preferences keep changing
I have a Mac running Mojave 10.14.6. I change my browser to Bing and find it changed back to default browser days later. I have removed all the browser options but Bing and it still changes. At first it was just the browser but now it is happening with my home page settings. I set it to a page then it changes to default a few days or maybe hours later. I have played this game a dozen times or 100. Help. I don't find any thing suspicious in my files and have no add-on or extensions.
All Replies (5)
If you run Firefox directly from the firefox.dmg that you downloaded, you will have this issue. It's because Firefox thinks it's a new installation every time that you open it, so it makes a new blank profile for you. It's a pretty common mistake that Mac users make.
You can confirm this by going to the about:profiles page in Firefox. Most users will only have one profile listed there, but you likely have many (one for each time you started Firefox).
To correct this, the firefox.app file from within the DMG file needs to be copied into the Applications folder on your computer. Then you need to open Firefox from there instead of the DMG. See How to download and install Firefox on Mac.
Hope this helps.
You can check for recently installed suspicious or unknown extensions.
You can do a malware scan to see if you have malware.
These two answers did not solve my problem. I have no add-ons/extensions and I am not running the .dmg. Still happening. Not every time but after iMac has been asleep. It always changes to default. So irritating.
Preferences would only change if there is a problem with accessing the related prefs.js file in the profile folder.
Do you only have one prefs.js in the profile folder ?
You can use the button on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page.
- Help -> Troubleshooting Information -> Profile Folder/Directory:
Windows: Open Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder - https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-firefox-stores-user-data
cor-el said
Preferences would only change if there is a problem with accessing the related prefs.js file in the profile folder. Do you only have one prefs.js in the profile folder ? You can use the button on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page.
- Help -> Troubleshooting Information -> Profile Folder/Directory:
Windows: Open Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-firefox-stores-user-data
I have one prefs.js.