Re-enable add-ons that were disabled when updating Firefox
Revision Information
- Revision id: 16767
- Created:
- Creator: AliceWyman
- Comment: suggest disabling incompatible add-on and linked to new [[Google Toolbar is incompatible sith Firefox]] article.
- Reviewed: Yes
- Reviewed:
- Reviewed by: AliceWyman
- Is approved? No
- Is current revision? No
- Ready for localization: No
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Revision Content
When Firefox updates, it turns off add-ons that are not compatible with the new version. This article explains how to get your add-ons working again.
Table of Contents
Check for new versions of your add-ons
Firefox checks once a day for new versions of your add-ons and updates them automatically but you can manually check for new versions at any time.
- At the top of the Firefox window, click the button ( menu in Windows XP) and then click . The Add-ons Manager tab will open.
- Click and select . If Firefox finds updates, they will be downloaded automatically.
- Click the "Restart now to complete installation" link.
- On the menu bar, click the menu and then click . The Add-ons Manager tab will open.
- Click and select . If Firefox finds updates, they will be downloaded automatically.
- Click the "Restart now to complete installation" link.
- At the top of the Firefox window, click the menu and then click . The Add-ons Manager tab will open.
- Click and select . If Firefox finds updates, they will be downloaded automatically.
- Click the "Restart now to complete installation" link.
- At the top of the Firefox window, click on the menu, and select On the menu bar, click on the menu, and select At the top of the Firefox window, click on the . The Add-ons window will open. menu, and select
- Select the or panel depending on the kind of add-on.
- Then click . If Firefox finds an update, you will be prompted to install it and restart Firefox.
Search for updates on the add-on's website
Some add-on makers have different versions of their add-on for different versions of Firefox so updating though the Add-on Manager doesn't work. In this case, an update might be available on the add-on's website.
- In the Add-ons Manager tab, click on More on the incompatible extension, and then click on the home page link, close to Homepage. You will be taken to the home page for that add-on.
- Download the latest version of the add-on from the add-on home page.
- In the Add-ons window, right-clickhold down the Ctrl key while you click on the incompatible extension, and select . You will be taken to the home page for that add-on.
- Download the latest version of the add-on from the home page for that add-on.
Force add-ons to work by installing the Add-on Compatibility Reporter
The Add-on Compatibility Reporter add-on will force Firefox to turn on your disabled add-ons. To install it, do the following:
- Go to Add-on Compatibility Reporter download page.
- Click the button.
- When the Software Installation window comes up, click to begin the download.
- When the download is complete, click in the notification window to complete the installation.
- Click the Firefox menu and select .Click the Firefox menu at the top of the screen and select .Click the Firefox menu and select .
- Start Firefox the way you normally do and all of your add-ons should now be active.
Report whether or not your add-ons work with this version of Firefox
We'll pass this info on to the makers of these add-ons.
- Click the menu button , click and select .
- Click the button for each add-on and report whether it works on not.
Search for alternatives
There may be other add-ons with similar features that are compatible with your version of Firefox. The Add-ons site is a good place to find alternatives.
For example, if you use the Google Toolbar mainly for access to your Google Bookmarks, then the GBookmarks add-on might be a great replacement. See the Google Toolbar is incompatible with Firefox article for other suggestions.
Install Firefox 3.6
Starting with the release of Firefox 5, the previous version of Firefox (Firefox 4 in this case) (Firefox 5 in this case) will no longer be maintained with security and stability updates. Firefox 3.6 is the last previous Firefox version that is still being maintained. If you need to run a particular add-on that was working in a previous version of Firefox, download Firefox 3.6 and run its installer from this page.