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Ctrl+f is not working - FF 19.0.2

  • 10 replies
  • 7 have this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

mrpunk50
mrpunk50

Hello. I had a look at similar topics, but couldn't find a solution. Apologies if this is a duplicate thread.

Basically, my problem is that Ctrl+f is not working in Firefox. The 'find' bar does not appear, and nothing at all happens. If I use Ctrl+g, the find bar appears. But it is still really bugging me that Ctrl+f wont work.

I am using Firefox 19.0.2 on Windows 7 - although this problem has persisted throughout the last few versions of FF. I have restarted FF in safe mode, but the same problem occurs. I have also renamed localstore.rdf in my profile folder (as I read that this might help diagnose the issue), but, again, the problem was the same.

Any suggestions are very welcome. Thanks in advance.

Hello. I had a look at similar topics, but couldn't find a solution. Apologies if this is a duplicate thread. Basically, my problem is that Ctrl+f is not working in Firefox. The 'find' bar does not appear, and nothing at all happens. If I use Ctrl+g, the find bar appears. But it is still really bugging me that Ctrl+f wont work. I am using Firefox 19.0.2 on Windows 7 - although this problem has persisted throughout the last few versions of FF. I have restarted FF in safe mode, but the same problem occurs. I have also renamed localstore.rdf in my profile folder (as I read that this might help diagnose the issue), but, again, the problem was the same. Any suggestions are very welcome. Thanks in advance.

Chosen solution

Thanks for the reply, John99.

I was thinking that safe mode disables plug-ins as well as extensions. Now that you informed me otherwise, I've fiddled around with my plug-ins, and getting rid of an out-of-date flash plug-in seems to have solved the issue!

Ctrl+f is working at the moment in any case. I will report back in due course to confirm whether the issue returns.

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All Replies (10)

John99
John99

Possibly some plugin is interfering with this. Safe mode disables extensions but not plugins.

I note from your system information aside you have the preference

Not sure why Ctrl + G gives you the findbar, but maybe it is because of some plugin that has use of the Ctrl+ F keyboard combination, or the Find is already active.

I will have to try changing the prefs myself, but I am having a break after posting this.It could just be because the find as you type is active.

John99
John99

I jumped on accessibility.typeaheadfind.flashBar: 0 as a changed preference, but in fact that actually seems standard even in a clean profile so it seems that is a red herring.

mrpunk50
mrpunk50 Question owner

Chosen Solution

Thanks for the reply, John99.

I was thinking that safe mode disables plug-ins as well as extensions. Now that you informed me otherwise, I've fiddled around with my plug-ins, and getting rid of an out-of-date flash plug-in seems to have solved the issue!

Ctrl+f is working at the moment in any case. I will report back in due course to confirm whether the issue returns.

John99
John99

Glad to here hear! that.
Looking again it could have been Java that was old. Java is something that should be left disabled unless it is specifically required. It does not have a good record for security.

Modified by John99

mrpunk50
mrpunk50 Question owner

Hi again John. Thanks for the additional input.

Re. keeping java disabled: what's the best way to quickly disable and enable java as needed? Would I need to open the 'add-ons manager' each time, or would something like the 'NoScript' extension achieve this?

John99
John99

You could use NoScript but the problem may be with reliably setting it up to do what you want.

I believe NoScript by default blocks Java, FlashPlayer and javascript, but then if you trust a site (Because you wish to have javascript, or even Flash enabled) would the default then be to allow all three.

Ordinarily Java is the one out of those three that is probably going to be least often needed, and the biggest security risk. I do not know what you do with Firefox but quite possibly you have only one or two tasks that need Java. (Javascript is the one commonly required)

mrpunk50
mrpunk50 Question owner

Hi again, John.

Yes, I think that's correct - NoScript has no easy way to allow flash without allowing java (for instance).

In any case, I have disabled the java plug-in altogether for the time being, and I'll see how I get on with that.

The original ctrl+f problem seems to be resolved, though I'm paranoid it will return.

Thanks again for the help.

John99
John99

Glad to have helped.

mrpunk50
mrpunk50 Question owner

Bad news: I'm afraid the ctrl+f problem has returned!

I've just tried disabling all add-ons and restarting in safe mode, but the find bar still wont come up with ctrl+f.

And I really thought we'd found the solution! :(

It's just occurred to me to check the ctrl+f functionality in another program. I tried it in MS Word 2010, and it's not working there either. So, I guess this is probably not a Firefox problem. There must be something on my system interfering with the keyboard shortcut.

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator

It is possible that some of the status keys have the wrong state and Firefox sees them as still pressed.

Try to press all the status keys (Shift, Ctrl, Alt) a few times to see if that helps to recover from this.