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consistant error message, "The proxy server is refusing connections" What to do now?

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  • 50 have this problem
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  • Last reply by cor-el

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"The proxy server is refusing connections"

I believe the update caused this error EVERYTIME I open up firefox. I already know how to disable it since I looked it up. I went to Tools> Options> Advance> Network> Settings> and then the four options including "No proxy" which I've chosen so far. I have tried all four options (except manual, because this causes the error), and every one, but manual, solves it. But my real problem is that every time I close and open up firefox again, the option resets back to "Manual proxy configuration" and I have to choose "no proxy" again.


I opened up Safari to see if it works, and it does work. I think only firefox is affected with the error. I also tried re-installing firefox but didn't work.

"The proxy server is refusing connections" I believe the update caused this error EVERYTIME I open up firefox. I already know how to disable it since I looked it up. I went to Tools> Options> Advance> Network> Settings> and then the four options including "No proxy" which I've chosen so far. I have tried all four options (except manual, because this causes the error), and every one, but manual, solves it. But my real problem is that every time I close and open up firefox again, the option resets back to "Manual proxy configuration" and I have to choose "no proxy" again. I opened up Safari to see if it works, and it does work. I think only firefox is affected with the error. I also tried re-installing firefox but didn't work.

All Replies (7)

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You can find the connection settings in Tools > Options > Advanced : Network : Connection
If you do not need to use a proxy to connect to internet then select "No Proxy"

See "Firefox connection settings":

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Hey Cor-el, I'm not sure if you read entirely what I wrote, but I know how to do that already. That's not the problem, the problem is the error comes back every time I reopen firefox as though the selected default is "manual proxy configuration".


I don't know if I use a proxy to connect to the internet. I don't know what a proxy is.. please help!

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Hey Cor-el, I appreciate your help. I have tried the solutions the link offered, and here's what happened:

1) Read-only or locked preference file: I did not find any pref.js files with numbers or received error, "Failed to save the preferences file. Any preference changes will be lost at the end of the session".

2) Corrupt or damaged prefs.js file: I have replaced the pref.js file following these steps, but when I open up firefox, the same problem occurs with the error.

3) Other software prevents preference changes: I don't have any of those programs. And any clean up softwares weren't installed recently.

4)User.js file locks certain preferences: I renamed User.js file, but it didn't work.


What to do now?

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Do you have a user.js file in the Firefox Profile Folder?

There can only be such a file if you or other software created it.
The file isn't there by default.

What is the content of user.js?


Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Open Containing Folder

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Well, the problem is no longer there.. I don't know what I did, and I don't even think I did anything after giving up and waiting for an answer. But here's what is on user file: user_pref("yahoo.homepage.dontask", true);user_pref("network.protocol-handler.warn-external.dnupdate", false);"

Now I have a different problem.. My firefox no longer looks like the way I customized it before. It's bare and minimal.. not too sure if this is the default look, but that doesn't bother me much. The prob is after that changed, I can't seem to view youtube or dailymotion videos anymore on firefox. Video viewing is working on Google Chrome, however. It asked me to update my adobe flash player to view, but I already did. What should I call my previous problem? And should I post this new problem in a different thread?

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That looks like prefs added by other software on your computer.


You can reset all toolbar customizations by clicking the "Restore Default Set" button in the Customize window.

Open the Customize window via "View > Toolbars > Customize" or via "Firefox > Options > Toolbar Layout"


To restore the old appearance right click the orange Firefox button to open the toolbar context menu or use (F10) View > Toolbars.

  • Click the Menu Bar entry and place a check-mark to make the Menu Bar visible all the time.
  • Click "Tabs on Top" to remove the check mark and place the Tab Bar at its original position just above the browser window.