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Firefox frequently loses window focus

  • 33 replies
  • 445 have this problem
  • 232 views
  • Last reply by tailwhip

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It seems that Firefox frequently loses window focus when I open a new page. It may be a bookmark, a link opened into a new tab via CTRL+Left-Click, or whatever. The following scenario always results in the window losing focus (for me).

  1. Open Firefox.
  2. Open this link and bookmark it.
  3. Close and reopen Firefox.
  4. Open the page just bookmarked using the bookmark list and don't touch the window.

I read this page daily, so when I start Firefox and open the page, I have to click in it so as to scroll, etc..

Firefox 13, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

I wish this site had "Preview" for its posts. Geez Louise.

It seems that Firefox frequently loses window focus when I open a new page. It may be a bookmark, a link opened into a new tab via CTRL+Left-Click, or whatever. The following scenario always results in the window losing focus (for me). # Open Firefox. # [http://www.foxnews.com Open this link and bookmark it]. # Close and reopen Firefox. # Open the page just bookmarked using the bookmark list and don't touch the window. I read this page daily, so when I start Firefox and open the page, I have to click in it so as to scroll, etc.. Firefox 13, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit I wish this site had "Preview" for its posts. Geez Louise.

Modified by RETierney

All Replies (20)

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What do you mean with losing focus?

Where does the focus go to?

Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).


There are a lot of restriction on this forum with the first post that creates the thread like unable to preview and attaching images.

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You don't know what window focus means? When I say that the window has lost focus, I mean that Firefox does not respond to keystrokes or to scrolling via the mouse wheel. You must click somewhere inside the window to gain focus, then these things work. The most visible sign of focus is the color of the window. Without focus the window looks inactive, which it is. Focus does not go to any other window.

I tried safe mode and Firefox restarted without focus. So this would seem to eliminate add-ons and plugins.

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RETierney, thanks for posting this issue. I have the same problem.

I'm on Firefox 13 with Windows 7 64-bit, and whenever I load Firefox up and go to a site like Youtube, my Firefox window loses focus shortly after the page loads. And it does it here and there seemingly randomly too. It's really annoying when I'm scrolling through a page and it does this, and then of course I have to click into the window again before I can continue scrolling.

Please Firefox team fix this on the next Firefox update!

BTW I tried using Firefox in Safe mode with all extensions disabled and it still does the same thing. I'm thinking this is inherently a Firefox issue.

Modified by user725596

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Did you try if it still happens in Safe mode or with all extensions disabled?

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OK, I think I know what causes the problem: the Flash plugin. I'm using version 11.3.300.257.

When I disabled Flash on Firefox and loaded up Youtube, my window no longer loses focus. So I believe it's definitely the interaction between Firefox and Flash that is causing problems. No idea who's fault it is, but someone please fix it!

Modified by user725596

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Chosen Solution

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cor-el, reverting back to Flash 11.2 worked! Hopefully Firefox and/or Flash will resolve this issue with their next updates. Having your window constantly lose focus seems like a major UI issue and very high up on the annoyance scale.

BTW I don't know if there's a way to mark this issue as resolved, but as of now this is the solution.

Modified by user725596

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Flash 11.3 added "Protected mode for Firefox (Windows® Only)". Shouldn't we want to keep that? I don't see downgrading as a real solution, just removing a symptom of the problem. Are there any other plugins that use the new protected mode? Do they behave the same way?

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Adobe and Mozilla are working on a solution for these problems, so this is only a temporarily downgrade in case one of the other proposed solutions aren't working.

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Oh, I forgot to include in my last post that I had tried safe mode but to no avail. Similar to tzhu07, I disabled Shockwave Flash 11.3 and the symptom has been alleviated. I too will wait. Thank you.

Hey, I just noticed that there is a "Preview" for the posts.

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Oh please fix this ******* issue, it is driving me mad.


Edited by a moderator due to language. See the Rules & Guidelines .

Modified by the-edmeister

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I know your aggravation, but the man did say that Firefox and Adobe are working on a solution. Using Firefox with Flash disabled works for me in the interim. I would advise against using vulgarities; it will get you nowhere fast, and you may risk disbarment from this forum (speaking unofficially, of course).

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Actually a bit of profanity can help to make the issue less rigid, and bring a bit of human warmth to the discussion. It's not like it was directed at a person.

For what it's worth, I have this issue too - here's hoping Adobe pull their finger out sooner rather than later. It certainly is fucking annoying!

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Well, thank you for your insight. Let's just agree to disagree. As for me, vulgarity points to the character of the person--no offense intended, just my last thoughts.

Let's also hope that a resolution will be forthcoming.

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All users with this issue should vote on Adobe bug number 3223393:

https://bugbase.adobe.com/index.cfm?event=bug&id=3223393

The more votes, the higher priority Adobe should assign to the bug.

Kind regards, Bob Hill (just another user, not Adobe employee)

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Voted... It took but a moment to sign in and seconds to vote. I encourage others to do the same.

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I've added my vote on the bug but that doesn't help with the immediate problem. I'd like to know how this is now classed as 'solved' since I, for one, was unable to install 11.2: it refused to download an outdated version. If there's a way round this, what is it?

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The "owner" of this thread marked his question as solved. That designation for this thread has nothing to do with the overall situation regarding Firefox and Adobe Flash.

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....... As are people who think colorful adjectives are "profane" or "vulgar." Who says? ......


The moderator "says" so. Besides editing postings, we can send you "to the corner" for a time-out.

Edited by a moderator due to language. See the Rules & Guidelines .

Modified by the-edmeister

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Okay, I have something more constructive: This is how to FIX the problem - without downgrading to Flash 11.2.

Windows Vista/7 1. Find the notepad icon in the start menu 2. Right-click the notepad icon and click "Run As Administrator" 3. Choose "Yes" on the UAC prompt - if it shows up 4. File->Open 32-bit Windows: ...5. open c:\windows\SYSTEM32\macromed\flash\mms.cfg 64-bit Windows ...5. open c:\windows\SYSWOW64\macromed\flash\mms.cfg 6. Add the line as follows: ProtectedMode=0 7. Save. 8. Restart firefox. 9. Problem quickly resolved.

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