If you have sync, and there is a problem anywhere, Shut Down Sync Immediately On All Devices to prevent the problem from spreading. Once the problem is fixed, perform the same repair on all computers/profiles before using sync again.

Let’s do a full clean re-install;

Download Firefox For All languages And Systems {web link}

Save the file. Then Close Firefox.

Using your file browser, open the Programs Folder on your computer.

Windows: C:\Program Files C:\Program Files (x86)

Mac: Open the "Applications" folder. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-download-and-install-firefox-mac

Linux: Check your user manual. If you installed Firefox with the distro-based package manager, you should use the same way to uninstall it. See Install Firefox on Linux; https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/install-firefox-linux

If you downloaded and installed the binary package from the Firefox download page, simply remove the folder Firefox in your home directory. http://www.mozilla.org/firefox#desktop ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Look for, and remove any Mozilla or Firefox program folders. Do not remove the Mozilla Thunderbird folder if there is one.

Do Not remove any profile folders.

After rebooting the computer, run a registry scanner if you have one. Then run the installer. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If there is a problem, start your Computer in safe mode and try again.

http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Linux+Safe+Mode This shows how to Start all Computers in Safe Mode; Free Online Encyclopedia

Hi FredMcD,

Currently I am using only one device, rest all I didn't even turned ON from last 1 month plus, did clean installation, but still failed to get this

following I couldn't understand

"Do Not" remove any profile folders.

After rebooting the computer, run a registry scanner if you have one. Then run the installer.

Profile folders means User>user>appdata>roaming right?

Registry scanner?

Please help

I am not sure where you are looking but, if needed, try right clicking on a space in the headings at the top of the page and make sure Menu Bar is checked. Click on File in the top right hand corner and New Private Window is the third item down for clicking. Or,select Cntrl +Shift+P .

HI Alan_r I am opening firefox and then pin to taskbar and over icon on task bar if I right click , in the context list there must be private browsing option, which used to come earlier, now no

regards Paddy

Hi Paddy I've never used your method but it works for me. Why haven't you tried my method under "File"

A little more - if you right click on the Firefox icon on the Taskbar, under Tasks do you have"Open new tab, Open new window..." and then anything else under Tasks?

Hi Yes, I tried on icon pinned to taskbar as well start menu too.

Today I did one more experiment found some clues, I installed Firefox on newly formatted and windows 10 installed system, it was as expected and I was getting all options on context menu, waited for hours time and after hours of usage, I did sync with my account. then everything got disappeared and problem again, Looks like some settings in my profile/saved sync data preventing context menu not to come.

have to dig out some more, may be FF folks can help on this, Lets see... so much frustration but.... I love Firefox... I can't without FF.

Regards Paddy

paddy.android said

I did sync with my account. then everything got disappeared and problem again

If you have sync, and there is a problem anywhere, Shut Down Sync Immediately On All Devices to prevent the problem from spreading. Once the problem is fixed, perform the same repair on all computers/profiles before using sync again.

Refreshing Firefox {web link} is a LAST RESORT ! !

Refreshing Firefox -- easily fix most problems

If you're having problems with Firefox, refreshing it can help. The refresh feature fixes many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information like bookmarks and open tabs. Everything else, like user settings and add-ons, are removed.

Sometimes menu items are different if Firefox is configured for automatic private browsing. That triggers a "stealth mode" where there are no markings or purple welcome pages, and all windows are private. Could that be the situation?

The most obvious way to detect that is you won't accumulate any history during a 100% private session. The setting would be here:

• Windows: "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Options
• Mac: "3-bar" menu button (or Firefox menu) > Preferences
• Linux: "3-bar" menu button (or Edit menu) > Preferences
• Any system: type or paste about:preferences into the address bar and press Enter/Return to load it

In the left column, click Privacy & Security

On the right side, in the History section, either of these will trigger automatic private browsing:

• "Firefox will: Never remember history"

• "Firefox will: Use custom settings for history" + "Always use private browsing mode"

Hi FredMcD,

Thanks a lot for your patience and helping me in resolving issue, really appreciate that,

I tried idea of remove FF from sync and then refresh account, on my laptop, and my desktop not turned on from last two days after refreshing FF I have got all context menu properly, but roughly around 30 mins of work, again it went back and no context menu state. in this 30 min i tried using FF and restarting, starting in private browsing etc, did multiple experiments. Not sure whats causing FF to retain that state, I am getting doubt on my laptop which is corporate polacy laptop , may be they are influencing this? .. need to check, evening I will turn off sync on laptop and try same experiment on desktop again refreshing account etc, (which I had tried already but will do again) keep forum updated about this.

Thanks a lot Paddy

Being that it's a corporate computer, check with your IT and see if there are any 'blocks' that could interfere with Firefox.

Use these links to create a new profile. Use this new profile as is. Is the problem still there?

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox#Navigating_to_the_profile_folder

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-run-firefox-when-profile-missing-inaccessible

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles

Type about:profiles<enter> in the address bar.

Hi FredMcD,

Looks like its not my corp. policies creating issues, its something else, almost more than 24 hrs back I did below experiment, 1. removed sync from both laptop as well desktop,

   noticed that immediate after removing my sync data and clean,  automatically context menu back and alright.

this pointing me that there is something my saved data, can you help me what it can be?

2. in this 16 hrs time I used FF on both desktop and laptop multiple times, and my corporate network connection too. Corp connection didn't influenced anything on FF. every thing working fine. now I am 100% sure my settings are getting changed from data I retrieve on FF SYNC.

3. I have created new profile and deleted old profile, Sync executed with my account 5. it worked for some time but after few hrs time I landed to same old problem again :-( 6. Now removed Sync/account, but during that time, I selected/checked Remove other Private data (which removes cookies, cache, offline, website data etc) only from Disconnect Sync window, 7. Immediate after disconnect sync, I got context menu again :) 8 .

What next!!! I took backup of saved bookmarks from bookmarks menu, and manually took user ids and passwords, my idea is to clean everying and start fresh, But how to clean data which is in FF server with my account? is it possible?

Regards Paddy

Hmm. It sounds like something in the sync is causing the issue.

Since something is being blocked, it could be an add-on.

Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link} by holding down the <Shift> (Mac=Options) key, and then starting Firefox.

A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh). Is the problem still there?

Hi FredMcD

I tried safe mode, even then no use, and I have deleted addons too but no use.

Only option left is

1. if FF allows to clean data in a/c then clean everything and get bookmarks by saved file and passwords / logins by manual, in my case hardly some 20 are there.

2. delete account, and create again same with same email id then import bookmarks from saved file and manual entry of logins and get refreshed account.

Need to post one more question on how to delete/clean data only from account. if not possible then follow option 2 :)

Thanks, Regards Paddy

Good luck.

Hi Paddy You never seemed to have looked for "New private window" under File as I suggested way above. "New Private Window" is also clearly shown under the 3-Bar Window.

Hi alan_r, Thanks for suggestion, I knew this option of getting new private window under file menu. for this every time you need to open firefox and get private window and then close first one and continue use it, from last few years I had habit of just right click and get private window and use it,. Hope you understand my problem,

Thank you, Best regards paddy

Hi All,

Finally looks like problem resolved, but in other way :( Identified that one of the setting in preferences which are saved in sync but unable to find which one exactly it is.

finally I had to take backup of bookmarks, passwords and logins manually copy pasted to excel sheet,

Deleted my account,

re-installed FF,

restored book marks from backup file

Logins and passwords (hardly 20 so not so painful) manual by logging in to each site.

then created account and sync :)

last 24 hrs plus using it , no problem found as of now, everything going smooth

after all these, I felt like there must be reset option in FF to get default state of preferences kind of stuff other than book marks and logins , this is my advice/suggestion to Mozilla.

Special thanks to "FredMcD"

Thanks a lot Best Regards, Paddy

Glad to help. Safe Surfing.