Why won't mozilla firefox load? Firefox won't start: possible problems and troubleshooting

Hello! Why won't it start? Due to my profession, I often hear this question regarding different browsers. In fact, the reason may lie directly in their functioning or operating system.

Today we’ll look at why Mazila won’t start and what can be done about it. I will share some experience, which in many cases allows me to find and correct the situation in better side.

The result was a decent amount of material. Therefore, for your convenience, I have prepared summary.

Sometimes the browser starts to work slowly or does not load at all for obvious reasons - the problem is not only in it, but also in the installed operating system (OS). Let's see what can be done.

Checking browser and OS compatibility

The latest version of the Internet browser does not work in all versions of the operating system Windows systems. In particular, I came across information that software not supported on XP below SP2.

But in Windows 7 with the latest updates and XP SP3, Firefox works fine. I checked it myself recently.

What should be done in this case? It's simple - check the compatibility of your browser and OS. Minimum system requirements I’m not citing it now, since by the time you read this material the situation may change. Current information it is advisable to check on official resources.

Checking your computer for viruses

A common case is that a virus damages or modifies files. At the same time, the probable consequences are that both the browser and all other components of the system load slowly.

To exclude or confirm this assumption, you need to do a full scan of the computer. When a virus is detected, it is not enough to just remove it; you also need to correct the consequences of its activity. To conduct thorough checks of my computer for infection, I like to use Kaspersky antivirus. Naturally, the choice of antivirus software is the decision of each user.

We look for and fix errors in the OS

There are thousands of options here. However, I will show you one general check and correction of some errors automatically. It helps in some cases when problems are related to system processes on your hard drive. It helps me in my work quite often, but I repeat - there are different cases.

Pay attention to the screenshot below. The example was made in XP, but it also works in Windows 7.

The command shown in the screenshot must be entered into command line- a program that is standard for Windows. A search will be performed bad sectors, as well as restoring their contents for specified disk. It is advisable to check all disks.

Updating the browser and OS

Updates are released for a reason. They may contain changed or added functionality and important fixes. It is logical that they need to be installed in a timely manner.

It’s worth doing this at least for security reasons, if the modified functionality is of little interest. In addition, some updates may directly affect the stability of the system.

Working with browser files to troubleshoot problems

Recommendations general type considered. Let's say the system is fine, but Mazila Firefox does not want to start normally. Why is this happening? Now I'll show you 3 more different approaches how to correct the situation.

We work with the task manager if a single launch was observed

It happens that the browser can be opened once after loading the computer. If you close it completely, then it will not start a second time. The reasons for this may be different.

In some cases, the process simply does not complete, although the browser is no longer visually visible. The solution here is simple. Open the task manager using the combination Ctrl keys, Alt, Del.

If you see processes with the demonstrated name, they need to be terminated. Their presence means that the browser was not closed completely.

After performing these steps, it is highly likely to open normally. If a similar situation repeats, then it is worth considering other ways to solve the problem.

Clear the browser cache if it starts and works poorly

A cache is a collection of data that is stored while browsing the Internet. These include, for example, browsing history. If crashes occur while Firefox is running, everything takes a long time to load, and in some other cases it would be wise to clear the cache. Complete cleaning can be done in a couple of steps:

  1. Removing web content and user data;
  2. Clearing the log.

As part of the first stage, go to “settings”, select the “additional” section and click on the appropriate buttons.

It happens that the above options do not help. Let's see what else can be done.

We reinstall the Internet browser and clean the profile

We completely remove the current browser through the system tools in “Add or Remove Programs”. Reboot the computer.

Open any folder and address bar Enter special words and press “enter”.

I don’t remember how it works in other OSes, but it works in XP and 7 this approach. So, after performing the above action, a list of folders will open. Among them we are looking for the name "Mozilla". The folder can be deleted.

Why does Mazila load slowly and how to speed it up?

I’m telling you about this last, because the reasons may lie in incorrect work:

  • programs that affect the functioning of the browser;
  • the browser itself.

Some ways to solve the problem were given above. If the problem is not these two points, then what else is it and what should we do then? In this case, the browser takes a long time to load and opens pages slowly for a logical reason - lack of hardware power. Simply put, this occurs when the computer is weak.

Additional Information

The article turned out to be quite lengthy. I tried to remember as many situations as possible from my experience and observations. Let me draw your attention to the fact that problems may be of a different nature and require individual approaches, which may go beyond the scope of the options considered.

All kinds of programs and their interaction - all this forms quite a complex system. There are a huge number of causes of malfunctions and their solutions.

I am finishing the article. I hope it was helpful. I look forward to your comments.

By the way, you may have already noticed that the blog actively discusses the topics of normal and... These are the main topics. Right now you can learn about really promising ways to make money online.

I continue to prepare new publications. If you wish, you can subscribe to e-mail or track announcements of new materials in in social networks, where I periodically add them. See you later.

After crash, or installing unknown plugins, and sometimes for unknown reasons, Firefox does not start or takes a very long time to do so. Clicking on the browser icon does nothing other than make it bounce. Unfortunately, this is the first sign of a damaged profile. And even if you change your browser to existing version, this will not save you - the profile is stored separately.

Manifestations of incorrect Firefox operation and ways to eliminate them.

In addition to the fact that Firefox takes a long time to load, the incorrect operation of the browser is manifested in its freezing, slow loading and display of pages, the distorted state of opening windows or the presence of hieroglyphs in them.

To launch the browser in safe mode To resolve the above problems, you can follow one of the following paths:

  • and thus try to find and disable the latest installed extensions, themes or plugins that led to the crash;
  • create a new profile;
  • reinstall the browser.

Safe Mode for Mozilla Firefox?

To the surprise of advanced users, Firefox can be loaded in Safe Mode. This is done by launching the browser in any way available to you, while holding down the Shift key. A window to enter safe mode will appear.

When running in safe mode, all extensions are disabled and the default theme is used. You need to follow the path “Tools”, “Add-ons”, review the “Extension”, “Themes”, “Plugins” tabs, try to detect the latest crashed changes in the browser and disable them.

If you doubt your actions, you can disable the plugins one by one and thus check the functionality of the browser.

Let's create a new profile.

Creating a new profile means the default settings are present, without any installed plugins. To create a profile, click “Start”, “Run”. To enter the path to the browser location directory, use the “Browse” button.


In the explorer that appears, look for installed program. If you did not change the installation path, then it is located on drive C, the “Program Files” folder, in it “ Mozilla Firefox", and inside you will see the familiar browser launch icon. Stand on it and click "Open". The path you have taken will be displayed in the “Open” field. Change it to:

“C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe” –p (add p at the end separated by a space).



Click “Ok” and you will be able to create a new profile. Remember that it is completely empty, all settings will have to be made from scratch.

If all else fails...

All that remains is to reinstall the browser. Naturally, before this you need to uninstall the old, corrupted version.

And so that the insurance doesn’t let you down!

We understand your disappointment if all settings collapse! But! After all, you can create archival copies and it’s great to use them to “roll back” to some date in case of failures, or “roll forward” to a newly installed crystal-clear program!

MozBackup is a great utility for this purpose. Restores your browser's saved settings. MozBackup will also be indispensable when reinstalling the operating system, and when moving to another computer. All your settings will return to you in full! Install and use - MozBackup will not let you down!

In absolutely any, even the most ideal program sometimes crashes happen. They may be associated with various reasons. And Mozilla is no exception to the rule. It can also experience interruptions, errors and bugs. Users are constantly tormented by the question - “So how to fix these errors?” We will try to answer this as clearly and clearly as possible.

We will look at the most common errors that the system throws when the browser crashes. And if Mozilla Firefox does not work, then you need to very carefully study what kind of error is thrown in order to remove it.

Does not work or does not start Mozilla: What to do?

We will try to help resolve your problem so it never comes back. But first you need to understand why it happens. So let's look at the most common Mozilla errors.

When I click on the shortcut, the browser does not open

It is difficult to explain why this happens, that previously Firefox opened normally and without any problems, but at some point it stopped responding and did not start at all. The reason may be corrupted files, viruses and even system failures.

Let's try to fix this problem:

Option 1. Try restarting your computer. In some cases, this helps and performance is restored. If you have already tried this option and it did not work, follow the following instructions.

Option 2. You can try to roll back the data to more early version(this feature is available on Windows 7 and above later versions). In most cases, this turns out to be effective and helps with such an error. How to do it:


  • Select a restore point and carry out this operation.
  • After the data has been rolled back, restart your computer and try logging into Firefox again.

Option 3. The antivirus is blocking the browser. Try disabling your security system for a while and launching your browser. If it starts, then you will need to disable the network scanning system for Mozilla to work normally. But be aware that this may increase the risk of your computer becoming infected with malware.

Option 4. You should try opening Firefox in safe mode. And if the browser starts normally in it, then the problem is something installed extensions and additions. In this case, while in this mode, try disabling all extensions and plugins. And if later you start in normal mode without any problems, then simply find and remove the extension that prevents the program from starting.

Browser is not responding

Probably the most common error that users may encounter. Very often it may happen that when using a program, it suddenly freezes and does not respond to anything, and in the browser title it writes: “Not responding.” Let's figure out how to fix this error.

The task manager will help us here:


Of course, all data will be lost and the tabs will be closed, but they can be restored by clicking the restore button that appears in the browser during emergency program closures.

IfFirefox still doesn't respond:

This may mean that there are certain problems with access rights to the program.


Now try opening your browser again, it should work. If not, then it will only help complete reinstallation.

Very slow when working

A similar problem occurs in several cases. Bad specifications computer, system overload, a lot of garbage in the form of history, cookies and cache, as well as malware.

  1. In the first case, everything is clear. You either need to get a more powerful one computer, or minimize the amount of consumed RAM and processor memory by reducing running processes. In simple words, just remove all unnecessary and almost unnecessary programs which take up too much RAM.
  2. In the second case, the Mozilla browser may glitch if you have too many tabs and different programs running. Moreover, this can happen even on a computer stuffed with cool components. What to do in this case:

— Close all programs that consume a lot of RAM.

— Free up more memory by removing some unnecessary processes.

- Clean the registry and temporary files using CCleaner.

  1. The reason may also be a large number of garbage that has accumulated over the entire time you have been working in a web browser. Then you need to do the following:

Well, the problem with viruses is solved, I think it’s clear how. Install any antivirus (if it is not already installed). Run a scan of your entire computer for viruses. And if, upon completion of the scan, the program detects them, delete them. After which you need to restart the system and you can try to launch the browser.

Profile error in Mozilla Firefox

As a rule, such an error indicates that the profile in the browser has been damaged, moved, or completely deleted. You can try to restore the data, but it will be easier to create a new profile.

How to do it:


The most universal way is to reinstall;)

If you have tried everything listed above, but your problem has not been solved, or you have a completely different error for which you did not find a solution in this article, then in this case the ideal option would be to completely reinstall the Mozilla Firefox program. Read the article -. The whole process and all the subtleties of removing and installing the browser are described in detail there.

This article describes what to do if Firefox doesn't open when you click the Firefox icon.

  • If you get a message you can dismiss (e.g. "TypeError: Components.classes["@ ... ;1"] is undefined", "onload error TypeError: ...", "Exc in ev handl: ...") and can open Firefox, see .
  • If Firefox starts but won't load any websites, see Websites don't load - troubleshoot and fix error messages.

Firefox is already running but is not responding

Your Firefox profile cannot be loaded. It may be missing or inaccessible

Failed to read the configuration file

This error is caused by a problem with Firefox program files. The solution is to remove the Firefox program and then reinstall Firefox. (This will not remove your passwords, bookmarks or other user data and settings which are stored in a separate folder.)

  1. Delete the Firefox installation directory, found in one of these locations by default:
    • C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox
    • C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox
  2. Use another browser to download the Firefox installer from the Firefox download page and install it. See How to download and install Firefox on Windows for details.

XULRunner - Error

If you see the message, "XULRunner - Error: Platform version is not compatible with minVersion "" ("" depends on version number), after a software update, use another browser to download the Firefox installer from the Firefox download page , save it to the desktop or other location, delete the Firefox installation directory and then reinstall Firefox.

There was an error launching the application

This error indicates that either Firefox is not installed or your shortcut to it is incorrect. Make sure that Firefox is installed at the location specified by the shortcut. If it isn't, install Firefox if necessary, then modify the shortcut to point to the correct location.

Error opening file for writing…

If you receive the above error when launching Firefox on a Windows system, you may be required by Firefox to log in as an administrator. You can either reboot the computer or, if you have an administrator account, you can execute the program as an administrator.

  1. Find the firefox.exe program file in the Firefox application folder on your system.
  2. Right-click the icon.
  3. Select Run As...Select Run As Administrator… . Select The following user:. From the User name drop-down, select Administrator or another user that has administrator privileges. Enter the password required to log in to this account. Click OK.
  4. The Firefox application is started using the administrator Windows account. The user that was used to log in to Windows at startup is still the active one.

Other error messages

If you get another error message (e.g. "XML Parsing Error: undefined entity Location", "Secure Connection Failed…uses an invalid security certificate"), see Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems.

No error message

If you click the Firefox icon but no Firefox window opens and no error message is shown, a simple first step is to restart your computer and then try again. If Firefox still does not start, see the following sections.

Firefox will not start after updating

  • If you use certain versions of ZoneAlarm or other Internet security software that includes a "Virtual Browsing" feature, it can prevent Firefox from starting. Check virtualization settings and clear the virtual cache, if your Internet security software includes this feature, or visit the software provider"s support site for more help.

Firefox will not start after installing add-ons

If Firefox previously worked but stopped after you installed extensions or themes, see

It is hard to imagine modern user, which would not work with Internet browsers. These utilities help you go online and browse websites. Through them, files and other data are downloaded. The variety of Internet browsers is surprising. A utility called Mozilla Firefox is in great demand. This application is not immune to crashes and problems. Sometimes it turns out that Firefox does not start. What to do under such circumstances? What can lead to disruption of the Internet browser? How to make the browser work? We will try to answer all these questions further. As a rule, the browser refuses normal operation not critical for the operating system. Only information stored in the Internet browser may be affected.

No answer

Doesn't start? This problem is not that rare. It can cause a lot of problems for the user.

Sometimes it happens that the browser starts and does not respond. The application stops responding to user commands. What should I do?

Typically, this situation occurs if the Internet browser was completed incorrectly during the previous session. Or Firefox does not start and freezes due to an operating system failure.

  1. Click on keyboard Ctrl+ Alt + Del.
  2. Select the "Task Manager" line in the window that appears.
  3. Open the "Processes" tab.
  4. Select "Mozilla" and click on the "End process" button.

Access rights

Why won't Firefox launch? Causes similar phenomenon may be different. Therefore, we will consider only the most common scenarios.

Is Mozilla running and not responding? Similar situation sometimes triggered by a lack of access rights to applications.

Firefox won't start? Hangs in processes and does not respond? You can try to get access rights to the utility. To do this you will need:

  1. Press Win + R, or open Start and place the cursor in the search bar.
  2. Write the address in the line that appears. It is listed under the manual.
  3. Right-click on the folder with the profile name "Mozillas" and select the "Properties" section.
  4. Open the "General" block and uncheck the "Read-only" attribute.
  5. Save changes.

As soon as the adjustments take effect, you can launch the Internet browser. The problem with the work of Mozilla should disappear.

The address to go to the Firefox root folder looks like this:

%APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\.

Configuration errors

Firefox won't start? If, when you try to work with the application, a browser configuration error message appears on the screen, this means that the problem lies in the Mozilla files. Similar failures occur various reasons.

What to do? It is best to reinstall the application. Users typically act based on with the following instructions:

  1. Find the latest version of Mozilla using any Internet browser and download it to your computer.
  2. Go to “Start” - “Control Panel” - “Uninstall programs”.
  3. Select "Mozilla" in the menu that appears and click on the "Delete" operation.
  4. Follow the instructions of the "Uninstallation Wizard".
  5. Launch installation file Firefox.
  6. Complete the installation of the application by following the prompts on the monitor display.

Important: when deleting an old version of the Internet browser, it is better to give preference to complete uninstallation. All saved tabs, passwords and addresses will have to be erased from the OS.

Errors reading files to write

Why won't Mozilla Firefox launch? There is no clear answer to such a question. The browser is an application that can stop working for many reasons.

Sometimes when you start the Internet browser, an error reading a file to write appears on the screen. This situation is not common. It involves using an account without administrator rights.

To get Mozilla working, you will either have to change your account or act like this:

  1. Right-click on the Firefox shortcut.
  2. Select the "Run as administrator" operation.
  3. Click "Ok" or "Run".

Now we just have to wait a little. After a few seconds, the Internet browser should start. From now on you can work with him. If the error repeats, you will have to use the above instructions.

Error loading profile

Firefox won't start? On the monitor display does the user see a message about an error loading the utility profile?

A similar problem occurs if the Internet browser account is damaged or completely missing from the operating system. This occurs either as a result viral infection PC, or through user actions. Renaming folders and making adjustments to files in the corresponding ones results in a download error.

The situation can be corrected in different ways. Here are the most common tips that will help you cope with the task:

  1. Restore the profile to the Mozilla root folder.
  2. Return the profile to its original name if it has been changed.
  3. Create new account. In this case, the user will receive a "clean" Firefox.
  4. Scan your computer for viruses and remove all malicious files.

If such manipulations do not help, the surest, fastest and most reliable solution is to reinstall the Internet browser. We have already talked about how to carry it out.

How to create a profile

A few words about how you can create a new account in Mozilla Firefox. Not every user knows about this technique.

To create a “clean” Mozilla profile you will need:

  1. Open a command prompt and write Firefox.exe -P.
  2. Click on "Run" or Enter.
  3. Select the "Create..." command.
  4. Give the new profile a name.
  5. Select a location to save the data.
  6. Select the created account in the window that appears and click on “Launch Firefox”.

It is done. When you start Mozilla, a “clean” profile will be used. Nothing difficult or unclear! Even a novice PC user can cope with the task!

Browser crash

Mozilla Firefox won't start? As you can already see, users are faced with a variety of Internet browser errors. Depending on the message displayed on the screen, the further algorithm of actions will change.

Quite often, users see warnings about the fall of Mozilla. They are called "crashes". As a rule, in this case, the browser processes slow down, after which the utility stops responding to user actions. After a while, the browser closes and a “crash” message appears on the screen.

The error can be caused by anything - from a system failure to a virus infection of the PC. If problems occur immediately after installing Mozilla, you may suspect that the program was installed incorrectly.

What to do? You can correct the situation if you find out the cause of the problems. Here are the most effective techniques for dealing with crashes:

  1. Reinstall Mozilla Firefox after performing complete removal programs.
  2. Scan your computer for viruses and spyware. To do this, you will need any antivirus (Kaspersky, Avast, NOD32 and others) and SpyHunter 4. If dangerous objects are detected, they must be disinfected or removed from the operating system.

As a rule, all of the above techniques allow you to quickly get your Internet browser working. The tips presented to your attention are suitable for all browsers.

Old version

Why won't Firefox launch? Another problem that PC users face is the XULRunner type error. Fortunately, it is becoming less and less common.

A message like this indicates that you are using an outdated version of the Internet browser. You can get Mozilla to work only by updating the corresponding utility.

Important: you need to download installation files only from the official Mozilla pages Firefox. This technique will save you from many problems and failures in the future.

No messages

Does Firefox take a long time to start? This often happens when the processor is busy. Worth completing a few background programs as the computer starts to work faster. And the browser too.

Unfortunately, it increasingly happens that a user opens Firefox, but sees nothing in response - no error messages, no utility crashes, or any other system responses.

How to proceed? Can:

  1. Reinstall the browser, first removing it from the computer completely.
  2. Restore the system. To do this, you need to open "Start" - "All Programs" - "Accessories" - "System Tools" - "Recovery", and then follow the instructions on the screen.
  3. Disable antivirus and other OS protection tools.
  4. Launch Firefox in safe mode. To do this, press Shift and double-click on the browser shortcut.

That's all. Firefox won't start? We got acquainted with the most common mistakes and ways to solve them.

Does the Firefox browser console launch when you activate your browser? You need to click on the cross in the corresponding window. To re-launch the console, just hold down Ctrl + Shift + I.