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Drag and drop from firefox to Windows desktop stopped working after updating to Firefox Quantum 68.0 (64-bit)
After updating to v68 (x64) earlier today, drag and drop of pictures from Firefox to Windows desktop, stopped working
What I tried so far
Tried turning it off and on again didn't work
Started firefox in safemode with no add-ons didn't work
Started windows in safe mode and then started firefox in safemode with no add-ons didn't work
Drag n Drop + holding Ctrl key didn't work Drag n Drop + holding Alt key didn't work
Created a new profile didn't work
Re-installed v68 didn't work
uninstalled and erased ALL firefox files, then installed v68 didn't work
Installed v68 on a fresh install of Windows didn't work
Installed a fresh copy of Windows on a freshly assembled computer and made a fresh installation of v68 Firefox didn't work
Is there something else I can do, in order to fix this problem, besides using Google Chrome
Endret
Valgt løsning
I'm not sure how to react right now.... Earlier today, dragging and dropping to desktop didn't work, I tried to drag and drop a url on desktop, in order to check if creating a shortcut on desktop would work. It worked So, naturally, I tried to drag a picture and it worked....
I just called a priest, I think my PC is in need of an exorcism
Les dette svaret i sammenhengen 👍 0All Replies (20)
cor-el said
Note that the Mac OS may not know about WebP images as this is a rather new format. You may have to convert these images to JPG or PNG to have them appear on the desktop.
This can be fixed by brew cask install WebPQuickLook
Got the same problem, just out of the blue or perhaps after an automated update. Very annoying. No add-on to repair. Will I eventually after 30 years or so having ignored Internet Explorer, being forced out of Firefox v. 68.01 (64bits)? Because I find this very disturbing. Cannot go without such a default browser feature.
Hi frederik.witkamp, please see this support article: Drag and Drop errors with Firefox Launcher Process enabled and Windows UAC disabled - How to Fix. Does that work on your Windows?
I was considering it as well Firefox was so easy before now they are making things diificcult as the same thing with Thunderbird no new add ons
jscher2000 said
Hi frederik.witkamp, please see this support article: Drag and Drop errors with Firefox Launcher Process enabled and Windows UAC disabled - How to Fix. Does that work on your Windows?
Only by re-enabling UAC which I find a surrogate solution since I've never activated UAC, never missed it nor was faced with security issues. All of a sudden Firefox forces me into UAC which I'm very reluctant to do. The -no-deelevate suggestion doesn't work. Created a Batch file with it, Firefox is starting up but still no copy to desktop functionality. Isn't there a script solution to add to "about:config"? I'm a disapointed Firefox user.
frederik.witkamp said
The -no-deelevate suggestion doesn't work. Created a Batch file with it, Firefox is starting up but still no copy to desktop functionality.
I'm not sure what you mean by a batch file -- literally a .bat file that runs in the command processor? It would be more direct to modify the icon you use to start Firefox. That would be either:
- Right-click a Firefox desktop shortcut, then click Properties
- Right-click a Firefox icon pinned to the Taskbar then right-click Mozilla Firefox, then click Properties
Windows should show the Shortcut tab and select the Target field. The Target usually is along the following lines:
- "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"
- "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"
You would add a space and then the new switch, either:
- "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -no-deelevate
- "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -no-deelevate
jscher2000 said
frederik.witkamp saidThe -no-deelevate suggestion doesn't work. Created a Batch file with it, Firefox is starting up but still no copy to desktop functionality.I'm not sure what you mean by a batch file -- literally a .bat file that runs in the command processor? It would be more direct to modify the icon you use to start Firefox. That would be either:
- Right-click a Firefox desktop shortcut, then click Properties
- Right-click a Firefox icon pinned to the Taskbar then right-click Mozilla Firefox, then click Properties
Windows should show the Shortcut tab and select the Target field. The Target usually is along the following lines:
- "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"
- "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"
You would add a space and then the new switch, either:
- "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -no-deelevate
- "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -no-deelevate
Yes the good old .BAT file. Following your suggested steps, It works now. Thanks. Yet it's not a clean solution. Opening Firefox through a saved desktop link doesn't still allow you to create a new desktop link, ie one is always forced to use the edited 'pinned to the Taskbar' Firefox icon. Hardly efficient. Can't see the benefits of this, rather the opposite. Have been 12 years (since launch of Windows 2007) happily without this feature. Firefox should remove this constraint.
frederik.witkamp said
Opening Firefox through a saved desktop link doesn't still allow you to create a new desktop link, ie one is always forced to use the edited 'pinned to the Taskbar' Firefox icon.
What kind of desktop link do you want to create?
- Additional program shortcut: you can add the same switch
- URL link: if a Firefox window is already running with high integrity (full admin privileges) the link should open in a new tab in that window
If you like to close Firefox frequently and need to be able to start it up using a link, you could experiment with a registry edit. Note that the number after FirefoxURL varies among different builds. For example:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FirefoxURL-308046B0AF4A39CB\shell\open\command
Default value: "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -osint -url "%1"
Modified with switch: "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -osint -no-deelevate -url "%1"
I haven't tested that change, but editing that command line has worked for other features, for example, opening links in private windows: https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1242740
Thanks for helping out. With all respect, these patchwork solutions fail to address the core cause which is Firefox adding a major user-unfriendly feature. They should repair or am I forced to downgrade to a previous version? How and which one and where to find?
frederik.witkamp said
Thanks for helping out. With all respect, these patchwork solutions fail to address the core cause which is Firefox adding a major user-unfriendly feature. They should repair or am I forced to downgrade to a previous version? How and which one and where to find?
I think the new launcher process likely will be improved over time. However, I expect the general principle of running with reduced privileges to be retained, which you can override with the command-line option if needed, as noted in earlier posts.
Downgrades are not supported but there is an article on where to find older Firefox installers (not from random sites): Install an older version of Firefox.
i went to about:config and put launcher in the search found the launcher process and put it to diable I am now able to drag and drop
Endret
I have never run UAC or changed my Firefox icon. Like stated in another article why not let the Firefox users decide what they want. If it ain't do not fix it. why does Firefox mess with something tht was working just fine Facebook does the same thing changes things with the users knowledge. Many times what is done is not good and people do not like the changes. I have use Firefox since it started loved it for the addons and the ease of use. Now i may go to google which I really do not like. Firefox is forcing customers to leave.On another note Thunderbird is my deault email and there again changes are being made that are not always agreed with. The addon /extensions have not been updated much. half can not be used with the current versions. my question is WHY WHY mess with something that works
Mary said
i went to about:config and put launcher in the search found the launcher process and put it to diable I am now able to drag and drop
You are genius! This does it. Simple and effective. Thanks!
you are welcome. you will have to do this for every Firefox update unless Firefox changes it
frederik.witkamp said
Mary saidi went to about:config and put launcher in the search found the launcher process and put it to diable I am now able to drag and dropYou are genius! This does it. Simple and effective. Thanks!
I wonder why you are reading only on the last page. I've explained this solution already 20 days ago, and more two times on any pages ... Read people, read, because there and another solution.
The problem drag and drop can fix without UAC enabled by two methods.
First method: If you use Mozilla 68 follow the steps below.
1. Open Firefox and go to the "about: config" page 2. click on the "i take the risk" button 3. search for "launcher" it should return browser.launcherProcess.enabled 4. double click on it to set is default value to false 5. Restart Firefox
Second method: If you want a drag and drop to work without UAC enabled, you have to stop Mozilla updates, but this is impossible for Mozilla 68. That's why you need to uninstall Mozilla 68 and install an older Mozilla, for example, 65, 66 or 67 and try some of the methods following the links below.
https://superuser.com/questions/1432983/install-firefox-without-updates
or
https://www.journeybytes.com/2019/01/disable-firefox-quantum-updates.html
You are right. Another genius. Thanks.
The browser.launcherProcess.enabled idea was great, Firefox was unblocked. But since the 68.0.1 version, it locks again at the update. Hey Mozilla’s crew, can’t you let alone this f… software and let the users work quietly! what are you afraid for to lock your own product? Security..security…Don’t be paranoiac and let us work quietly or we’ll go with Chrome…
zozo said
The browser.launcherProcess.enabled idea was great, Firefox was unblocked. But since the 68.0.1 version, it locks again at the update. Hey Mozilla’s crew, can’t you let alone this f… software and let the users work quietly! what are you afraid for to lock your own product? Security..security…Don’t be paranoiac and let us work quietly or we’ll go with Chrome…
dberov said
Yesterday Mozilla made a new update 68.0.1 and users again cannot use drag and drop. That's why if you want to use drag and drop you need to uninstalled Mozilla 68.0.1 and installed an old Mozilla 65, 66 or 67 and follow the steps below. 1. install Firefox 65, 66 or 67 2. launch Firefox 3. disable updates 4. restart Firefox Then you need to delete the file "updater.exe" which is located in C: \ Program Files \ Mozilla Firefox. The next steps are: 1. Open a plain text editor like notepad or notepad++ and paste the following code in it: { "policies": { "DisableAppUpdate": true } } 2. Save the file as a json file named: policies.json 3. Go to the installation directory of Firefox and create a new folder with the name: distribution. On Windows the directory is: C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\distribution 4. Now just copy the policies.json file into this folder. 5. Restart Mozilla, drag and drop will be work properly and Mozilla never again will update. If Mozilla fixes the problem in the next updates, you can update Mozilla at any time. Enjoy
the broswer launcher worked for me with this version you need to do it with every Firefox update. i did not disable the Uac
I did not go back to an older version I kept the updates i just set the browser launcher to false you will need to do this with every update if you want the firefox updates unless firefox corrects it