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Firefox / MacOS: Profile cannot be found found. It´s probably not available or access denied.

  • 5 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 31 views
  • Last reply by FredMcD

fgd4ff
fgd4ff
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Hello,

since yesterday after closing FF to restart, I encountered a problem. Everytime, when I try to open FF, it says that the profile isn´t available or not accessible.

I tried already to rename in /library/Application Support/Firefox, Profiles.ini -> Profiles.iniOLD and the folder Profiles -> ProfilesOLD.

As well I tried to call the Profile Manager from terminal using the below commands, since FF isn´t open. /Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/MacOS/firefox-bin -P /Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/MacOS/firefox -ProfileManager

No matter, whether I rename the profile.ini or try to call the profile manager. Each time I get the same warning, that the profile isn´t available.

Since I tried every possible solution, which I could find on the help pages, I hope to find help from the community.

best regards Corey

Hello, since yesterday after closing FF to restart, I encountered a problem. Everytime, when I try to open FF, it says that the profile isn´t available or not accessible. I tried already to rename in /library/Application Support/Firefox, Profiles.ini -> Profiles.iniOLD and the folder Profiles -> ProfilesOLD. As well I tried to call the Profile Manager from terminal using the below commands, since FF isn´t open. /Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/MacOS/firefox-bin -P /Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/MacOS/firefox -ProfileManager No matter, whether I rename the profile.ini or try to call the profile manager. Each time I get the same warning, that the profile isn´t available. Since I tried every possible solution, which I could find on the help pages, I hope to find help from the community. best regards Corey

Modified by fgd4ff

Chosen solution

It turned out, that my User/Library/Caches wasn´t any longer a folder, but a simple (text)file named caches. After removing/renaming this, instantly new Caches folder was created. Thereafter Firefox could be started again.

Thank you for your support.

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (5)

FredMcD
FredMcD
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https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-run-firefox-when-profile-missing-inaccessible

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox#Navigating_to_the_profile_folder

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles


Type about:profiles<enter> in the address bar. How many profiles are listed? How many should be there? Also, open the profile folder in your file explorer.


https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recover-user-data-missing-after-firefox-update

FredMcD
FredMcD
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Macs: Make sure you install Firefox properly and that you do not run Firefox from within the DMG (Disk Images) file. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-download-and-install-firefox-mac

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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You can do some maintenance.

fgd4ff
fgd4ff Question owner
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Chosen Solution

It turned out, that my User/Library/Caches wasn´t any longer a folder, but a simple (text)file named caches. After removing/renaming this, instantly new Caches folder was created. Thereafter Firefox could be started again.

Thank you for your support.

FredMcD
FredMcD
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That was very good work. Well Done.