Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings
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This feature is available on Firefox for desktop or laptop computers.
Known add-on issues, May 2019: We are working hard to fix issues that are disabling your add-ons or preventing them from being installed. If this applies to you, please see Add-ons disabled or fail to install on Firefox instead.
If you're having problems with Firefox, refreshing it can help. The refresh feature fixes many issues by restoring Firefox to its default state while saving your essential information like bookmarks, passwords, and open tabs. Important: Since Firefox will revert to its original state, your own configurations and customizations, including extensions, extension data, and about:config preference configurations are removed. If you've made accessibility configurations, you may need to change them back after refreshing.
Refresh Firefox
- Click this Refresh Firefox button directly, if you are viewing this page in Firefox.
This won't work if you are using a different browser or on a mobile device.- You can also find a Refresh Firefox button at the top of the Firefox about:support Troubleshooting Information page.
- To continue, click in the confirmation window that opens.
- Firefox will close to refresh itself. When finished, a window will list your imported information. Click and Firefox will open.
Note: There's also a Refresh Firefox button in the Firefox Safe Mode window, if you can't start Firefox normally. You can also do a manual refresh by creating a new profile and transferring your important data to the new profile.
What does the refresh feature do?
All of your Firefox settings and personal information are stored in a profile folder. The refresh feature works by creating a new profile folder for you while saving your important data.
Add-ons which are normally stored inside the Firefox profile folder, such as extensions and themes, will be removed. Add-ons stored in other locations, such as plugins, will not be removed but any modified preferences (such as plugins you have disabled) will be reset.
Firefox will save these items:
- Bookmarks
- Browsing and download history
- Passwords
- Open windows and tabs
- Cookies
- Web form auto-fill information
- Personal dictionary
These items and settings will be removed:
- Extensions and themes
- Website permissions
- Modified preferences
- Added search engines
- DOM storage
- Security certificate and device settings
- Plugin settings
- User styles (chrome subfolder containing userChrome and/or userContent CSS files, if previously created.)
Note: Your old Firefox profile will be placed on your desktop in a folder named "Old Firefox Data". If the resetrefresh didn't fix your problem you can restore some of the information not saved by copying files to the new profile that was created. If you don't need this folder any longer, you should delete it as it contains sensitive information.
This article, like all Firefox support, is brought to you mostly by volunteers, who keep Mozilla proudly independent and open source. Keep browsing freely!