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How to stop Firefox from creating a new profile every time I open it

  • 4 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 741 views
  • Last reply by canetoad

canetoad
canetoad
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I'm on a Mac on Mountain Lion running Firefox 30.0. Everytime I open the browser, it acts as if it's opening for the first time and saves nothing from previous uses - bookmarks, preferences, etc. In troubleshooting, I've noticed that it creates an entirely new profile, so that my Profiles folder ends up with dozens of new profiles.

I've searched pretty exhaustively and tried other suggestions, including Resetting Firefox, doing a clean install, etc., but nothing works. Prefs.js is not locked. I suspect there's a Mac permissions issue or similar going on. I'm not running any antivirus software. I don't have this issue with other software.

Any ideas of how to address this on a Mac?

thanks.

I'm on a Mac on Mountain Lion running Firefox 30.0. Everytime I open the browser, it acts as if it's opening for the first time and saves nothing from previous uses - bookmarks, preferences, etc. In troubleshooting, I've noticed that it creates an entirely new profile, so that my Profiles folder ends up with dozens of new profiles. I've searched pretty exhaustively and tried other suggestions, including Resetting Firefox, doing a clean install, etc., but nothing works. Prefs.js is not locked. I suspect there's a Mac permissions issue or similar going on. I'm not running any antivirus software. I don't have this issue with other software. Any ideas of how to address this on a Mac? thanks.

Chosen solution

That only happens if Firefox isn't able to create or update the profiles.ini file for some reason.

You can try to repair the disk permissions:

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All Replies (4)

user633449
user633449
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Have you tried verifying your Mac's permissions?

canetoad
canetoad Question owner
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Yes, and no dice, I'm afraid.

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

That only happens if Firefox isn't able to create or update the profiles.ini file for some reason.

You can try to repair the disk permissions:

canetoad
canetoad Question owner
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Thanks. I deleted the Profiles folder and Profile.ini folder, and also changed permissions for both so that Everyone is able to read/write, not just my own user profile on the Mac. So far, that seems to be working. Fingers crossed.