Reset Firefox preferences to troubleshoot and fix problems
Revision Information
- Revision id: 84869
- Created:
- Creator: Swarnava Sengupta
- Comment: Added fx 35 support
- Reviewed: Yes
- Reviewed:
- Reviewed by: AliceWyman
- Is approved? No
- Is current revision? No
- Ready for localization: No
Revision Source
Revision Content
ResettingRefreshing preferences (zoom, tabs, privacy, network, encryption, updates, where to save file downloads, etc.) is one of many procedures that can be helpful in troubleshooting Firefox problems. We'll explain two ways to do this - resetrefresh Firefox to its default state and delete the preference files.
- 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: ResetRefresh Firefox to its default state
Note: When you refresh Firefox, your bookmarks, browsing history, open tabs, windows, passwords, cookies and web form auto-fill information will be saved. However, your extensions and themes will be removed and your preferences will be reset. Learn more.
- 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.
Note: There's a Refresh Firefox button in the Firefox Troubleshoot 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.
Solution 2: Delete Firefox preference files
Click the menu button , click
, select and click in the Restart Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode? dialog.Note: You can also start Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode by holding down the Shift key while starting Firefox.holding down the option key while starting Firefox.quitting Firefox and then going to your Terminal and running:
You may need to specify the Firefox installation path (e.g. /usr/lib/firefox).
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.