Note: "Safe Mode is a debugging startup mode available in Firefox, Thunderbird, and SeaMonkey 2, where all added extensions are disabled, the default theme is used, and default localstore settings (toolbar settings and controls) are used. Safe Mode also disables hardware acceleration, the Just-in-time (JIT) JavaScript compiler, and any changes made via userContent.css and userChrome.css. Any changes made to preference settings remain in effect in Safe Mode, however, and all available plugins are used." (Source: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Safe_Mode )

To start in Safe Mode, hold down the Shift key while clicking the Firefox desktop icon for Firefox.

• See --> https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-firefox-issues-using-safe-mode

If Firefox is sluggish when in regular mode but not when in Safe Mode, the cause may be one of your extensions.

• Troubleshooting extensions and themes
• Troubleshooting plugins
• Basic Troubleshooting

If this reply solves your problem, please click "Solved It" next to this reply when signed-in to the forum.

Not related to your question, but...

You may need to update some plug-ins. Check your plug-ins and update as necessary:

• Plug-in check --> http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/plugincheck/
• Adobe Shockwave for Director Netscape plug-in: Installing (or Updating) the Shockwave plugin with Firefox
• Adobe PDF Plug-In For Firefox and Netscape: Installing/Updating Adobe Reader in Firefox
• Shockwave Flash (Adobe Flash or Flash): Updating Flash in Firefox
• Next Generation Java Plug-in for Mozilla browsers: Installing or Updating Java in Firefox

You will always have to close and restart Firefox to start in Safe mode or disable extensions otherwise.

What kind of problems do you have that you want to start in safe mode?

Good stuff guys, much appreciated. I did find out , out of all my plugins,my Adobe Flash player was out of date, so I updated that, but would this alone, really cause my Firefox to run a bit bloated and slow? I just like to run Firefox in Safemode and with Addons Disabled, because it just takes up much less memory than regular Firefox, allowing my PC to run faster it seems. Hopefully there is no harm in running Firefox in Safe Mode everyday? Thanks!!!

If Flash was causing problems on video sites, see:

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/flash-113-doesnt-load-video-firefox
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/flash-113-crashes
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/keep-flash-up-to-date-and-troubleshoot-problems

There is no harm running in Firefox Safe Mode (not the same as Windows Safe Mode). It is just that Extensions and some other items are disabled as per the "Note:" at the top of my original reply.

Extensions do take some memory (RAM), but generally not an appreciable amount. If you are running XP with minimal RAM, you might consider adding more RAM; I upgraded my old XP system to 3GB RAM for approx $100 a while back and it runs much better. If you suspect Extensions are causing Firefox to run slower, I posted above three links to investigate problems; here are those links again: :

• Troubleshooting extensions and themes
• Troubleshooting plugins
• Basic Troubleshooting

If this reply solves your problem, please click "Solved It" next to this reply when signed-in to the forum.

You can also try a new profile if you want to test if your current Firefox Profile Folder is causing the problems and not your security software.
Problems with the places.sqlite file also can cause a slowdown.

Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.

See "Basic Troubleshooting: Make a new profile":

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Basic+Troubleshooting#w_8-make-a-new-profile

There may be extensions and plugins installed by default in a new profile, so check that in "Tools > Add-ons > Extensions & Plugins" in case there are still problems.

If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from the old profile to that new profile, but be careful not to copy corrupted files.

See:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox

Ok. thanks guys created and a new profile and restarted, and all kind of memory freed up, but of course Firefox is practically Bare, so that is expected. Checked the plugins and extensions, no major problems found there I could see. I have approx a little over a Gig Of RAM installed, do not think I can add too much more on my older 2005 Dell PC. So I will just run Firefox in Safemode when Memory starts to get tight. Thanks again guys for all the good info!!!

You're welcome

You can check the current memory usage on the about:memory page (via the location bar).

There is also an about:compartment page that may help with memory leaks.

• http://blog.kylehuey.com/post/21892343371/fixing-the-memory-leak

You can go to the site below and enter your system manufacturer, model, and other information to see what kind of memory and how much your system will hold. Then shop around for the best price. My old XP system is from 2004.

• http://www.crucial.com/

One final question, Since I use Safemode quite frequently, How can I add Firefox Safemode as a shortcut on my PC desktop? Anyway to do this? Thanks!!!

Make a copy of the current Firefox desktop shortcut and add the -safe-mode switch to the command line.

• https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Command_Line_Options

Thanks for response, but I am just not clear on exactly how to do this in command line. I went to cmd, then typed : firefox -ProfileManager, then copied the Firefox desktop shortcut, but unclear after this step. Please advise specific steps if you can. Thanks!

1. Follow steps 1-4 in this article --> http://kb.mozillazine.org/Shortcut_to_a_specific_profile
2. Step 2. in article will be, rename to something meaningful like "Firefox Safe Mode"
3. Step 5 in article will be:
   • Click once (so that the path is no longer highlighted) then add a space, then type -safe-mode (including hyphens, no spaces within -safe-mode)
4. Then step 6 in article.

If this reply solves your problem, please click "Solved It" next to this reply when signed-in to the forum.

Easiest is to make an extra copy of the current Firefox desktop shortcut elsewhere on the desktop.
Then open its properties via the right-click context menu and add a space and -safe-mode to the existing command line to have a desktop short cut that opens Firefox in safe mode.
Add (safe-mode) to its name via the right-click context menu and Rename to avoid confusion.

Hello Cor-el, your method sounds alot easier, but after creating shortcut, and adding the: -safe-mode to Target name in properties, it keeps rejecting it, same file name Invalid etc. I need to keep the .exe on end of line right? Do you know what I am doing wrong here?? Thanks

The article http://kb.mozillazine.org/Shortcut_to_a_specific_profile is the same as what was suggested by cor-el,

• it just gives you 3 options in step 1 to copy an existing shortcut or create a new shortcut.
• and I then noted the changes in steps 2 and 5 as the article deals with creating a new shortcut to a different profile.

Note that the entire path to the executable (firefox.exe) must be enclosed in quotations if there are spaces in the path. Do not put the -safe-mode within the quotation marks.

If this reply solves your problem, please click "Solved It" next to this reply when signed-in to the forum.

Ok , thanks guys, but after following instructions, but then when I click on New Firefox Safe mode shortcut, it still opens as normal Firefox only, not in Safe mode. So I will just continue to hit Shift key and wait until Firefox Safe mode loads.

Hopefully Firefox developers will add in the near future a Firefox Super Light Option or a built in Safe mode option we can easily access on start up.Thanks!!!

Make sure that you leave a space before the -safe-mode switch.
You need to add that space after the closing quotes(") that make the path to the Firefox program.

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

Copied exactly as you have it listed cor-el above with spaces etc, but still will not open new shortcut in safe mode. Tks

Does Firefox open if you click that desktop shortcut?

If not then check the Firefox file path on your computer and paste the current command line in a reply on this forum.

You can only start Firefox in Safe mode if Firefox isn't running yet, so you can check in the Task Manager to make sure that all Firefox processes are ended if Firefox opens, but you do not get the Safe mode start window.

Lol, those were the magic words. I still had my orig Firefox Safemode open for this forum while I was testing the new shortcut. Once I closed previous Firefox, the new shortcut opened right up in safe mode. Many many Thanks!!!!

I wish all other PC and audio Help/Support forums was as efficient and timely as this one. You guys all over it here!!! Thanks!!!