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 is stuck in safe mode

  • 7 replies
  • 3 have this problem
  • 18 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

I cannot start firefox in normal mode. I've tried all the options recommended by firefox support 'firefox is stuck in safe mode' script, but firefox continues to start in safe mode. Now what?

I cannot start firefox in normal mode. I've tried all the options recommended by firefox support 'firefox is stuck in safe mode' script, but firefox continues to start in safe mode. Now what?

All Replies (7)

more options

Were you initially starting Firefox in Safemode deliberately ? If so did you modify the shortcut used by Windows in order to do that. You would now need to change it back again.

Presumably you did read

If necessary kill the safemode Firefox process using Vista's Task Manager. Keyboard shortcut Ctrl +Shift + Esc or Ctrl +Alt+ Del will start task manager, the look for firefox.exe in the process tab and kill it.

Modified by John99

more options

I did start safe mode intentionally, although I don't remember why. Ditching the firefox shortcut and creating a fresh one didn't work. Ending the firefox process in the task manager also didn't work. Maybe I need to reinstall firefox...

more options

Do you mean that you get the Safe Mode startup window when you start Firefox with the choice to either reset Firefox or continue in Safe Mode?

If that is the case then make sure that you aren't holding down the Shift key when you start Firefox.

If you do not get the Safe Mode startup window then something else is wrong and you may not keep setting or otherwise have problems with the Firefox profile folder.

more options

No, I don't get the Safe Mode startup window when I startup firefox. I don't understand what you're saying about the profile folder.

more options

It may sound silly but how do you know you are in SafeMode ?
Remember we can not see your computer or your screen.

Maybe a screenshot would help

Could I ask you to create and try a new profile as a test to see if Firefox then runs normally.

more options

1. I think I'm in safe mode...? I see the orange "Firefox" button in the upper left-hand corner which I hadn't seen until I started Firefox in safe mode 2. I created a new profile and then started Firefox, and the same thing happens.

more options

You are only starting Firefox in Safe Mode if you get the Safe mode startup window and select to open Firefox in Safe Mode.

Firefox shows the orange Firefox menu button by default on Windows Vista and later Windows 7+ version and that is no indication that Firefox is in Safe mode.
You may have enabled the Menu bar previously if you didn't had the orange Firefox menu button before.
So there is nothing wrong and you run Firefox in normal mode.

You get the orange Firefox menu button when the menu bar is hidden.

  • Firefox menu button > Options
  • View > Toolbars (press F10 to display the menu bar)
  • Right-click empty toolbar area

See also: