Avatar for Username

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

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Firefox crashes, can not close already running Firefox

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

Grovely
Grovely
more options

Firefox kept crashing. I tried to uninstall and reinstall, BUT I keep getting a message that I need to close Firefox already running. I can not close it because it says it can't access the PROFILE. I can't close the already running Firefox. I do not SEE it running anywhere. I Uninstalled Firefox, but evidently it is still somewhere in my computer. How can I get it closed so I can proceed with reinstalling Firefox?

Firefox kept crashing. I tried to uninstall and reinstall, BUT I keep getting a message that I need to close Firefox already running. I can not close it because it says it can't access the PROFILE. I can't close the already running Firefox. I do not SEE it running anywhere. I Uninstalled Firefox, but evidently it is still somewhere in my computer. How can I get it closed so I can proceed with reinstalling Firefox?

Chosen solution

You need to locate the profiles.ini file and delete this file or use the Profile Manager to create a new profile.

See:

This issue can be caused by a problem with the profiles.ini file or with the permissions (owner) of involved folders.

You can use one of these to make Firefox create a new default profile or recover an existing profile:

  • Delete the profiles.ini file to make Firefox create a new (default) profile
  • Use the Profile Manager to create a new profile
    If you still have an existing profile then click "Choose Folder" in the Profile Manager and browse to the location of a lost profile to recover this profile
    https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Managing+profiles

You should find the profiles.ini file in this hidden location:

  • Windows: %AppData%\Mozilla\Firefox\
    *C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\
  • Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/
  • Linux: ~/.mozilla/firefox/

If clearing the profiles.ini file isn't working then also check the location of the cache files.

  • Windows: *C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<profile>\
  • Mac: ~/Library/Caches/Firefox/Profiles/
  • Linux:~/.cache/mozilla/firefox/

You can also try to rename/delete the MozillaFirefox folder in both above mentioned locations (main, cache).

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (2)

Vault108
Vault108
more options

Hello,

Just a few questions:

1) What OS are you running? 2) Have you tried to restart your computer and see if the issue still occurs?

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Chosen Solution

You need to locate the profiles.ini file and delete this file or use the Profile Manager to create a new profile.

See:

This issue can be caused by a problem with the profiles.ini file or with the permissions (owner) of involved folders.

You can use one of these to make Firefox create a new default profile or recover an existing profile:

  • Delete the profiles.ini file to make Firefox create a new (default) profile
  • Use the Profile Manager to create a new profile
    If you still have an existing profile then click "Choose Folder" in the Profile Manager and browse to the location of a lost profile to recover this profile
    https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Managing+profiles

You should find the profiles.ini file in this hidden location:

  • Windows: %AppData%\Mozilla\Firefox\
    *C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\
  • Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/
  • Linux: ~/.mozilla/firefox/

If clearing the profiles.ini file isn't working then also check the location of the cache files.

  • Windows: *C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<profile>\
  • Mac: ~/Library/Caches/Firefox/Profiles/
  • Linux:~/.cache/mozilla/firefox/

You can also try to rename/delete the MozillaFirefox folder in both above mentioned locations (main, cache).