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Firefox is always on top and can't switch to other applications!

  • 15 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 8 views
  • Last reply by Spirit75

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I am using Firefox 46.0.1 on windows 10. All of sudden FF is always on top and i can't switch to any other running applications.

When i minimize FF, everything is working properly.

I Checked the forum here and tried almost every suggested solution but the problem is still there.

I disabled all addons and the problem remained, I unchecked the "user Hardware acceleration" and the problem remained. I even refreshed FF and started from scratch and the problem is the same.

It's really so annoying!

I am using Firefox 46.0.1 on windows 10. All of sudden FF is always on top and i can't switch to any other running applications. When i minimize FF, everything is working properly. I Checked the forum here and tried almost every suggested solution but the problem is still there. I disabled all addons and the problem remained, I unchecked the "user Hardware acceleration" and the problem remained. I even refreshed FF and started from scratch and the problem is the same. It's really so annoying!

All Replies (15)

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I am not aware that Firefox has this ability natively, so this might be something gone wrong in Windows' window order arrangement.

According to https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/c667c9f0-0ad9-497f-b084-6e1d3fbc87ec/windows-stuck-in-always-on-top-mode?forum=WinPreview2014General, you might want to try messing with the windows by way of cascading or stacking. This might break the deadlock on one window being given constant front stage priority.

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Hello Phoxuponyou, I tried what you said and still it didn't do any thing. The problem is still the same. If I want to switch to another application, I have to minimize FF to the taskbar first!

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Okay, so you tried reordering (repeatedly I hope) and restoring the window size (reducing from Maximised).

If you go to Task Manager in Windows (press Ctrl+Shift+Esc), go to the Processes tab, right-click the Firefox instance and select Bring to Front from the drop-down menu, does that break the deadlock? How about if you do it with another program?

PS. Try putting Firefox in fullscreen and back again as well: press F11 to toggle fullscreen mode (https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/keyboard-shortcuts-perform-firefox-tasks-quickly#w_miscellaneous).

Modified by Phoxuponyou

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Yes, i tried repeatedly but still nothing.

I Tried to "Bring to Front" from task manager and nothing. The Deadlock is still there.

I also tried switching the Fullscreen and back but also nothing.

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Wow. That's pretty much the options I know of in Firefox and Windows exhausted. If you're not running any software that would do this on behalf of Windows/Firefox, I think I'm all out.

"Have you turning the computer off, then turning it back on again?" @.@

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Well, thanks for your assistance. I don't have any software or add on that do this with FF!

Yes the problem happened a couple of days ago and i was trying to solve it myself but in vain.

I did turn off the computer several times.

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Start your Computer in safe mode with networking. Then start Firefox. Try Safe websites. Is the problem still there?

Starting The Computer In Safe Mode;
Free Online Encyclopedia


https://support.microsoft.com

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Hello Fred, I started the computer in safe mode with networking as you said and the problem is gone.

However, when i booted the computer normally, the problem appeared again!

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Since this is the case, I'll quote what Microsoft say about Windows' Safe Mode:

" Safe mode is a troubleshooting option for Windows that starts your computer in a limited state. Only the basic files and drivers necessary to run Windows are started. The words Safe Mode appear in the corners of your monitor to identify which Windows mode you're using.

If an existing problem doesn't reappear when you start in safe mode, you can eliminate the default settings and basic device drivers as possible causes. If you don't know the cause of the problem, you can use the process of elimination to help you find the problem. Try starting all of the programs you commonly use, including the programs in your Startup folder, one by one to see if a program might be the cause of the problem."

Ergo: you have an external cause for the issue that is not a default setting or basic driver (or one of the Windows sub-programs that start in Safe Mode). Time to go through your programs.

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well, this is strange. I didn't install anything new since long time ago. Only windows updates and my VGA card driver update!

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The darndest things happen with software all the time - it's part of the fun (yay customisation), and part of the pain (innumerable factors).

My immediate thoughts go to antivirus, as they are a prominent group of troublemakers; AV has a lot of control and keeps its fingers in every cookie jar, literal or figurative. Which one do you use and could you try updating its software version manually? What else do you have running?

PS. When I say manually, I mean manually. Automation is known to mess up, and automatic updates may have updated software you have installed long ago, resulting in the current issue.

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I use Symantec End point protection and i use the latest version. I also have Outlook running, cc cleaner and IDM. thats' it.

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IDM as in Internet Download Manager? We could start by disabling that, as it is not essential but it is browsing related.

Symantec is high-risk as well, first because it's Symantec (their approach is less than flexible) and second because it is a corporate product (have had some bad things happen with endpoint-style products and new product versions).

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Disable the suspects one after the other. As a test, disable your protection programs.

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Hello, First sorry for being late in replying.

I disabled almost everything one by one and even the SEP client and nothing, the problem still exists.