Firefox starts but won't show on my screen, and I've tried all suggestions here that I found for the same problem, and it will. not. work.
It actually opens, but refuses to display. When I start it in Safe Mode, a window does come up, but it hangs and hangs and hangs and hangs and hangs (you get the idea) with a blank white tab as it tries to "restore session." It never actually opens in safe mode.
All Replies (3)
Try create a new profile or reset Firefox:
It is possible that your security software (firewall, anti-virus) blocks or restricts Firefox or the plugin-container process without informing you, possibly after detecting changes (update) to the Firefox program.
Remove all rules for Firefox and the plugin-container from the permissions list in the firewall and let your firewall ask again for permission to get full, unrestricted, access to internet for Firefox and the plugin-container process and the updater process.
See:
Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problem.
See "Creating a profile":
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues
If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.
Occasionally the Firefox window will get off screen. Here are three different approaches to getting that window into view. One of them should work!
Firefox Window "off screen" — Arrow Key Method
If you know that Firefox is off to a particular side, you can use the arrow keys to move it back on screen. You only need to move it far enough to be able to click the title bar and then you can drag it the rest of the way.
Make the Firefox tile active on the task bar and press this key combination to start moving the window:
Alt+Spacebar > M
(To clarify, that's Alt+Spacebar to open the window control menu, then the letter m to start moving the window.)
Press the arrow key for the direction you want to move the window, e.g., press the left arrow key to move the window left. Press the Enter key to complete the move.
Firefox Window "off screen" — Maximize + New Window Script Method
If Firefox is nowhere to be found but you know it's out there, try this method. Make the Firefox tile active on the task bar and press this key combination to maximize the window:
Alt+Spacebar > X
(To clarify, that's Alt+Spacebar to open the window control menu, then the letter x to maximize the window.)
If that works, try this:
(1) Copy the following line of code to the clipboard (it's all one line...):
newwin=window.open(window.location.href,"_blank","width=640,height=480,menubar,toolbar,personalbar");newwin.moveTo(0,0);
(2) In the maximized window, press Ctrl+Shift+k to open the web console.
(3) Press Ctrl+v to paste the line of code next to the caret (») then press Enter to run it. A new copy of that page should open in a window positioned at the top left of the screen.
(4) Switch back to the maximized window and close it first, before doing anything in the new window.
Firefox Window "off screen" — Remove Settings File
If you can't move or maximize Firefox, you can rename or delete the settings file that stores the last window position.
(1) Open your currently active Firefox settings folder (AKA Firefox profile folder). From the Start menu (Run box or search box), paste this into the search box and press Enter:
%APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles
This should open a window showing one or more Firefox profile folders. If you have multiple folders, look for the most recent. Click into your profile folder.
(2) If Firefox is still running, right-click it on the Task Bar and Close all Windows.
(3) Wait a few moments for Firefox to finish updating files in your profile folder, then rename localstore.rdf to something else, like localstore-bad.rdf or localstore.old. Alternately, you can delete the file.
(4) You're done with your profile folder and you can restart Firefox now.