Firefox Support Forum

Hello everyone, since a few months ago (I think it started happening on June) I am having this problem where the bookmark bar, the tabs, the search bar, well actually everything in the header of the Firefox window will suddenly freeze and become almost unresponsive, and I say almost since I can still interact with the content, it will just not update visually when I do so. For example, if that glitch occurs, whenever I close a tab the other tabs won't cling onto one another like they should usually do, there's a wide space from the tab I closed that never gets filled. Additionally, right clicking stops functioning completely when Firefox is in this state. This strange glitch was only encountered recently, been using Firefox for almost a decade now and I have never seen this before.

The first time it occured was admittedly my fault and I thought it would only happen that day. I had over-stressed the browser by downloading an enormous amount of data at once, or more so I was about to. I have an extension called DownThemAll, and I like to download a ton of images off the internet, so as I was using DownThemAll that way, the browser started to slow down, then I interacted with something else on the browser and this is when this occured to me for the first time.

However, although I did not repeat the same mistake twice, this issue happened to me a total of 8 times.

The second time, I was on a private browsing window (Which had all the extensions disabled, except for uBlock origin, uBO-Scope, Decentraleyes, Emoji cheatsheet, Newsguard and an extension called Ecosia that acts as a button to get onto the main page of a search engine), and all I did for it to occur again was to check the download page as I was downloading a file from Mediafire. The third time, the same thing occured on a private window after I downloaded something from another website (Can't remember which one). The fourth time, it was caused because I opened a webpage on a private new tab (Can't remember which site). The fifth time, I added a page into my bookmarks by using the star icon. The sixth time occured by clicking on the search bar on my browser. The seventh time, it occured again by accessing a website on a private window, it was a neocity website called "loveweb" that was made by an animator on YouTube called Shadok. The eighth and final time it happened was yesterday and it wasn't on a private window this time, it was on my normal Firefox window, it happened because I wanted to check the history of all the pages I've viewed.

6 times out of 8, the problem happens although I'm on a private tab and the "patient zero" DownThemAll is disabled, and I had all the other extensions installed prior to the issue happening, so that cannot be them that cause the issue in the first place. Additionally, I have a few more extension on my "public" Firefox (Facebook container, OceanHero search, Simple Mass downloader (As temporary replacement), etc), but they couldn't possibly be the culprits as they are also disabled on the private window, and most of them have been installed a long time ago. I theorize that one of two things might be the cause of my problem.

1. DownThemAll broke something in my browser the day I had used it improperly since the issue only started happening after that fateful day.
2. Firefox updated and that broke something in the browser, so now I have this issue.

Note that uninstalling DownThemAll didn't fix the problem, which was obtuse on my part as the problem occurs even when it is disabled, so I reinstalled it.

Also note that the glitch is so sporadic and, should I say, rare that I cannot reliably troubleshoot it to fix the problem myself. If I could I would disable each extension one by one, alter the about:config options and modify my settings on the settings menu to see what could potentially cause the problem.

In most standard Windows applications, the title bar and tab colour follows the default Windows settings, e.g. (in my case) the title bar and tab colour of active application windows is blue. This is true even in Thunderbird. Since FF 89, title bar and tabs are something between white and light gray, which is extremely user-un-friendly. FF developer team should return to the previous colour scheme. Yes, I know the circumstances of free software but this is NO excuse to alienate millions of users. Developers that change fully functionable software just, well, just to CHANGE it should consider that they are doing WRONG. Could anyone tell them? I am just user, not developer and I am not willing to learn developer tools like BugZilla just for this simple guiding principle.

Clicking a Facebook or Instagram link in a Google search opens a new tab and kills the Google tab. Why? I have to restore the closed tab (and its history) from History > Recently Closed Tabs. This has not yet happened with any non-Facebook-affiliated tabs.

I know that Facebook is evil, but damn.

Firefox 92.0, 64-bit (This has happened in the last five or so versions.) Windows 10 Home, V. 20H2, OS Build 19042.1237, Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.3530.0

Thank you.

I am signed into my Firefox account. The device name is listed, Syncing is ON. I've set the items to be synced; Bookmarks, open tabs, Logins and passwords, addresses, add-ons, and Setting. Yesterday I did a Sync and when I got home I could not see the device or the open tabs.

What am I missing? Pat

Hiya,

I'm having a minor inconvenience with firefox 91.0.2 for a few months now. It's popped up a few months ago and hasn't resolved itself in between updates.

I'm guilty of having many (well over 20) tabs open at the same time and around the 20th or 30th tab even, usually one of the (newly opened) tabs, simply never loads. If I open the same link in another tab, the link (any url) does load. See the screencap below.

This is on a windows 64 bit machine OS build: 19043.1165 (21H1) Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.3530.0

I'm running Norton 360 Antivirus software.

Will try running in safe mode, to see if it still happens and confirm in a reply to this message.

Hoping you guys might have some suggestions.

BTW: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1317506 is probably the same problem, unfortunately the thread has been archived. This one: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1285104 also seems similar.

I generally have loads of tabs open, and until recently this wasn’t an issue (perhaps until last upgrade?), but now, I can hardly move between tabs, the drop down list showing tab selection doesn’t work, nor does the left/right arrows. When I delete a tab, it leaves a ‘space’ where the tab was, only ‘back filling’ after I’ve opened up another tab to full screen mode and then minimised it again, at which point it goes to the very left-most tab and the only way I can get to tabs further down the list, is by deleting them in the manner described. I’ve actually got 2 laptops (Win 7 & 8.1), and it’s now happening on both of them. This might have something to do with memory management/the computer’s page file, but as things stand, I’m SERIOUSLY going to be switching to another browser - despite sticking with Firefox for many-a-year. BTW, I’m actually writing this on my phone, as I couldn’t now do it on either of my laptops (hence I’m currently unable to attach anything/provide screen grabs etc. I guess the only way to ‘clear’ this issue, would be to either close/restart Firefox or my laptop - neither of which I really want to do. Is there a way that I can use an earlier version of the browser and prevent it automatically updating? Yours, a now very frustrated longtime user,

Francis Beardsell

In one of my windows, 9 out of 10 pinned tabs have been lost and replaced with "new tab" (which are all empty, of course).

The only unusual thing I can remember was using a private window a few days ago (a feature that I had never used before). Is this the cause of this bug???

Thanks.

Help!! How do I hide the tab bar in version 92?

I put off updating to version 92 because I knew what would happen: I'd have to jump through hoops to hide the tab bar again. I NEVER use tabs. I have a wide screen monitor and I prefer opening new windows to using tabs. In that way I can look at 2 or more pages at the same time.

For a few days, I've been having a problem with links opening in the tab I'm currently using instead of new ones. It was random, I don't recall changing anything. I'm using Windows 10.

Referencing these threads: 1281774 1307368 1317055 https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1333680 (I posted a reply to this thread, but I can't view it and the moderator has apparently closed it thinking this problem has gone away)

We can ascertain that NOTHING seems to help this condition. In fact these threads apply to me as Win 7 / 64 bit apply to me. This started probably about 1.5 years ago.

I too have this problem and yes, it is random. BUT once locked in with this condition, it may "get stuck" for another 5 attempts for the same link. BEST Example, I do surveys every Friday and Saturday night. I use my netscape (AOL) email account. At random, while clicking on the survey link the tab will come up blank and no matter what you do, you CANNOT get this tab to do ANYTHING. No reload, no clicking on a new bookmark, no clicking on home, or typing in the address bar and pressing enter on THAT particular tab. How often does it happen? Maybe 12 times a month (during survey time: maybe every other weekend).

One step further on this. My wife's account on the PC actually does this on a DAILY BASIS REPEATEDLY EVERY DAY when she opens FireFox. In her case, it can ONLY be solved by closing and reopening FireFox after waiting like...say...2 minutes after previously opening it? I have tried opening new tabs etc as mentioned above (including the old right clicky trick and using the "Open in new tab" function). Kinda silly when you have like 27 tabs of blankness. Considering it is her account on the Pc, ok, maybe the "refresh" function might work on her? BZZZT! Nope.

Current version. I can attest that a PC at my 2 jobs that both have Win 7 and at least one, if not both, have 64 bit versions and do NOT display this malady. Also, I did re-install FF about 2 years ago for some other problem. I just ran the troubleshooting more...no go. Per this lead, try https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/the-latest-supported-visual-c-downloads-2647da03-1eea-4433-9aff-95f26a218cc0... and guess what? No such help . Anyone have have something to kill this bug?

update changed firefox to stack all my open web pages in one place. before update i could click on weather then click on slickdeals and they would be side by side in the taskbar. now one is underneath the other. after 2 day os reading posts i still dont know what the difference between tabs and windows is. all i want to do is look at the taskbar and pick whatever web site i want. admin user account has not been updated to the new firefox and works fine. thanks

Latest release of Firefox now includes pinned tabs when I click the far right down arrow to "List all Tabs" I want to get back to the List all Tabs to just show the non-pinned, I always know what my pinned tabs are and how to get them.

Apparently Firefox doesn't realize the importance of Tabs to many of its users. As a Senior, I depend on the separation of the tabs. I see many others complaining about this issue, including those who rely on the separation for business purposes. FireFox chose to answer one user's request by saying they're moving on and basically, the user is just going to have to deal with it.

I love(d) Firefox, but it's time to say good bye. The tabs are a make/break issue for me. I've started the migration back to Microsoft Edge, which does allow tab separators, at least for now.

I hope that Firefox will reconsider at some point and allow us to put separators in just as it does on the Favorites Bar.

Thank you.

I have had a trip to Europe recently and ever since my return (to Canada), I do not see Pocket articles on New Tab page. I know that Pocket in New Tab page is currently available only in North America. Is it this trip or new version 92 that cause this problem. I want my pocket articles back. Any suggestions?

Ok I'm a big time safari user and have a pile of pinned tabs 50% were for work and the other 50% were personal. With the latest release of firefox with the security of cross site tracking you offered I moved all of my personal tabs to firefox.

My problem is that when I open firefox the pinned tabs are gone. I've added them 3 times they are pinned therfore I want the to stick around. why does firefox seem to throw them away.

I have very specific urls that I want to keep open and pinned tabs allow me to do this, If firefox can't keep them for me I will have to just go back to safari (no I don't want chrome)

Hi there

I experience an issue with Firefox on one of my computers only. Windows 10, just updated to version 92.0 (but to be fair this is an issue that lasts for years now). I cannot receive any Tab from my other computer or smartphone, nor can i share (i don't see the option in the list when i right click on a tab). Of course it is connected to sync with all my other 4 devices. Maybe there shall be some "user preference" on that specific computer that should be reset ?

Thanks in advance for giving hints and leads, hopefully that should not be too serious.