Reset Firefox preferences to troubleshoot and fix problems
Revision Information
- Revision id: 51290
- Created:
- Creator: AliceWyman
- Comment: You can also rename the prefs.js file instead of deleting it - see discussion
- Reviewed: Yes
- Reviewed:
- Reviewed by: ideato
- Is approved? Yes
- Is current revision? No
- Ready for localization: Yes
- Readied for localization:
- Readied for localization by: ideato
Revision Source
Revision Content
When troubleshooting Firefox problems, resetting preferences (zoom, tabs, privacy, network, encryption, download actions, etc.) is one of many procedures that can be helpful in pinpointing the issue. This article explains how to use Safe Mode to reset preferences.
- If changes to preference settings are not saved when you restart Firefox, see How to fix preferences that won't save.
To reset preferences:
Click the menu button , click
, select and click in the Restart Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode? dialog.firefox -safe-mode
You may need to specify the Firefox installation path (e.g. /usr/lib/firefox).
- Click to put a check mark by Reset all user preferences to Firefox defaults.
- To apply your changes, click .
Firefox will restart with your preference settings changed back to the defaults.
Resetting preferences (zoom, tabs, privacy, network, encryption, download actions, etc.) is one of many procedures that can be helpful in fixing Firefox issues. There are two ways to do this - reset Firefox to it's default state or delete the preference files. We'll explain both methods.
- If changes to preference settings are not saved when you restart Firefox, see How to fix preferences that won't save.
Table of Contents
Solution 1: Reset Firefox to its default state
- Click the menu button , click and select .
- Click then in the confirmation window that opens. Firefox will close to refresh itself.
- When finished, a window will list your imported information. Click the button. Firefox will open.
- Select whether you want Firefox to restore all or some windows and tabs and click the button.
Solution 2: Delete Firefox preference files
Click the menu button , click
, select and click in the Restart Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode? dialog.firefox -safe-mode
You may need to specify the Firefox installation path (e.g. /usr/lib/firefox).
- Click to put a check mark by Reset all user preferences to Firefox defaults.
- To apply your changes, click .
Firefox will restart with your preference settings changed back to the defaults.
- Click the menu button , click and select .From the The Troubleshooting Information tab will open. menu, select .
- Under the Application Basics section next to Profile FolderDirectory, click . A window will open that contains your profile folder.Your profile folder will open.
Note: If you are unable to open or use Firefox, follow the instructions in Finding your profile without opening Firefox.- Click the Firefox menu and select .Click the Firefox menu at the top of the screen and select .Click the Firefox menu and select .
- Locate and delete the file prefs.js (or rename it, for example, to prefs.jsOLD, to keep the old file as a backup). If you find more than one, a prefs.js.moztmp file or a user.js file, delete (or rename) these as well.
- You can close the profile folder and open Firefox now.