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Firefox has begun to go to a blank page when booting. If I boot Firefox a scond time with the original still open it boots to my homepage as it should. Why?

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  • Last reply by raholub

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This just recently began. When I boot FIrefox it goes to a blank page instead of my home page as in the past and as it should. I reviewed and found that all settings were correct. I then tried to reset all settings. But Firefox still boots to a blank page. If I boot Firefox a second time, with Firefox already running it boots correctly to my homepage. What gives?

This just recently began. When I boot FIrefox it goes to a blank page instead of my home page as in the past and as it should. I reviewed and found that all settings were correct. I then tried to reset all settings. But Firefox still boots to a blank page. If I boot Firefox a second time, with Firefox already running it boots correctly to my homepage. What gives?

Chosen solution

There is a bug in Firefox 44 that affects users who set Firefox to clear history when closing Firefox. If Firefox does not finish the job -- for example, because Windows prematurely "killed" Firefox -- it will resume trying to clear history at startup. There is a timing bug in the code when the home page doesn't open quickly enough which halts the startup process. That bug will be fixed in Firefox 45. Until then, you'll have to click the Home button on the toolbar or use the Alt+Home keyboard shortcut to load the home page.

I don't know whether it makes any difference, but if you usually close Firefox using the red "X" button on the title bar, or any other standard Windows method, try using Exit from the menu to see whether that helps. Either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "power" button
  • (menu bar) File > Exit
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All Replies (4)

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Good evening,

your browser to a recent version? Have you tried to reinstall the browser? Thank you for understand.

Best regards, David-Walczysko Volunteer Supporter

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What is in the address bar of that blank page?

Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web Link} by holding down the <Shift>
(Mac=Options)
key, and then starting Firefox. Is the problem still there?

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Chosen Solution

There is a bug in Firefox 44 that affects users who set Firefox to clear history when closing Firefox. If Firefox does not finish the job -- for example, because Windows prematurely "killed" Firefox -- it will resume trying to clear history at startup. There is a timing bug in the code when the home page doesn't open quickly enough which halts the startup process. That bug will be fixed in Firefox 45. Until then, you'll have to click the Home button on the toolbar or use the Alt+Home keyboard shortcut to load the home page.

I don't know whether it makes any difference, but if you usually close Firefox using the red "X" button on the title bar, or any other standard Windows method, try using Exit from the menu to see whether that helps. Either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "power" button
  • (menu bar) File > Exit
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You were right on the money! After I removed the "clear history" option in the settings Firefox now boots to my homepage. Many thanks!!!!!!!!!!!