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Firefox forces MOVE instead of COPY when dragging text from external apps (Notepad++ → Firefox)

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  • Last reply by Denys
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I’ve been experiencing an issue where dragging a URL or text from Notepad++ into Firefox causes the text to be removed from Notepad++. It behaves like Firefox is requesting a MOVE operation instead of a COPY. This only happens with Firefox, dragging the same text into Vivaldi, Chrome, Edge, etc. does not delete the text.

Here’s everything I’ve already tried:

1. Verified it’s not a Notepad++ setting Disabled “Multi‑Editing” in Notepad++ Restarted Notepad++ Confirmed the issue only happens with Firefox, not other browsers

2. Tested Firefox Safe/Troubleshoot Mode Launched Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode (no extensions, no themes, default settings) The issue still happens there, so it’s not caused by an extension or add‑on

3. Created a brand‑new Firefox profile Went to about:profiles Created a completely new, clean profile with no imported data Tested dragging again — the issue still happens even in a fresh profile

4. Reset and recreated drag‑related Firefox preferences I checked and/or reset the following in about:config: ui.dragThresholdX → recreated as Integer = 16 ui.dragThresholdY → recreated as Integer = 16 dom.event.clipboardevents.enabled → set to false browser.drag_out_of_frame_style → set to 0 browser.search.context.loadInBackground → false browser.tabs.searchclipboardfor.middleclick → false browser.urlbar.update1 → false widget.disable-native-drag → true Restarted Firefox after each change. None of these resolved the issue.

5. Tested modifier‑key behavior Holding CTRL while dragging does prevent the text from being deleted → This confirms Firefox is treating normal drags as MOVE instead of COPY.

6. Verified it’s Firefox‑only Dragging the same text from Notepad++ into Vivaldi, Chrome, Edge, Word, Notepad, etc. works normally Only Firefox causes the source text to be removed

I'm at a loss of what the issue can be or where to go from here or if there is no fix at the moment.

I’ve been experiencing an issue where dragging a URL or text from Notepad++ into Firefox causes the text to be removed from Notepad++. It behaves like Firefox is requesting a MOVE operation instead of a COPY. This only happens with Firefox, dragging the same text into Vivaldi, Chrome, Edge, etc. does not delete the text. Here’s everything I’ve already tried: 1. '''Verified it’s not a Notepad++ setting''' Disabled “Multi‑Editing” in Notepad++ Restarted Notepad++ Confirmed the issue only happens with Firefox, not other browsers 2. '''Tested Firefox Safe/Troubleshoot Mode''' Launched Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode (no extensions, no themes, default settings) The issue still happens there, so it’s not caused by an extension or add‑on 3. '''Created a brand‑new Firefox profile''' Went to about:profiles Created a completely new, clean profile with no imported data Tested dragging again — the issue still happens even in a fresh profile 4. '''Reset and recreated drag‑related Firefox preferences''' I checked and/or reset the following in about:config: ui.dragThresholdX → recreated as Integer = 16 ui.dragThresholdY → recreated as Integer = 16 dom.event.clipboardevents.enabled → set to false browser.drag_out_of_frame_style → set to 0 browser.search.context.loadInBackground → false browser.tabs.searchclipboardfor.middleclick → false browser.urlbar.update1 → false widget.disable-native-drag → true Restarted Firefox after each change. None of these resolved the issue. 5. '''Tested modifier‑key behavior''' Holding CTRL while dragging does prevent the text from being deleted → This confirms Firefox is treating normal drags as MOVE instead of COPY. 6. '''Verified it’s Firefox‑only''' Dragging the same text from Notepad++ into Vivaldi, Chrome, Edge, Word, Notepad, etc. works normally Only Firefox causes the source text to be removed I'm at a loss of what the issue can be or where to go from here or if there is no fix at the moment.

All Replies (1)

Hi,

Unfortunately, that appears to be a known issue tracked under bug 1228167.

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