Please don't use other programs to clear Firefox data. This often ends up corrupting wanted files.

Many site issues can be caused by corrupt cookies or cache.

• Clear the Cache and

• Remove Cookies

Warning ! ! This will log you out of sites you're logged in to. You may also lose any settings for that website.

Type about:preferences<enter> in the address bar.

• Cookies; Select Privacy. Under History, select

Firefox will Use Custom Settings. Press the button on the right side called Show Cookies. Use the search bar to look for the site. Note; There may be more than one entry. Remove All of them.

• Cache; Select Advanced > Network. Across from

Cached Web Content, Press Clear Now.

If there is still a problem, Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link} A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh). While you are in safe mode;

Try disabling graphics hardware acceleration in Firefox. Since this feature was added to Firefox it has gradually improved but there are still a few glitches.

You will need to restart Firefox for this to take effect so save all work first (e.g., mail you are composing, online documents you're editing, etc.,) and then perform these steps:

In Firefox 54 and below:

1. Click the menu button and select Options (Windows) or Preferences (Mac, Linux).
2. Select the Advanced panel and the General tab.
3. Uncheck Use hardware acceleration when available.
4. Close Firefox completely and then restart Firefox to see if the problem persists.

In Firefox 55 and above:

1. Click the menu button and select Options (Windows) or Preferences (Mac, Linux).
2. Select the General panel.
3. Under Performance, uncheck Use recommended performance settings. Additional settings will be displayed.

   

4. Uncheck Use hardware acceleration when available.
5. Close Firefox completely and then restart Firefox to see if the problem persists.

Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

If the problem is resolved, you should check for updates for your graphics driver by following the steps mentioned in these Knowledge base articles:

• Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems

• Upgrade your graphics drivers to use hardware acceleration and WebGL

Hi FredMcD,

Thanks for the speedy response I appreciate it. I've just tried all the suggestions that you showed above but the problem is still there, it works OK the first time I sign in and out, then after that it's back to its old tricks not signing out.

Okay. Your status with the website is stored in a special cookie, along with things like your options with that site.

You may have a corrupt cookies.sqlite file. Delete cookies.sqlite + cookies.sqlite.old + cookies.sqlite-shm + cookies.sqlite-wal

Note: This will remove all information websites store on the computer.

Type about:support<enter> in the address bar.

Under the page logo on the left side, you will see Application Basics. Under this find Profile Folder. To its right press the button Show Folder. This will open your file browser to the current Firefox profile. Now Close Firefox.

Locate the above file. Then rename or delete it. Restart Firefox.

Hi FredMcD,

Thanks again for the response. I just removed the said files but still the same no change.

I have been experiencing this for a couple of months now, on a Win 7 Pro laptop using Firefox 50-something (it has continued to occur even through the several updates of Firefox). I must admit that I thought it was something to do with changes Microsoft made to the web version of Outlook (all eye candy and no real benefit for the user) because as soon as those changes were put on the web, I have been unable to log-out visually and have the webpage show as such. In fact after a logout of Outlook the tab is frozen and nothing works on it!

Now I just sign-out of Outlook and close that tab using the X at the top of the tab, and I then confirm my logout by opening up the Outlook sign-in webpage again. If it wants me to sign-in, then I must have been logged out! Not ideal, but it works. I hadn't considered that it might be a Firefox issue. Once my favourite browser, with a good handful of plug-ins, Firefox has quickly become an utter pain in the proverbial. I have no plans to move to version 57.

Hi bernoullis,

I've tried all the possibilities that FredMcD has added above but no joy so I'm wondering is it a Microsoft issue as you have no control over the updates and you just wouldn't know what the Microsoft control freaks are up to behind the scenes. I've refreshed Firefox and Windows 10 also clean installs of both but the problem remains, strange to say the least.

As for Firefox 57 I think that will cause a lot issues for all of us but that remains to be seen it could all go smoothly ya never know. Keep your eye on this thread someone may get a result and I'll try the Microsoft control freaks and if there is a result via them I'll post it here as it may help yourself and others cheers.

paperfree said

As for Firefox 57 I think that will cause a lot issues for all of us but that remains to be seen it could all go smoothly ya never know.

Mozilla's idea to completely change the way Firefox handles plug-ins/add-ons in version 57 means I, and many, many other users, will lose the most useful bits of the web-browsing experience, some of which I have had for nearly a decade. I stand to lose ALL of the add-ons I consider indispensible, so I will not be moving to Firefox 57. It is what it is, but Mozilla really do seem to have lost sight of the things for which they once stood for. "Internet for people, not profit." Unfortunately, that is not what it looks like from where I stand.

But if you do find a solution to this current issue, I would be pleased to hear about it!

I plan to stay with v54

Any particular reason why you would stick with 54 rather than, say, 55 or 56? I am just curious, that is all, so no need for a deep explanation, just your brief thoughts, as you are obviously a technically capable person with a knowledge of Firefox and Windows.

I went up to Firefox 55 and then 56, just to see if a couple of things (like the Hotmail/Oulook failure to properly sign out) would improve, but it all remained troublesome. Version 57? No chance.  ;-)

I am also now having problems with the iOS version of Firefox (I am NOT a fan of Apple kit, but my employer insists that I use an iPad for work, yuck!).

When v55 came out there were all kinds of issues. While this is kind of normal for those giving support here, there was just too many problems.

Not to mention the loss of very important and valuable add-ons. I have one add-on that backs up my profile each day. Very handy when gremlins show up for dinner. ( Get out of the freezer! )

Hi Guys,

Just spoke with Microsoft and no joy out of them other than they suggest using Edge ("no thanks no chance") I'll put up with it for now until a fix found. Thanks for trying I very much appreciate your efforts have a good one if I find a FIX I'll post it here for all to see cheers.

Last resort;

https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Clear+Recent+History#w_how-do-i-remove-a-single-website-from-my-history

Remove History For One Site

Open the History Manager <Control><Shift> H. In the search bar, enter the name of the site. Right-click on one of the listings and select Forget About This Site. This should remove all information, including any passwords / settings.

Hi FredMcD,

Tried the history removal but no good same old same old just will not play the game any way but the way it wants to play unfortunately. Thanks for your efforts I appreciate you help cheers.

Did you ever try; 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?

Just tried safe mode Fred and it's signing out as it should. Does that suggest that an add-on is causing the problem???

It might be. Disable all of them and restart Firefox.

Well, this is interesting. When I first experienced this issue of being unable to sign out of Hotmail/Oulook in the normal manner, the first thing I tried was Safe Mode, and it didn't change the sign-out problems. Safe Mode is something I turn to to fairly often, as my suite of plug-ins consists of anti-trackers, cookie-deleters etc (I hate being a commodity on the web ...) and I know they can occasionally cause issues with some sites e.g. online banking.

But having read about paperfree's success with Safe Mode, I thought I would just try it one more time. Well, today, it has worked! Why didn't it before? I can only assume it was due to being tried in one of the earlier Firefox versions (probably 54 or 55?). Firefox changes versions so regularly now that I do sometimes wonder what the heck is going on behind the GUI! I guess it will be a case of trying to disable/enable one plug-in at a time and find out which one is the culprit. That is, of course, if Microsoft doesn't lock me out of my Hotmail/Outlook account for trying too many log-ins/log-outs! Wibble!

FredMcD, thanks for your advice in general, and for the info about Firefox 54. I think I might step back to that version and see if it suits my circumstances a bit better.

You can also consider to use a second profile without any such blockers for these special websites.

See:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Creating_a_new_Firefox_profile_on_windows
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Shortcut_to_a_specific_profile
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Using_multiple_profiles_-_Firefox

OK I fell asleep there for a while much needed Z's!!! I'll try the disable option one at a time now and see which add-on is the offender and get back shortly.

Howdy Folks,

I finally got time to disable the add-ons and log in and out of Hotmail/Outlook, no change still the same result I have to refresh the page every time to complete the log out. Might just have to put up with it. Thank you everyone for your input I really appreciate it cheers have a good one.