We're calling on all EU-based Mozillians with iOS or iPadOS devices to help us monitor Apple’s new browser choice screens. Join the effort to hold Big Tech to account!

This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

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

Firefox won't open until I restart my computer, and will not open links once it is open.

  • 5 cavab
  • 10 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by mkm292

more options

When I click the icon to open Firefox, it shows the little loading circle for a second or two, but then does nothing. Other browsers work fine on my computer, but when this happens I have to restart my computer and then it will open until the next time I log in to my computer. Also, when Firefox does finally open, it won't allow me to click on certain links within a website. It shows the hand cursor over the link, but when you click on it nothing happens and it will not open. I have tried doing a system restore, uninstalling Firefox and reinstalling it, all kinds of troubleshooting, and still nothing has worked. I love Firefox, but if this keeps happening I will have to stop using it altogether.

When I click the icon to open Firefox, it shows the little loading circle for a second or two, but then does nothing. Other browsers work fine on my computer, but when this happens I have to restart my computer and then it will open until the next time I log in to my computer. Also, when Firefox does finally open, it won't allow me to click on certain links within a website. It shows the hand cursor over the link, but when you click on it nothing happens and it will not open. I have tried doing a system restore, uninstalling Firefox and reinstalling it, all kinds of troubleshooting, and still nothing has worked. I love Firefox, but if this keeps happening I will have to stop using it altogether.

Chosen solution

You could have more than one problem.

  1. First of all try the reset feature
  2. allow Firefox to start from the default homepage, rather than the previous session, or a list of tabs.
  3. does it work now ? and if not do you get any error messages ?
  4. If you have problems with individual tabs, and know they are ok in Internet Explorer, then use Ctrl+F5 to reload without the cached files and clear the cookies for that site.

I presume Firefox has worked ok previously ?

Have a try and then post back with how you get on.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (5)

more options

You can have a virus... but i' m not sure! You can also go to about:config and search your problem... but i' m not sure

more options

Seçilmiş Həll

You could have more than one problem.

  1. First of all try the reset feature
  2. allow Firefox to start from the default homepage, rather than the previous session, or a list of tabs.
  3. does it work now ? and if not do you get any error messages ?
  4. If you have problems with individual tabs, and know they are ok in Internet Explorer, then use Ctrl+F5 to reload without the cached files and clear the cookies for that site.

I presume Firefox has worked ok previously ?

Have a try and then post back with how you get on.

more options

When you uninstall firefox, do you go to the control panel and in C:/ProgramFiles/(delete mozilla firefox)? Or only one of the two options?Try.

more options

A possible cause is security software (firewall,anti-virus) that 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:

more options

It seems like it is working fine now after resetting Firefox. Hopefully, it stays this way.