Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

After every Firefox upgrade I am unable to use it. I have to uninstall it then reinstall Firefox. This happens every time there's an upgrade.

  • 5 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

Firefox alerts everytime there's an upgrade available. I decline the upgrade because of crashes. Then Firefox automatically upgrades. When that happens I can no longer access the internet. I have to uninstall Firefox then go online via IE and reinstall Firefox. Once it it reinstalled it works fine. So my question is - why does an upgrade cause Firefox to stop working and how can I avoid that in the future?

Firefox alerts everytime there's an upgrade available. I decline the upgrade because of crashes. Then Firefox automatically upgrades. When that happens I can no longer access the internet. I have to uninstall Firefox then go online via IE and reinstall Firefox. Once it it reinstalled it works fine. So my question is - why does an upgrade cause Firefox to stop working and how can I avoid that in the future?

All Replies (5)

more options

There could be several reasons.

  • Firewall

Some problems occurs when your Internet security program was set to trust the previous version of Firefox, but no longer recognizes your updated version as trusted. Now how to fix the problem: To allow Firefox to connect to the Internet again;

  • Make sure your Internet security software is up-to-date (i.e. you are running the latest version).
  • Remove Firefox from your program's list of trusted or recognized programs. For detailed instructions, see

Configure firewalls so that Firefox can access the Internet. {web link}

more options

Separate issue;

Update your Shockwave Flash v15.0.0.152 http://get.adobe.com/shockwave/ The link for Flash Player v14.0.0.179 http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

more options
  • add / mal-ware.

It could be the work of one of your add-ons, or even add / mal-ware. Look thru your add-ons list and make sure you know what each one is and what it does. Also, check the programs that are on your computer

Windows: Start > Control Panel > Uninstall Programs. Mac: Open the "Applications" folder. Linux: Check your user manual.

Go thru the list. If you find something that you don't know what it is, use a web search.

Troubleshoot Firefox Issues Caused By Malware {web link}

more options
  • Network Proxy

Type about:preferences in the address bar and press Enter.

Select Advanced > Network. Look for Configure How Firefox Connects and press the Settings button. Check the settings.

more options

Do a clean reinstall and delete the Firefox program folder before (re)installing a fresh copy of the current Firefox release.

If possible uninstall your current Firefox version to cleanup the Windows registry and settings in security software.

  • Do NOT remove "personal data" when you uninstall your current Firefox version, because this will remove all profile folders and you lose personal data like bookmarks and passwords including data in profiles created by other Firefox versions.

Remove the Firefox program folder before installing that newly downloaded copy of the Firefox installer.

  • (32 bit Windows) "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\"
  • (64 bit Windows) "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\"

Your bookmarks and other personal data are stored in the Firefox profile folder and won't be affected by an uninstall and (re)install, but make sure NOT to remove personal data when you uninstall Firefox as that will remove all Firefox profile folders and you lose your personal data.

If you keep having problems then also create a new profile.



It is possible that your security software (firewall, anti-virus) blocks or restricts Firefox or the plugin-container process without informing you, possibly after detecting changes (update) to the Firefox program.

Remove all rules for Firefox and the plugin-container from the permissions list in the firewall and let your firewall ask again for permission to get full unrestricted access to internet for Firefox and the plugin-container process and the updater process.

See: