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When Firefox’s open all my files start to open with Illustrator, but goes back to normal when Firefox‘s closed and computr’s restarted, it happened after update

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by FredMcD

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I stopped to use Firefox and already posted this question from inside Safari, but I was asked to post it from inside of Firefox (by Pkshadow) that it can help developers to define the exact problem. So, here it is.

After Firefox update I started to notice that icons for all my files changed on my Mac and they start to open only with Illustrator!? Even DOC files! When I change setting back through Finder File Info it stays normal for short while but soon changes everything to Illustrator opening again!

Only solution is to close Firefox and restart a computer. Then all goes to normal and files have icons associated with their programs and open as needed. But if I open Firefox it changes everything to Illustrator opening again!

How and why Firefox access and change BASIC settings on Mac OS? It is not good if it is even possible. I like Firefox and have a lot of bookmarks on it but cannot use it anymore! I searched online and there more complains about this problem. This problem is common for Mac users with Firefox, and it is definitely a Firefox bug. Please, look at these forums, especially the first one -

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8142156 https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2412747?start=40&tstart=0 https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2412747 https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8233783 https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2405260#2405260

People usually start to blame Apple and Adobe, only a few guessed that it is a Firefox bug. When Firefox is closed and a computer is restarted everything goes back to normal.

Pkshadow gave me a list of instructions how to reinstall Firefox to try to solve this problem. Unfortunately I am kind of very busy and was not able to do it, may be later, when I have some time for that kind of intervention.

For now I am using Safari, although, as I already said, I like Firefox more. I really hope that maybe the next Firefox update can somehow remove this bug. I hope that this post may help to solve it.

Thank you!

I stopped to use Firefox and already posted this question from inside Safari, but I was asked to post it from inside of Firefox (by Pkshadow) that it can help developers to define the exact problem. So, here it is. After Firefox update I started to notice that icons for all my files changed on my Mac and they start to open only with Illustrator!? Even DOC files! When I change setting back through Finder File Info it stays normal for short while but soon changes everything to Illustrator opening again! Only solution is to close Firefox and restart a computer. Then all goes to normal and files have icons associated with their programs and open as needed. But if I open Firefox it changes everything to Illustrator opening again! How and why Firefox access and change BASIC settings on Mac OS? It is not good if it is even possible. I like Firefox and have a lot of bookmarks on it but cannot use it anymore! I searched online and there more complains about this problem. This problem is common for Mac users with Firefox, and it is definitely a Firefox bug. Please, look at these forums, especially the first one - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8142156 https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2412747?start=40&tstart=0 https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2412747 https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8233783 https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2405260#2405260 People usually start to blame Apple and Adobe, only a few guessed that it is a Firefox bug. When Firefox is closed and a computer is restarted everything goes back to normal. Pkshadow gave me a list of instructions how to reinstall Firefox to try to solve this problem. Unfortunately I am kind of very busy and was not able to do it, may be later, when I have some time for that kind of intervention. For now I am using Safari, although, as I already said, I like Firefox more. I really hope that maybe the next Firefox update can somehow remove this bug. I hope that this post may help to solve it. Thank you!

Chosen solution

It seems that Firefox developers noticed my post because yesterday this problem just got solved without my intervention.

I opened Firefox to look for saved links I needed and it did not affect anything. All my other files kept associated icons and opened as should with their associated apps. By the end of the day I even make Firefox a default browser again and it was OK. I did not use a safe mode or anything. I was on Safari but opened Firefox because I needed some saved links fast.

When I looked online for a solution of this problem earlier some people reported that they started to have it after they drag/dropped images from websites to their computer. So for now I do not do it although it was a very nice feature and I used it a lot. Would love to use it but afraid it may mess up everything again.

Thank you!

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Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link} by holding down the <Shift> (Mac=Options) key, and then starting Firefox.

A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh). Is the problem still there?


Start your Computer in safe mode with network support. Then start Firefox. Try Safe websites. Is the problem still there?

http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Linux+Safe+Mode Starting Any Computer In Safe Mode; Free Online Encyclopedia

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Chosen Solution

It seems that Firefox developers noticed my post because yesterday this problem just got solved without my intervention.

I opened Firefox to look for saved links I needed and it did not affect anything. All my other files kept associated icons and opened as should with their associated apps. By the end of the day I even make Firefox a default browser again and it was OK. I did not use a safe mode or anything. I was on Safari but opened Firefox because I needed some saved links fast.

When I looked online for a solution of this problem earlier some people reported that they started to have it after they drag/dropped images from websites to their computer. So for now I do not do it although it was a very nice feature and I used it a lot. Would love to use it but afraid it may mess up everything again.

Thank you!

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It might have been an update to the computer. Well, as long as its fixed.

Please flag your last post as Solved Problem so others will know.