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Firefox icon disappears when I shut down computer

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I've installed Firefox on my MacBook Air laptop, but every time I turn off my computer, the icon to access Firefox disappears from my shortcuts bar and I have to go back to my downloads folder, double click on the "Firefox 75.0.dmg" file and re-install Firefox. Meanwhile, all my bookmarks on Firefox are lost and have to start everything anew like a new customer each day. My membership email is the only thing that is retained therefore day-to-day. I've checked the settings and have even made Firefox my default browser but that hasn't helped. I should add that I also have Express VPN. When I add Firefox to the ExpressVPN's shortcuts, again it stays there only until I turn off the computer. Meanwhile, Google Chrome and my email icons remain on the VPN startup window and don't go away as does Firefox. Jacob

I've installed Firefox on my MacBook Air laptop, but every time I turn off my computer, the icon to access Firefox disappears from my shortcuts bar and I have to go back to my downloads folder, double click on the "Firefox 75.0.dmg" file and re-install Firefox. Meanwhile, all my bookmarks on Firefox are lost and have to start everything anew like a new customer each day. My membership email is the only thing that is retained therefore day-to-day. I've checked the settings and have even made Firefox my default browser but that hasn't helped. I should add that I also have Express VPN. When I add Firefox to the ExpressVPN's shortcuts, again it stays there only until I turn off the computer. Meanwhile, Google Chrome and my email icons remain on the VPN startup window and don't go away as does Firefox. Jacob
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Chosen solution

Hi HAAvedissian, glad to see you in Mozilla Support forum.

It sounds like you are downloading the disk image (a .dmg file) which is basically an installer file and therefore not permanent. It's just like putting a CD in your machine that you install off... but it doesn't become part of your system. when you shutdown, it effectively gets "ejected". that's why it disappears.

this is what you have to do:

What you have to do is doubleclick on the drive-looking icon on your desktop once you download it. It will open with a firefox icon in a finder window. Drag the firefox icon into your applications folder, don't double click on it. Then it is properly installed and you should see it when you log out or reboot etc, it should be in your dock (if you have one) etc.

If there are other mac people more familiar with the other version of the mac system, I'm sure they will help.

Good luck

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Chosen Solution

Hi HAAvedissian, glad to see you in Mozilla Support forum.

It sounds like you are downloading the disk image (a .dmg file) which is basically an installer file and therefore not permanent. It's just like putting a CD in your machine that you install off... but it doesn't become part of your system. when you shutdown, it effectively gets "ejected". that's why it disappears.

this is what you have to do:

What you have to do is doubleclick on the drive-looking icon on your desktop once you download it. It will open with a firefox icon in a finder window. Drag the firefox icon into your applications folder, don't double click on it. Then it is properly installed and you should see it when you log out or reboot etc, it should be in your dock (if you have one) etc.

If there are other mac people more familiar with the other version of the mac system, I'm sure they will help.

Good luck