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How to fix the error ''Your Firefox profile cannot be loaded. It may be missing or inaccessible'' so that you can start and run Firefox.

If you see a "Profile Missing" error message that says, ''Your Firefox profile cannot be loaded. It may be missing or inaccessible'' it usually means that Firefox can't find or access the profile folder. This article explains what to do if you see this error. ;[[Image:FXprofile-cannot-be-loaded]] {for win7, win8, fx34} <!-- this is Bug 1068657 - Sometimes "Profile Missing" dialog appears after closing the Firefox process in the "Firefox already running" dialog--> {note}'''Note:''' If you see a "Profile Missing" error after clicking the "Close Firefox" button in the "Firefox is already running but is not responding" error dialog, click {button OK} in the "Profile Missing" window and wait a few seconds before trying to start Firefox. Alternatively, either restart the computer or use the Windows Task Manager to end all Firefox processes, then try starting Firefox. For more information, see the article [["Firefox is already running but is not responding" error message - How to fix it]].{/note} {/for} __TOC__ = If you moved, renamed, or deleted your Firefox profile folder = Firefox stores your user data and settings in a special [[Profiles - Where Firefox stores your bookmarks, passwords and other user data|profile]] folder and pulls information from this folder every time you start Firefox. The default profile folder location is under the {for win}{filepath %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles} {/for}{for linux}{filepath ~/.mozilla/firefox}{/for}{for mac} {filepath ~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles}{/for} folder, which you can find using [[Profiles - Where Firefox stores your bookmarks, passwords and other user data#w_finding-your-profile-without-opening-firefox|these instructions]]. == Profile was moved or renamed == If you know where your profile is, try one of the following methods to help Firefox find it. *Move the profile folder back to its original location. *Restore the profile's original name if you've changed it. *[[Use the Profile Manager to create and remove Firefox profiles |Create a new profile using the Profile Manager]]. Give it a descriptive name, click on the {button Choose Folder} button, and then select the profile folder you moved or renamed, before you finish the ''Create a new profile'' wizard. ==Profile was deleted== If you deleted or lost your profile folder and have no way of restoring it, use one of these methods to create a new Firefox profile: {note}Your new profile will not contain settings or user data from your deleted or lost profile.{/note} * '''Method 1: Use the Profile Manager wizard''' Follow the steps in the [[Use the Profile Manager to create and remove Firefox profiles]] article to create a new profile. * '''Method 2: Manually delete the ''profiles.ini'' file''' If you have problems accessing the Profile Manager, you can create a new default Firefox profile by deleting the {filepath profiles.ini} file, using these steps: {for win} {for winxp} # Click on the Windows {button Start} button and click on {menu Run...} # Type '''%appdata%''' in the Run box and click OK. The hidden {filepath Application Data} folder will open. # Double-click the {filepath Mozilla} folder. # Double-click the {filepath Firefox} folder. # Delete (or rename, for example, to profiles.iniOLD) the {filepath profiles.ini} file. {/for} {for win7} # Click the Windows Start button or press the Windows key {key [[Image:Windows Key]]} to open the Start Menu. # Type '''%appdata%''' in the search box and press the {key Enter} key. The hidden {filepath AppData\Roaming} folder will open. # Double-click the {filepath Mozilla} folder. # Double-click the {filepath Firefox} folder. # Delete (or rename, for example, to profiles.iniOLD) the {filepath profiles.ini} file. {/for} {for win8} # From the Windows Start Screen, click the '''Desktop''' tile. The Desktop view will open. # From the Desktop, hover in the lower right-hand corner to access the Charms. # Select the {menu Search} charm. The Search sidebar will open. # Type '''%appdata%''' in the search box and press the {key Enter} key. The hidden {filepath AppData\Roaming} folder will open. # Double-click the {filepath Mozilla} folder. # Double-click the {filepath Firefox} folder. # Delete (or rename, for example, to profiles.iniOLD) the {filepath profiles.ini} file. {/for} {for win10} # Click on the Windows Start button or press the Windows key {key [[Image:Windows Key]]} to open the Start Menu. # Type '''%appdata%''' (as you type, a Windows search will start) and press the {key Enter} key. The hidden {filepath AppData\Roaming} folder will open. # Double-click the {filepath Mozilla} folder. # Double-click the {filepath Firefox} folder. # Delete (or rename, for example, to profiles.iniOLD) the {filepath profiles.ini} file. {/for} {note}'''Note:''' Instead of deleting the profiles.ini file, you can delete (or rename) the folder that contains it. For example, right-click the Firefox folder and rename it FirefoxOLD.{/note} When you start Firefox, a new profile will be created. {/for} {for linux} # '''(Ubuntu)''' Click the {menu Places} menu on the top right of the screen and select {menu Home Folder}. A File Browser window will appear. # Click the {menu View} menu and select {menu Show Hidden Files} if it isn't already checked. # Double click the folder marked {filepath .mozilla}. # Double click the folder marked {filepath firefox}. # Delete (or rename, for example, to profiles.iniOLD) the {filepath profiles.ini} file. {note}'''Note:''' Instead of deleting the profiles.ini file, you can delete (or rename) the folder that contains it. For example, rename the firefox folder to firefoxOLD.{/note} When you start Firefox, a new profile will be created. {/for} {for mac} # Navigate to your user ''~/Library'' folder: #* '''(OS X 10.6)''' Click the '''Finder''' icon in the dock. Your home folder will be selected, (usually the name of your Mac user account). In the right side of the window, click the Library folder to open it. #* '''(OS X 10.7 and above)''' Click the '''Finder''' icon in the dock. On the menu bar, click the {menu Go} menu, hold down the {key option} or {key alt} key and select {menu Library}. A window will open containing your Library folder. # Click on the {filepath Application Support} folder, then go to the {filepath Firefox} folder. # Delete (or rename, for example, to profiles.iniOLD) the {filepath profiles.ini} file. {note}'''Note:''' Instead of deleting the profiles.ini file, you can delete (or rename) the folder that contains it. For example, rename the Firefox folder to FirefoxOLD.{/note} When you start Firefox, a new profile will be created. {/for} <!-- MZ credit --> <br/> <br/> '''''Based on information from [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_cannot_be_loaded Profile cannot be loaded (mozillaZine KB)]'''''