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firefox profile cannot be loaded

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 23 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

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I am not very computer literate. I have been going around and around with this for hours. I can't open firefox. I just get the message. I re installed firefox and see a folder of "old firefox data" on the desktop, but I can't figure out what to do from the different articles about this. I just go around an around.

I am not very computer literate. I have been going around and around with this for hours. I can't open firefox. I just get the message. I re installed firefox and see a folder of "old firefox data" on the desktop, but I can't figure out what to do from the different articles about this. I just go around an around.

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This is usually caused by a problem with the profiles.ini file. You need to locate the profiles.ini file and delete this file or use the Profile Manager to create a new profile.

You can use one of these to make Firefox create a new default profile or recover an existing profile:

  • Delete the profiles.ini file to make Firefox create a new (default) profile
  • Use the Profile Manager to create a new profile
    If you still have an existing profile then click "Choose Folder" in the Profile Manager and browse to the location of a lost profile to recover this profile
    https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Managing+profiles

You should find the profiles.ini file in this hidden location:

  • Windows: %AppData%\Mozilla\Firefox\
    *C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\
  • Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/
  • Linux: ~/.mozilla/firefox/

If clearing the profiles.ini file isn't working then also check the location of the cache files.

  • Windows: *C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<profile>\
  • Mac: ~/Library/Caches/Firefox/Profiles/
  • Linux:~/.cache/mozilla/firefox/