Open Firefox in Safe Mode

Microsoft Windows:

Click on the File menu located on the top of the Firefox window and select Exit. From your Windows desktop, click Start, then open All Programs and select the Mozilla Firefox folder. From here, select Safe Mode.

OR

Open Run command from the Start Menu, and type:

C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe -safe-mode

Linux Distributions:

Open Terminal from the Applications Menu and Type:

/path/to/firefox/firefox -safe-mode

Mac OS X:

Navigate to Applications, then click on Utilities. Select Terminal and type:

Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/MacOS/firefox -safe-mode

Firefox will then start up with the Firefox Safe Mode dialog box.

Continue Firefox in Safe Mode

When the browser boots in Safe Mode, all customizations will be disabled by default. Safe Mode will not automatically load any extensions, themes, add-ons and toolbars. This is useful to check whether the problem involves these various elements or if it is some other hidden issue.

• Disable all add-ons – Firefox will start back up in its normal mode, except all extensions, themes, and plugins will be disabled.
• Reset toolbars and controls – Firefox will start back up in its normal mode, except any toolbar customizations you have made will be removed, such as position of buttons and toolbars.
• Delete all bookmarks except for backups – Firefox will delete your current bookmarks and replace them with the default set.
• Reset all user preferences to Firefox defaults – Any changes you have made to Firefox options will be set back to their default settings.
• Restore default search engines – Any of the default search engines previously deleted will be restored.

These options are activated if you select them in the Firefox Safe Mode dialog box.

Next, you’ll be presented with three options on the bottom of the dialog box: Make Changes and Restart, Continue in Safe Mode, and Exit.

Make Changes and Restart will only enabled if you select one of the boxes above it (which is discussed below).

Selecting Continue In Safe Mode initiates Firefox in its Safe Mode. While you are in Safe Mode, your extensions and themes will be disabled, and any toolbar customizations will be reverted back to their defaults. These changes are not permanent – when you leave Safe Mode and start Firefox up normally, your extensions, themes, and settings will return to the state they were in before you entered Safe Mode.

Exit cancels your attempt to get into Firefox’s Safe Mode.

Your Firefox browser will then boot in Safe Mode. Navigate through as you would on your regular customized browser and locate potential bugs and technical issues.