Firefox 54: back button doesn't work, browser becomes unresponsive
Mac OS 10.12.6, iMac (Retina 5K 27-inch), 16 GB RAM
Firefox 54 has developed two problems. First, the back button has stopped working, and won't work unless I restart with all add-ons disabled. i haven't added any add-ons.
Second, Firefox 54 has frozen a number of times and requires either a force-quit or shows a very long "quit" process.
Prior versions of Firefox didn't exhibit these problems. Some ideas of how to fix these problems would be appreciated.
All Replies (3)
You can check for problems with the places.sqlite database (bookmarks and history) in the Firefox profile folder.
See also:
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Locked_or_damaged_places.sqlite
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Bookmarks+not+saved#w_fix-the-bookmarks-file
If the Places Maintenance extension can't repair the places.sqlite database then remove all places.sqlite file(s) in the Firefox profile folder to make Firefox rebuild the places.sqlite database from the most recent JSON backup in the bookmarkbackups folder.
- keep a backup copy of places.sqlite in case a new places.sqlite database has to be created
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Unable_to_process_the_backup_file_-_Firefox
You can use the button on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page.
- Help -> Troubleshooting Information -> Profile Directory:
Windows: Show Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder - http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
I tried the places-maintenance plug-in, ran it, and I'm still having problems with the back button. As far as I can tell, there was nothing wrong with the places.sqlite database.
Still something fundamentally wrong with Firefox 54.
It would still be worth a try and rename places.sqlite to places.sqlite.old and remove possible places.sqlite-shm and places.sqlite-wal temp files with Firefox closed.
You can use the button on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page.
- Help -> Troubleshooting Information -> Profile Directory:
Windows: Show Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder - http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
Like I wrote above: If the Places Maintenance extension can't repair the places.sqlite database then remove all places.sqlite file(s) in the Firefox profile folder to make Firefox rebuild the places.sqlite database from the most recent JSON backup in the bookmarkbackups folder.
- keep a backup copy of places.sqlite in case a new places.sqlite database has to be created
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Unable_to_process_the_backup_file_-_Firefox