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After maximizing Firefox and then minimizing it, why does Windows 7 restore it to a new size and location?

MPHatNGC
MPHatNGC
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Running Windows 7 Professional. Firefox 52.8.0 (64bit).

I prefer to have my window maximized. If I minimize it, and then immediately restore it, it usually works (I can't recall it NOT working). But if I do something else (nearly ANYTHING else), when I try to restore firefox, instead of it being restored maximized, it gets restored at about 2/3 screen size, and with most of the window off the screen. I have to move the window left to get the maximize button back onto the screen, and then remaximize it. When it does this, it seems consistent about the window size and location. I have attempted to determine if there is a particular "trigger" for this, and haven't yet. For example, I've been doing something with some app, restored Firefox, saw the bad behavior, and tried just minimizing Firefox, fiddling with the same app, restoring Firefox, and it will restore. Honestly, I half suspect Windows is just messing with me in an attempt to get me to use a Microsoft product instead, but I suspect that is just paranoia on my part (I couldn't even if I had to, as we're using a tool that requires Firefox).

Running Windows 7 Professional. Firefox 52.8.0 (64bit). I prefer to have my window maximized. If I minimize it, and then immediately restore it, it usually works (I can't recall it NOT working). But if I do something else (nearly ANYTHING else), when I try to restore firefox, instead of it being restored maximized, it gets restored at about 2/3 screen size, and with most of the window off the screen. I have to move the window left to get the maximize button back onto the screen, and then remaximize it. When it does this, it seems consistent about the window size and location. I have attempted to determine if there is a particular "trigger" for this, and haven't yet. For example, I've been doing something with some app, restored Firefox, saw the bad behavior, and tried just minimizing Firefox, fiddling with the same app, restoring Firefox, and it will restore. Honestly, I half suspect Windows is just messing with me in an attempt to get me to use a Microsoft product instead, but I suspect that is just paranoia on my part (I couldn't even if I had to, as we're using a tool that requires Firefox).

All Replies (1)

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 25 Contributor
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I think a maximized window that i minimized should restore back to maximized. Odd that yours isn't doing that.

Are there any special factors here, such as:

(1) Using multiple monitors with different resolutions

(2) Using any applications that modify the screen resolution (I've only heard of users doing this with games)

(3) Using an "extended desktop"

Regarding a resizable window being partially or completely off-screen, sometimes the Firefox settings file that stores window dimensions and positions becomes corrupted with nonsensical values. You can rename the file and have Firefox rebuild it. Here's how:

Open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table on the page, on the Profile Folder row, click the "Open Folder" button. This should launch a new window listing various files and folders in Windows Explorer.

Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox and Exit, either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > Exit
  • (menu bar) File > Exit

Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup, then rename xulstore.json to something like xulstore.old. If you see a file named localstore.rdf, rename that one to localstore.old.

Start Firefox back up again. Do "resizable" windows display normally again?

That mini-reset will hide the menu bar and bookmarks toolbar. You can use one of these methods to show the toolbar list and select the desired bars there:

  • right-click (on Mac Ctrl+click) a blank spot on the tab bar (or the "+" button)
  • (menu bar) View > Toolbars
    On Windows, tap the Alt key to activate the menu bar temporarily.
  • in Customize mode > Toolbars button (see: Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars)

To turn on the Bookmarks Toolbar, Menu Bar, or other bars, click it on the list.