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When i click the firefox icon on my desktop firefox browswer does not start

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  • Last reply by FredMcD

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When i click the firefox icon on my desktop firefox browser does not start I have tried uninstalling it and reinstalling it several times over the last week and this has not helped I have tried to open my firefox profile using firefox.exe -P however nothing happens. The task manager on my computer says that firefox is using 20% of my CPU Firefox previously worked with no problems on my computer and i do not remember doing anything significant that may have affected it

When i click the firefox icon on my desktop firefox browser does not start I have tried uninstalling it and reinstalling it several times over the last week and this has not helped I have tried to open my firefox profile using firefox.exe -P however nothing happens. The task manager on my computer says that firefox is using 20% of my CPU Firefox previously worked with no problems on my computer and i do not remember doing anything significant that may have affected it

Chosen solution

I have solved this by holding down shift when i double click the icon, the program then starts up. I have then disabled all add ons and themes. Firefox needs to look at this, i thought i had downloaded a new version of the browser yesterday as per suggestions above and deleted all previous traces of the program so why are all my previous add ons and themes still present in the new version ????

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Does the Task Manager show the program starts and closes, or is it showing the browser is active?

Some problems occur when your Internet security program was set to trust the previous version of Firefox, but no longer recognizes your updated version as trusted. Now how to fix the problem: To allow Firefox to connect to the Internet again;

  • Make sure your Internet security software is up-to-date (i.e. you are running the latest version).
  • Remove Firefox from your program's list of trusted or recognized programs. For detailed instructions, see

Configure firewalls so that Firefox can access the Internet. {web link}

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Every time i click on the icon a new line for firefox appears in task manager but i have just noticed that a new line appears in the processes section that says 0% CPU however there is one line which says 25% CPU for firefox the rest just say 0% . I do not know if this is the browser or the program, it just says firefox I have several free anti virus software which i pay no attention to as they just run in the background so i will have to look to find the trusted programs list

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Have you checked the firewall as I instructed?

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/changes-toolbars-and-window-sizes-are-not-saved You may have corrupt xulstore.json or Localstore.rdf files.

Close Firefox. Open your file browser to this hidden location:

  • Mac: *~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles
  • Linux: *~/.mozilla/firefox/Profiles
  • Windows: %AppData%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles
  • *C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles
  • Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data
    \Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\

Search for the above files. Then rename or delete them. Restart Firefox.

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I tried looking at the windows firewall and couldn't see anything that was blocking firefox. I have tried searching the computer but cant find the files called xulstore.json or Localstore.rdf I also cant see a %Appdata% folder in the c drive

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HI, running several anti-virus programs is not a good idea as they conflict with each other. This is a standard not to run more than 1 but can run something like malwarebytes or superantispyware or rougekiller as they scan and protect differently.

Please go to Task Manager and End the Firefox processes. Grab a copy of your Profile and store it safely :

uninstall Firefox. Then Delete the Mozilla Firefox Folders in C:\Program Files , C:\Program Files(x86) & C:\ProgramData Then restart system. Then run Windows Disk Cleanup. (Note: This should be Pinned and run Weekly, If never done below expect 10's of gig's) Then run it again and click the button that says Cleanup System Files. Note: your Firefox Profile is saved.

Reinstall with Current Release Firefox 60.0.2 with a Full Version Installer

fyi for the future :

Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.

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Pkshadow said

HI, running several anti-virus programs is not a good idea as they conflict with each other. This is a standard not to run more than 1 but can run something like malwarebytes or superantispyware or rougekiller as they scan and protect differently. Please go to Task Manager and End the Firefox processes. Grab a copy of your Profile and store it safely : uninstall Firefox. Then Delete the Mozilla Firefox Folders in C:\Program Files , C:\Program Files(x86) & C:\ProgramData Then restart system. Then run Windows Disk Cleanup. (Note: This should be Pinned and run Weekly, If never done below expect 10's of gig's) Then run it again and click the button that says Cleanup System Files. Note: your Firefox Profile is saved. Reinstall with Current Release Firefox 60.0.2 with a Full Version Installer fyi for the future : Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.

I just did all of this. This has not helped, im surprised that when i reinstall firefox the icon appears on the exact same location on the desk top. When i click the icon firefox still doesnt start

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ukgopher said

I tried looking at the windows firewall and couldn't see anything that was blocking firefox.

Did you follow the instructions posted? https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1222944#answer-1125654

I have tried searching the computer but cant find the files called xulstore.json or Localstore.rdf I also cant see a %Appdata% folder in the c drive

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1222944#answer-1125677

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Chosen Solution

I have solved this by holding down shift when i double click the icon, the program then starts up. I have then disabled all add ons and themes. Firefox needs to look at this, i thought i had downloaded a new version of the browser yesterday as per suggestions above and deleted all previous traces of the program so why are all my previous add ons and themes still present in the new version ????

more options

We can check on this with your help.

Type about:support in the address bar and press Enter. Under the main banner, press the button; Copy Text To Clipboard.. Now in the Reply Box on the forum page, do a right-click in the box and select Paste.

This will show us your system details. No Personal Information Is Collected.