop, stopped working '''What I tried so far''' Tried turning it off and on again ''didn't work'' Started firefox in safemode with no add-ons ''didn't work'' Started windows in safe mode and then started firefox in safemode with no add-ons ''didn't work'' Drag n Drop + holding Ctrl key ''didn't work'' Drag n Drop + holding Alt key ''didn't work'' Created a new profile ''didn't work'' Re-installed v68 ''didn't work'' uninstalled and erased ALL firefox files, then installed v68 ''didn't work'' Installed v68 on a fresh install of Windows ''didn't work'' Installed a fresh copy of Windows on a freshly assembled computer and made a fresh installation of v68 Firefox ''didn't work'' Is there something else I can do, in order to fix this problem, besides using '''Google Chrome'''

Modified by Wag669

Chosen solution

I'm not sure how to react right now.... Earlier today, dragging and dropping to desktop didn't work, I tried to drag and drop a url on desktop, in order to check if creating a shortcut on desktop would work. It worked So, naturally, I tried to drag a picture and it worked....

I just called a priest, I think my PC is in need of an exorcism

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All Replies (20)

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I agree with the above statement. if it ain't broke don't fix it. I too have used Mozilla for many years mainly because of the extensions they offer and it is easy to use. But as the above article mentioned I to was considering going to another browser as much as I hate too. Please let the drag and drop feature be like before. I realize Mozilla is doing this for security purposes.Butas i stated I am highly considering a different browser thank you

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I agree with you : why the Mozilla’s crew obstinate itself with new bugged releases when the current one works well? I use Mozilla since years and I wonder that the new ones has never been so fragile than the old one. Why don’t you create 2 versions? One for the new technologies and all the 4G-5G applications and the other one, much more simple, for the desktops, only dedicated to use Internet… Please, dont touch to what its works properly. Thanks.

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if it aint broke dont fix it

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Mary said

if it aint broke dont fix it

Running a web browser with reduced privileges -- medium integrity, standard user -- is a security best practice. If you do not want to run Firefox with reduced privileges, you can use the -no-deelevate command-line switch as described in the support article: Drag and Drop errors with Firefox Launcher Process enabled and Windows UAC disabled - How to Fix.

But you know why this change was made:

Mary said

I realize Mozilla is doing this for security purposes.

Yes. Exactly.

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The problem drag and drop can fix without UAC enabled by two methods.

First method: If you use Mozilla 68 follow the steps below.

1. Open Firefox and go to the "about: config" page 2. click on the "i take the risk" button 3. search for "launcher" it should return browser.launcherProcess.enabled 4. double click on it to set is default value to false 5. Restart Firefox

Second method: If you want a drag and drop to work without UAC enabled, you have to stop Mozilla updates, but this is impossible for Mozilla 68. That's why you need to uninstall Mozilla 68 and install an older Mozilla, for example, 65, 66 or 67 and try some of the methods following the links below.

https://superuser.com/questions/1432983/install-firefox-without-updates

or

https://www.journeybytes.com/2019/01/disable-firefox-quantum-updates.html

Modified by dberov

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i want to get firefox up dates but want to be able to drag and drop as well. I have had UAC disabled for awhile now I put the launcher to false will I have to do that with new updates as well

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Yesterday Mozilla made a new update 68.0.1 and users again cannot use drag and drop. That's why if you want to use drag and drop you need to uninstalled Mozilla 68.0.1 and installed an old Mozilla 65, 66 or 67 and follow the steps below.

1.  install Firefox 65, 66 or 67
2.  launch Firefox
3.  disable updates
4.  restart Firefox

Then you need to delete the file "updater.exe" which is located in C: \ Program Files \ Mozilla Firefox.

The next steps are:

1. Open a plain text editor like notepad or notepad++ and paste the following code in it:

{

"policies": {
   "DisableAppUpdate": true
 }

}

2. Save the file as a json file named: policies.json

3. Go to the installation directory of Firefox and create a new folder with the name: distribution. On Windows the directory is:

   C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\distribution

4. Now just copy the policies.json file into this folder.

5. Restart Mozilla, drag and drop will be work properly and Mozilla never again will update.

If Mozilla fixes the problem in the next updates, you can update Mozilla at any time.

Enjoy

Mary said

i want to get firefox up dates but want to be able to drag and drop as well. I have had UAC disabled for awhile now I put the launcher to false will I have to do that with new updates as well

If Mozilla fixes the problem in the next updates, you can update Mozilla at any time.

Modified by dberov

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like i said before if it aint broke do not fix it. i have every security extention on firefox and am using a firewall and an antivirus so i do why then did Firefox do this

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I agree with you!

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Mary said

i have every security extention on firefox and am using a firewall and an antivirus so i do why then did Firefox do this

Don't take it personally. Hundreds of millions of users have no added security software or browser add-ons. Browser makers want to improve the default level of security of their product.

For users who disable UAC, there is a command-line switch to keep Firefox running with administrative permissions (-no-deelevate), as documented in the support article: Drag and Drop errors with Firefox Launcher Process enabled and Windows UAC disabled - How to Fix.

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i have disabled the loader

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what do ineed to do to use the deelevate the short cut on my desk top

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Mary said

what do ineed to do to use the deelevate the short cut on my desk top

That would be either:

  • Right-click a Firefox desktop shortcut, then click Properties
  • Right-click a Firefox icon pinned to the Taskbar then right-click Mozilla Firefox, then click Properties

Windows should show the Shortcut tab and select the Target field. The Target usually is along the following lines:

  • "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"
  • "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"

You would add a space and then the new switch, either:

  • "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -no-deelevate
  • "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -no-deelevate
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I also have this bug as well. I modified the User Access Control settings as described, and when I tried to drag-and-drop an image, I got a file whose size was 248 bytes. Honeyview, the image previewing program, displayed a "Failed to load image" error when I right-clicked the image to preview its thumbnail. This is also with Firefox -no-deelevate command active.

Something is clearly wrong with Firefox.

Modified by no1wammy

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Hi no1wammy, the Windows privilege issue is all or nothing: you simply cannot drop the file at all from a medium integrity process (browser running non-admin) to a high-integrity process (Windows Explorer running admin) with UAC disabled. So there is some other issue with your Firefox and since this thread already is 3 pages long, I suggest starting a new question.

https://support.mozilla.org/questions/new/desktop/fix-problems

Scroll down past article/forum suggestions to continue with the form.

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I have disable the launcher and have Uac disabled have had it disabled all along . I still do not know why Firefox did this.For security but your user may not want this, but i guess Firefox does not care if it loses loyal faithful users. I have been using firefox for yrs have liked enough to stay with it and not switching to Chrome which everyone raves about. I guess fir everyone that leaves Firefox they get new customers but if the otherwise loyal customers discourage other and so on Firefox may not very happy. Faithful Firefox user and I will continue to use until you make so many changes that i can not any more

Modified by Mary

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Hi, in firefox 68.0.1 on MacOS can drag&drop jpg files to desktop but not webp images.

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Hi Cristian, could you start a new question about the webp problem on Mac? This thread is related to problems with privilege levels in Windows.

https://support.mozilla.org/questions/new/desktop/tips

Keep scrolling down past suggested links to continue with the new question form.

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Note that the Mac OS may not know about WebP images as this is a rather new format. You may have to convert these images to JPG or PNG to have them appear on the desktop.

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using windows

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