Discover Mozilla Firefox Safe Mode

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Firefox Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a special Firefox execution mode that can be used to troubleshoot issues in Firefox. In Safe Mode, you can reset some settings or disable extensions and themes that might be the source of the issue. By comparing Firefox behavior in normal mode to its behavior in Safe Mode with various items disabled, you may be able to diagnose issues.


Note: Windows users may be familiar with a Safe Mode for Windows. Firefox Safe Mode has no connection to Windows Safe Mode.


How to start Firefox in Safe Mode

• Close down Firefox completely: At the top of the Firefox window, click the File menu, and select the Exit menu item.Close down Firefox completely: On the menu bar, click the Firefox menu, and select the Quit Firefox menu item.Close down Firefox completely: At the top of the Firefox window, click the File menu, and select the Quit menu item.
  
  
  Windows
  
  This should not be confused with restarting the computer in Windows Safe Mode!
  
  Use the "Mozilla Firefox (Safe Mode)", "Mozilla Thunderbird (Safe Mode)", or "Mozilla Thunderbird (No Extensions)" shortcut in the Mozilla Firefox or Mozilla Thunderbird program folder on the Windows Start Menu. If this shortcut is missing, you can start in Safe Mode by selecting "Start -> Run" (on Windows Vista, use "Start Search" or enable the Run box, as described here) and entering,
  
  For Firefox, one of these:
  
  

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

  For Thunderbird, one of these:
  
  

   thunderbird -safe-mode
  "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -safe-mode

  Adjust the path accordingly, if you installed your Mozilla program in a different location than shown above.
  
  
  Linux
  
  On Linux, you can go to your Terminal and run (for Firefox):
  
  

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

  
  Mac OS X
  
  On Mac OS X, go to Utilities (in the Applications folder) and open Terminal, then run (for Firefox):
  

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

  And for Thunderbird, this is the line to run in Terminal:
  
  
  

  /Applications/Thunderbird.app/Contents/MacOS/thunderbird-bin -safe-mode

  If you have installed the application to another location, modify the path as such. It's the "-safe-mode" command line parameter that's crucial here.
  
  
• Mac OS :
  
  
  • Hold down the Option key, as you start Firefox.
  
  
  
• 2.0, Mac OS:
  
  • Go to the Utilities directory (in the Applications folder) and open Terminal, then run:
    
    

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

  • Go to your Terminal and run:
    
    

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

  
  
  
• Firefox should start up with a Firefox Safe Mode dialog.
  
  
  
  • Note: You can also start Firefox in Safe Mode by clicking Start, selecting Run (or use the Start Search box in Windows Vista) and then entering the following in the text field:
    
    

    firefox -safe-mode

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How to know you're in Safe Mode

Thunderbird

• All extensions will be disabled. You will still be able to select them in the Add-ons/Extensions list but only for the purpose of upgrading or uninstalling (the options button will be disabled).
• Default toolbar settings and controls will be used.
• Thunderbird will be using the default theme.

Firefox

• A window called Firefox Safe Mode with some troubleshooting options appears.

At that point, you can either continue to Safe Mode or select some troubleshooting options and restart Firefox in normal mode to apply the changes.

If you choose to continue in Safe Mode:

• All extensions will be disabled (but this will not reset any Firefox preferences that some extensions may modify).
• Firefox will be using the default theme.
• Default toolbar settings and controls will be used .

If you choose any of the troubleshooting options, the changes are only applied if you choose Make Changes and Restart.


Safe Mode window

You now have three options:

• Clicking the Exit cancels your attempt to get into Firefox's Safe Mode.
  
  
• Clicking the Continue In Safe Mode starts 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.
  
  
• The Make Changes and Restart is only enabled if you select one of the boxes above it:
  
  • Disable all add-ons: If you select this box and then click Make Changes and Restart then Firefox will start back up in its normal mode, except all your extensions and themes (but not plugins) will be disabled. (Not uninstalled.)
    
    
  • Reset toolbars and controls: If you select this box and then click Make Changes and Restart then Firefox will start back up in its normal mode, except any toolbar customizations you have made will be lost, such as position of buttons and toolbars,
    
    
  • Reset bookmarks to Firefox defaults: If you select this box and then click Make Changes and Restart then Firefox will delete your current bookmarks and replace them with its default set.
    
    
  • Reset all user preferences to Firefox defaults: If you select this box and then click Make Changes and Restart then any changes you have made to Firefox's options will be set back to their default settings.
    
    
  • Restore default search engines: If you select this box and then click Make Changes and Restart then any of the default search engines you deleted will be restored.

Exiting Safe Mode

• From the menu at the top of the Firefox windowbar, select FileFirefox and then select the ExitQuit FirefoxQuit menu item.
  
  
• Start Firefox as you normally would.
  
  
  • If Firefox keeps starting in Safe Mode see Firefox is stuck in Safe Mode.