W10 start button shows Mozilla F irefox as installed, and it runs but I'm unable to find it to uninstall...
Hello,
Windows 10 – Mozilla Firefox 56.0 (64 bit) Update 63.0.1
I need to uninstall Mozilla Firefox but I’m unable to find it !!!
If I click on Start, Mozilla Firefox appears in the list. Clicking on it opens up the programme, I can type into the search bar and it appears to operate as I would have expected, in other words I can surf the net so it’s definitely installed…
If I type apps in the search box a list of installed software appears, it does not contain Mozilla Firefox. I have CCleaner installed which again does not list Mozilla Firefox in the list of programmes it can uninstall. I then downloaded & installed Revo Uninstaller and surprise surprise Mozilla Firefox is not listed here either.
I have looked in the Programme Files folder of my C: drive – the only drive I have installed at present and I cannot see ‘any’ reference to Mozilla Firefox in there either. Now if I select uninstall from start – Mozilla Firefox I’m taken to the Programmes and Features screen which tells me 32 programmes are installed and lists them. Mozilla Firefox is not included. If I select open file location from start-Mozilla Firefox-more it takes me to the C drive but it’s only a 2 Kb short cut.
All Replies (10)
Did you check your uninstall in Control Panel? Otherwise look at the Mozilla folder to find the uninstall execute file as well.
Control Panel has no Uninstall, it does have a Programmes & Features which I mentioned in my original posting – and Mozilla Firefox is not listed there…and I can’t find a Mozilla folder anywhere.
Firefox normally installs into one of these folders:
- C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\
Can you find either of those?
Yes:
If you can, double-click into the uninstall folder and try running the helper.exe program.
No:
right-click Firefox on the start menu, and then right-click Properties. The location should be indicated in the "Target" field.
I don't know whether Windows 10 supports that method.
By the way, are you uninstalling Firefox with a plan to reinstall it, or are you finished with Firefox?
There is no Mozilla Firefox folder in either C:\Programme Files or C:\Programme Files (x86)
The second option does not work - there is no Properties option offered after right clicking Mozilla Firefox in Start menu...
The options are: Pin to Start, more, Uninstall, Open New Tab, Open New Window and New Private Window. Selecting the Uninstall merely takes me to the Windows Programmes & Features-Uninstall or Change a Programme - which does not list Mozilla Firefox. Selecting 'more' in the above options offers Pin to Taskbar, Run as Administrator and Open File Location. Unfortunately the latter merely takes me to the 2Kb shortcut...
I am uninstalling Firefox as I normally use MS Edge and I'm trying to cut down on the stuff on my SSD to make backups quicker - and take up less room.
I 'may' re-install Firefox at a later date but initially I'd prefer to uninstall Firefox completely.
Thank you.
Are you able to start and run Firefox? After Firefox starts, right-click its icon on the Taskbar, then right-click the Mozilla Firefox item on the menu, then click Properties. (That is how it works on Windows 7.)
If that method doesn't work, while Firefox running, open the Windows Task Manager using Ctrl+Shift+Esc. Click the "Detail" tab and on the menu (View menu?) use Select Columns to show the "Command Line" column. That will show where the firefox.exe process started from.
Your first option worked !
Firefox was installed in:- C:\Users\john\AppData\Local from there I got to the 'helper' which enabled me to uninstall.. Not where I'd expect it to be and obviously not being seen by uninstallers...
Many thanks, I appreciate that.
John
Sometimes malware installs Firefox into that folder to make background communications to the mother ship. I suggest some scrubbing. This article suggests cleaning tools other Firefox users have found helpful: Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware.
I run MS Defender & Malwarebytes with weekly on-demand scans using ESET & ADW Cleaner so my PC is fairly well protected. ADW did bring up a PUP yesterday which I must have picked up in the last couple of days.
Firefox had a couple of references to sites I'd been to but not for a very long time so I've obviously had the software for ages but I'd completely forgotten about it as it didn't show up under programmes... How Firefox came to be installed in 'Users' is a mystery - maybe as you say there was some mischief making afoot - in any event it seems all ok now and I'm grateful for your help...
surferboy99 & jscher2000 - thanks for your help, greatly appreciated.