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Suddenly mouse click doesn't always work

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  • 1 nwere nsogbu anwere nsogbu a
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  • Nzaghachi ikpeazụ nke Shadow110

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Using the latest version of Firefox (61.0.1) on 2017 Macbook Pro (10.13.6). Suddenly there are various links on various websites where my mouse click won't work. I've tried using my trackpad as well as a mouse. Same problem. Some links work, and some don't (within the same web page). I tried starting in safe mode and that didn't help. Strangely, this has never happened until today.

I also tried the same web page in a different browser and did NOT have the same problem.

Using the latest version of Firefox (61.0.1) on 2017 Macbook Pro (10.13.6). Suddenly there are various links on various websites where my mouse click won't work. I've tried using my trackpad as well as a mouse. Same problem. Some links work, and some don't (within the same web page). I tried starting in safe mode and that didn't help. Strangely, this has never happened until today. I also tried the same web page in a different browser and did NOT have the same problem.

All Replies (3)

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Hmm, that happened to me on Facebook today. I wasn't logged in and I clicked "Not Now" on the huge nag screen to sign in. After that, there was an invisible block on clicking through to anything behind where that nag screen was. Hopefully that's not the new normal; I don't always want to log into Facebook.

But enough about me.

When this happens to you, is the mouse pointer changing to a finger, indicating that Firefox believes the mouse is pointing to a link? Does right-click work?


If a site is generally known to work in Firefox, these are general suggestions to try when it stops working normally:

Double-check content blockers: Firefox's Tracking Protection feature and extensions that counter ads and tracking may break websites that weren't built to operate normally without the blocked components.

Do you see a shield icon toward the left end of the address bar, near the lock icon? More info on managing the Tracking Protection feature in this article: What happened to Tracking Protection?.

Extensions such as Adblock Plus, Blur, Disconnect, Ghostery, NoScript, Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin or uMatrix should provide toolbar buttons to manage blocked content in a page. There may or may not be a number on the icon indicating the number of blocked items; you may need to click the button to see what's going on and test whether you need to make an exception for this site.

Cache and Cookies: When you have a problem with one particular site, a good "first thing to try" is clearing your Firefox cache and deleting your saved cookies for the site.

(1) Clear Firefox's Cache

See: How to clear the Firefox cache

If you have a large hard drive, this might take a few minutes.

(2) Remove the site's cookies (save any pending work first). While viewing a page on the site, try either:

  • right-click (on Mac Ctrl+click) a blank area of the page and choose View Page Info > Security > "Clear Cookies and Site Data"
  • (menu bar) Tools > Page Info > Security > "Clear Cookies and Site Data"
  • click the padlock or "i" icon in the address bar, then the ">" button, then More Information, and finally the "Clear Cookies and Site Data" button

In the dialog that opens, you will see one or more matches to the current address so you can remove the site's cookies individually without affecting other sites.

Then try reloading the page. Does that help?

Testing in Firefox's Safe Mode: In its Safe Mode, Firefox temporarily deactivates extensions, hardware acceleration, and some other advanced features to help you assess whether these are causing the problem.

If Firefox is not running: Hold down the option/alt key when starting Firefox. (On Windows, hold down the Shift key instead of the option/alt key.)

If Firefox is running: You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
  • (menu bar) Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

and OK the restart.

Both scenarios: A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Refresh).

Any improvement?

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Yes, the mouse turns into a hand, but the click doesn't work. At first it was just one or two sites, and not the whole site, but as time goes on, it's happening to more sites that I visit, I've tried most of the things you suggested including starting in safe mode. No joy. Unfortunately I don't have the time or patience to do tons of troubleshooting.

Appreciate the suggestions. Will probably switch to Safari or another browser.

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Hi, please try a Refresh but Note that this does more than uninstalling and re-installing does. Normal uninstalling does not remove some preferences which may have become corrupt. Please Refresh but do this 1st: Delete your Cookies and Cache and TEST.

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