https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-to-fix-preferences-wont-save

Note: Some software, like Advanced SystemCare with Surfing Protection, can protect files in the Firefox profile folder against changes. If you have such software then check the settings or uninstall this software.

Open Windows Internet Explorer. Have it declared as the default browser, But turn off the option to check this when the browser opens (If you want).

Now do the same thing using Firefox.

Hi, I tried doing this - made IE the default, and turned off checking in IE. Then restarted Firefox and tried to do the same, but when I click "Make default" it automatically checks the "Always check if Firefox is your default browser" box, and it still says "Firefox is not your default browser."

I'm not familiar with programs like Advanced System Care. (That one in particular is not on my computer.) What other ones are there, or is there a place I can find a list of the most common ones? What would you call this type of software - "surfing protection"?

One thing that might be relevant is that I recently found the i-beta malware on my system. I ran a malware-cleanup program (Malwarebytes' "Adwcleaner") which got rid of i-beta, but might not have undone all the damage. So that might be part of the problem, although I seem to have had i-beta for quite a while, and only when I installed Chrome about 10 days ago did I start having problems with the FF default browser issue. I have uninstalled Chrome, but the problem is still there.

Thanks for any more suggestions you might have.

Start your Computer in safe mode. Then start Firefox. Is the problem still there?

http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Linux+Safe+Mode Starting Any Computer In Safe Mode; Free Online Encyclopedia

I started Windows in safe mode, opened Firefox, and the problem is still there.

I called for more help.

Try to reinstall Firefox to see if that allows to set Firefox as the default browser.

• download the Firefox installer and save the file to the desktop
  *https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/
• start the installation with a double-click on the desktop icon

Seems to be back to normal now, thank you!!

cor-el said

Try to reinstall Firefox to see if that allows to set Firefox as the default browser.

• download the Firefox installer and save the file to the desktop
  *https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/
• start the installation with a double-click on the desktop icon

Would I have to uninstall the existing Firefox or do this install on top of the existing program.?

If you have no other problems, you can install on top.

That did it Thanks. It needs to be noted that Firefox does not like Chrome. My problem started from a download and I missed that it installs Chrome as well.

I have this same problem. I go back and forth between IE and Firefox and just lately I noticed the Firefox default button will not work. I have tried the tips advised on this thread but just opened Firefox after re-installing and it's the same thing. The default button is inactive. What else can I do?

I used the reinstall method as you can see above but one thing that was not completely obvious is that at the start of my trouble shooting I removed Chrome from the computer. Also, the re-installing has to be done from the desktop. Like you I tried other re-load options that didn't work. Good luck.

pslane https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-to-fix-preferences-wont-save

Note: Some software, like Advanced SystemCare with Surfing Protection, can protect files in the Firefox profile folder against changes. If you have such software then check the settings or uninstall this software.

I followed the directions from the provided link and uninstalled Firefox, then re-installed it. It is now the default, but when opening a URL link in my email, I get this;

The main thing I wanted to do was have my links open with FF. This is getting very annoying. So I'm still in the same boat!

See:

• https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/310049/hyperlinks-are-not-working-in-outlook