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Why does Firefox 45 not function on my Mac OS 10.11.4 computer? I have to use Firefox 39; Firefox 45 opens, but I get blank window, and nothing functions

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  • Last reply by PaulaRust

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I have downloaded Firefox 45 multiple times, and installed it multiple times. But when I open the application, a blank window opens, and I am unable to browse. I type in a web address, and the window stays blank. I select items from menus, and nothing happens. In other words, it opens, but does not function at all. In order to get to any websites, I have to go back to Firefox 39, which is the most recent version of Firefox that seems to function on my computer. I am using a Mac, running OS 10.11.4 (El Capitan); this OS is up to date, so an out of date OS is not the problem. Can anyone help me get the latest version of Firefox to work on my Mac?

I have downloaded Firefox 45 multiple times, and installed it multiple times. But when I open the application, a blank window opens, and I am unable to browse. I type in a web address, and the window stays blank. I select items from menus, and nothing happens. In other words, it opens, but does not function at all. In order to get to any websites, I have to go back to Firefox 39, which is the most recent version of Firefox that seems to function on my computer. I am using a Mac, running OS 10.11.4 (El Capitan); this OS is up to date, so an out of date OS is not the problem. Can anyone help me get the latest version of Firefox to work on my Mac?

All Replies (11)

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I've called the big guys to help you. Good luck.


Separate Issue; Your System Details shows;

Installed Plug-ins

Garmin Communicator Plug-in Version 4.0.2.6 Garmin Communicator Plug-in Version 4.1.0.0
Having more than one version of a program may cause issues. You must remove the older programs. Then get the current full installer.

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Thank you! I found the two plug-ins, so I'm looking over all my add-ons to see if a little work there might solve the problem, and hoping to hear from the "big guys" in the meantime. Thank you very much.

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This problem has gotten more odd. I have five accounts on my computer, two for me which are administrative accounts, and then separate accounts for other members of my family. I noticed that if I log into my secondary administrative account, Firefox 45 opens and functions, but if I try to open it when I am logged into the administrative account that I use every day on my computer, it does not function (version 39 is the last one that functions). Over the past couple days, as I have tried over and over to download, install, and use Firefox 45, every once in a while, usually not right after I've made such an attempt, but usually at some other random time of the day, I will get a message on my screen saying that I don't have administrative "permission" to install firefox. I don't know what to make of that; I am on my own administrative account, I type in my password to make changes in applications on this computer all the time. So I don't know why version 45 of FIrefox would specifically be running into any trouble with administrative permission to install itself and function on my computer. Additionally confusing is the fact that this error message does not pop up when I try to install it; it appears to successfully install, but then doesn't function.

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Is the blank Window what you would expect if Firefox has just opened in a blank tab, or is it some other sort of Window, if so a screenshot would help.

Do icons or keyboard shortcuts work at all ? For instance can you open new tabs with Ctrl+T and does clicking on the house icon open a new home page ?

What about the menu button, and how do you manage to close down this Firefox 45 ? Have you seen

Does Firefox appear to be using a lot of CPU resources for instance when it is frozen. Or is it generating any error messages. Also check before trying to start Firefox that there is not already a Firefox process already running.

If Firefox 39 is working fine what happens if you try to update that ?

Sorry but I do not use Macs. (I use Linux & Windows). If this problem relates to your use of multiple installs of Firefox and multiple user accounts it may be something an Apple Mac forum could help you to troubleshoot.

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The blank window that opens up is a Firefox window, and I can type into the "address" field, but nothing happens. It has the "trappings," but no content, e.g., it does not go to my home page and typing in an address has no effect. I'll try keyboard shortcuts (have to get off this version of Firefox to try it) and let you know. However, I do shut it down using Ctrl+Q. No error messages. I do get an error message if I try to open it while I have another version of Firefox open, but that's not the problem; it doesn't open at all if another version is running. Each time I open Firefox 39, I do get the message telling me to update it, and several times I've clicked on that message, following the prompts to download and install the new version. Never works; same result. I assume that is what is meant by "updating Firefox 39." I have never been using any other browser when I try to download the newest version of Firefox. Each time I download the new version, I use the window that opens up to "drag" it into the Applications folder (I have also tried not dragging it there; the version of 39 that I am currently using is not in my Applications folder, because I lost it once while updating and I can't lose it again as it's the only one that is currently working), I follow all the installation steps, am told that the installation was successful, and then it doesn't work.

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Some protection programs do not like the update stubs. Download Firefox For All languages And Systems {web link}

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OK, I tried clicking on the "about firefox" in firefox 39, and followed that to do the update; same result. In the "if firefox hangs" tutorial, none of the descriptions match my problem (no spinning color wheel, it does not hang during operations, etc) so I read the potential fixes but none seem applicable. I started firefox 45 again and explored a bit more, and found that Ctrl+N does open a new window, and Ctrl+W will shut that window, but Ctrol+T does not open a new tab. In the upper right hand corner, the bookmarks icon opens a menu, but none of the other icons respond to being clicked on; e.g., the house icon does nothing. So it's a mixed bag; there is a bit of functionality, but nothing that will get me online. The multiple user accounts are simply on my own computer, set up to keep my kids from seeing my file; they are not Mozilla, Microsoft, or Apple accounts. I'll try the Download Firefox for all languages and systems next, but I think that's the only suggestion I have not tried yet. If this additional info gives you any other ideas, please let me know and thank you for the ideas so far. I appreciate your time.

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I am not the best person to help here regarding Mac specifics.

I daresay on Mac Firefox may be able to execute from various locations, but possibly not update if it is in an unexpected location. I imagine Firefox is normally installed globally and the one version is then available to all users. (That's the standard default situation in Linux & Windows)

It is not normal to have multiple installs of Firefox. (I do it all the time on Linux & Windows though). Special steps should be taken if multiple versions are in use.

You need to understand the distinction between the profile files and the core program files. The most important files are the profile files. As a general rule never delete profile files or folders. (Rename them if you need to deactivate or replace them.)

The program files are easily replaced. The profiles are the personal data and settings. It is inconvenient or sometimes impossible to recover deleted profile information.

The multiple user accounts are simply on my own computer, set up to keep my kids from seeing my file; they are not Mozilla, Microsoft, or Apple accounts.

That's what we are interested in as user accounts.

Have you seen the standard install instructions:

If that does not resolve the issue you will have to try what we refer to as a clean install, and involves deleting all the Firefox program files.


Clean Install

Certain Firefox problems can be solved by performing a Clean reinstall. This means you remove your Firefox program files and then reinstall Firefox. This process does not remove your Firefox profile data (such as bookmarks and passwords), since that information is stored in a different location.

To do a clean reinstall of Firefox, please follow these steps: Note: You might want to print these steps or view them in another browser.

  1. Download the latest Desktop version of Firefox from mozilla.org (or choose the download for your operating system and language from this page) and save the setup file to your computer.
  2. After the download finishes, close all Firefox windows (or open the Firefox menu New Fx Menu and click the close button Close 29).
  3. Delete the Firefox installation folder, which is located in this location, by default:
    • Mac: Delete Firefox from the Applications folder.
      • and any installation folders in other locations
      • IF in any doubt as to whether it may be a profile do not delete it.
        Instead rename the Firefox folder to Firefox.old
        Note: Profile folders usually start with some semi random numbers and letters.
  4. Now, go ahead and reinstall Firefox:
    1. Double-click the downloaded installation file and go through the steps of the installation wizard.
    2. Once the wizard is finished, choose to directly open Firefox after clicking the Finish button.

More information about reinstalling Firefox can be found here.

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Make sure that Firefox gets installed properly.

Open the Firefox Disk Image file and drag the Firefox application to the Applications folder on your hard drive. You shouldn't double-click the Firefox application to run it from the Disk Image, but instead drag it out of the DMG folder.


Try to start Firefox in Safe Mode to see if that works.

  • Windows: hold down the Shift key while starting Firefox
  • Mac: hold down the Options key while starting Firefox

Create a new profile to test if your current profile is causing the problem.

See "Creating a profile":

If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.

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Responses to post on 4/14 at 4:08 pm:

I have thought about, or tried, all ideas up through the 4:08 post on 4/14/16 and still have the same problem, so additional suggestions will be welcome. Thank you VERY much to everyone for the suggestions so far.

I am hesitant to do a clean install, because if I delete the older version of Firefox that is still working (39), and the new install of Firefox 45 (or, now, 46.0.1) still doesn't work, then I will no longer have the version that is working.

"I imagine Firefox is normally installed globally and the one version is then available to all users. " Yes, that is how it has always worked before, and the weird thing this time is that Firefox 45 does open and function on my secondary administrative user account, but not on my primary administrative user account (meaning, the one I use for all work; the secondary admin account is a holdover from some old security measures). I've had multiple versions of Firefox on my computer for a long time, and my secondary administrative user account has the same multiple versions of Firefox that my main administrative user account has, and Firefox 45 works on the secondary account, so I don't think it is the presence of multiple versions of Firefox that is preventing Firefox 45 from functioning on my main administrative user account. Also, I do rename and/or move older versions of Firefox in order to disguise/hide them to keep them out of the way of new installations. In fact, I keep my precious working Firefox 39 in a separate folder (not in my Applications folder) in order to make sure it does not get overwritten by all these attempts to install Firefox 45. I launch it from that other folder, and it works fine, as it does when it is in my Applications folder.

The "how to download and install Firefox" instructions are basic; I've downloaded and installed it numerous times and it works on my secondary admin user account, so nothing in the basic instructions sheds any light on the problem.

This should not be an "unexpected location," as it is the same computer, the same service provider, the same ISP, the same admin user account, as I've used for the last few years, during which I've successfully installed many versions of Firefox.

I'll try the suggestions in the 4/14 4:30 post next, and post again if I still can't get it to work.

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Safe mode worked! I had to restart it in safe mode a couple times, but eventually I was able to open it without putting it in safe mode, and it worked. I did not create a new profile, so I am assuming (unless this procedure deletes the old profile, which I doubt, since you mentioned transferring files from a previous profile to the new one) that I am still using the same profile, which would mean the profile wasn't the problem. So, I don't know what the problem was, or why "safe mode" worked, but it did.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!