Back quite soon with an update:-

When this happens I'm using the normal mode with a series of tabs open. Still having the same issue but just tried searching through In Private which opened the entered search term very quickly as normal. Just gone straight back to the normal browser window and tried searching again and it's suddenly working again now!

Having trouble getting my head around this at the moment.

That is strange. What do you use as your home page -- is it the built-in Firefox Home (new tab) page, a blank page, or a website?

(I use a blank page and haven't noticed any changes.)

You can check the connection settings and check for possible issues with a Proxy or VPN service.

• Settings -> General -> Network: Connection -> Settings

If you do not need to use a Proxy to connect to internet, select "No Proxy" if "Use the system proxy settings" or one of the others do not work properly.

See also:

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/connection-settings-firefox
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/websites-dont-load-troubleshoot-and-fix-errors

Thanks jcsher and cor-el for your replies. Iknow know it's is very strange!

Jscher: I use two home pages, being a bit of an old git I always have them set to BBC News, I like to keep up to date with the world out there and also a Google page to turn too straight off if I need. This was only a problem when searching from the Google page, enter the term either in the address bar or the search bar hit enter and all my search terms disappeared and no response. Even stanger is that I could search as normal by going Inprivate which also seemed to trigger normal mode to start working as expected for a time.

cor-el: Thanks for the directions on checking settings and the Proxy settings and VPN services. I've never used Proxy setting that I can recall and don't use a VPN either.

Appreciate both your replies though. I can update this now as I think, fingers crossed, I solved the issue by resetting Firefox. No idea what the cause was but normal service has been resumed for the most part. Have also been having problem with Gmail which when I'm signed in keeps given a notification "the system had trouble loading error #001" in a yellow banner at the top of the page. Seems to resolve itself quite quickly though.

Before getting to read your replies I was scanning through the lastest posts and I'm sure that there are several reporting the search not working much along the same lines as I experienced.

When this happens, can you please take a look at the Browser Console and see if there are any errors/warnings and post them here?

You can access the Browser Console via the three-bar menu -> More Tools -> Browser Console.

Right!

Hi Standard8, Just after I found your message in my inbox I went to search for "Mozilla Support" and it's started yet again! Had been working normally for hours before that. Here's me thinking it was sorted too!

So I've followed your diections and have taken 2 screenshots, one for Parent Process and the other for Multiprocess which I've attached below. I'll have to leave it to you as I'd be totally out of my depth indentifying what errors are relevant, though I have noticed that my Adblocker is mentioned (UBlocOrigin Lite) which I'm trying out!

Hope you're able to to pick up on something for me and a few others.

Oh!

Standard8,

I should mention also that the only way I was able to post was by using Inprivate so that seems relevant.

Hmm, Firefox is showing that there's a number of network errors there. Is it possible you could try disabling Avast temporarily and seeing if that resolves the issue?

Actually, the other thing I should check - are the date & time on your computer set correctly?

Start Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) or if hardware acceleration or if userChrome.css/userContent.css is causing the problem.

• switch to the Default System theme: "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Themes
• do NOT click "Refresh Firefox" in the Troubleshoot Mode start window

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/diagnose-firefox-issues-using-troubleshoot-mode
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-extensions-themes-to-fix-problems

In PB mode the disk cache and cookies from the regular mode do not work. Some extensions may not work in PB mode.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/extensions-private-browsing

Everytime I recieve an email notification I can't follow the link to to make a reply! Go to my Firefox account and sign in and there are NO new messages and also showing I haven't sent any! Only way I've found is searching the forums for "Firefox seems to be broken" to get into my thread.

Standard8,

First of all the time, date and day are all correct on my laptop! I'm currently using Trouble shooting mode as advised by cor-el. Things seems to be running as expected now but don't know if that will last as it's been internittent.

Will give turning off Avast a try in a bit if this happens again after exiting "Troubleshooting".

cor-el,

Have checked which theme I was using and it is already the Default! Have entered Troubleshooting and have turned Off "Use Recommended performance settings" and things are running OK. Couple of things come to mind on that now! 1. I've been nagged for ages to update my Graphics Drivers but have ignored it, might try doing it finally now! 2. When this happened earlier today I noticed the underside of my laptop was a lot warmer than I ever remember and it's now a lot cooler. Also I don't see any reference to this "or if userChrome.css/userContent.css is causing the problem."

Back again and things are still the same and like it right from first thing in the morning.

So yesterday I tried several things after my last post. I'm currently posting this using Avast's Browser! As yet haven't tried turning off my Avast AV, in fact I'm don't see a way of turning it off as you used to be able to do so may have to go the whole hog and uninstall it! Not keen on the idea but might come to that.

Anyway I up dated my graphics driver, AMD Radeon Vega 8, and also 3 others offered by Lenovo, Realtek Lan, Bluetooth and the WIfi. Seemed to work ok afterwards. I also decided to clear the browser cache thinking something in there might be the cause but looks like these were all red herrings as Firefox is still doing the same thing, enter a search term hit enter nothing happens and the search term is erased. Noticed if I open a Private window and search there it works fine, then return to a normal window Firefox functions ok for a good few hours but then goes rogue again.

Just found the official way of disabling Avast and have chosen 5hrs for now. The way things are going at present Firefox is going to get the "heave-ho" as other browsers seem unaffected. I've used Firefox for many years now and it'll be a wrench having to change. Avast works ok and comes with ads blocked by default, it may end up being my chosen browser for the time being.

Will report back on how Firefox runs with Avast AV disabled. Open to any other suggestions on how to cure this as it going to be like losing an old friend if it has to go!

Well another update on this issue!

I eventually tried Standard8's suggestion, disable Avast AV. Had it disabled for close on 5hrs and have been browsing at various times WITHOUT any issues!

Took a look at the Avast forum and what do you know, others having the same or similar issues running both on the latest versions. Seems that no one from Avast has picked up on the problem though! Anyway my understanding is now that it's Avast's Webshield that's the culprit and it's affecting Google searches along with Gmail reporting no connection and Error #001. No idea why it should be so random in the problems it causes. So currently I've re-enable Avast's shields with the exception of the Webshield.

Another issue I found which has resolved is being able to click on the link within emails to Mozilla support which wouldn't work, got here by using the same link this time round without any problems. FIREFOX you're forgiven!

Unless the issue returns I'll be sticking with Firefox and may have to consider finding another Free AV, might give AVG a spin, used it in the past although many years ago.

Thank you for the update, we'll see if we can contact them to get it highlighted.

Standard8,

Yesterday I noticed there is a new version of Avast (24.8.6127) just released. Thought I'd try updating to that, as usual everything went fine and the Firefox seemed to be ok. Come today and I've started getting the "Ooops somethging went wrong, Error No #001" banner in Gmail then not long after that started having problems searching and browsing all over again. Disabled the Webshield and Firefox is happy again. Not sure this is an issue with FF or more with Avast. Definately going to switch my AV to AVG, at least shorterm as haven't read of Firefox users hjaving this issue with AV's.

Hey Derek, thanks for narrowing down this super weird bug to Avast! I had a big suspicion for a month or so that either Avast or Norton was causing this based on the software that everyone had in common but I couldn't confirm it as some people did not follow back up with us.

But I wanted to give you a warning that AVG might also be breaking Google searches based on what another user named Scott said here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1459175#answer-1671123

So just be on the lookout for that if you install AVG. I'm not yet sure what AVG's counterpart of Avast's Webshield is. But I bet that's causing the issue for AVG as well. I feel like they're sharing the same blocking list rules or something. Or that the AVs might be under the same umbrella company. Because how else would 2 different products be breaking the same websites for Firefox users?

According to Forbes, AVG is owned by Avast! So this "Google searches broken on Firefox" issue must be a lot more massive. Which makes absolutely zero sense to me for one company to own 2 totally different AV brands.

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/avast-vs-avg/ May 6, 2024 Anti-Virus Guard, or AVG, is another top antivirus solution produced by the same parent company as Avast, which can be used to scan for malware and other threats.

AVG also has a "Web Shield" feature. So that means they definitely share the same faulty detection/blocking list as Avast.

So this must mean that thousands of AVG & Avast users are going to be affected by this. I think I underestimated how much of a problem AVG is. It's trying to become the next Google of Antivirus software. It wants to buy out all the competition instead of focusing on not breaking the internet for its users.

Avast mergers: Avast to acquire AVG in $1.3 billion internet security deal - July 7, 2016 https://apnews.com/avast-to-acquire-avg-in-1-3-billion-internet-security-deal-0a2442c1941b424bb56e7792e2009c1d

Avast and AVG become one https://blog.avast.com/avast-and-avg-become-one

Avast also merged with one more company, Norton LifeLock https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/11/22619667/nortonlifelock-avast-merger-deal-anti-virus-cyber-security-software

Thanks for getting in touch NoahSUMO,

Well I've ditched Avast for the moment, hopefully they'll get the issue fixed as it has to be affecting very many users worldwide. Avast and AVG are both tied together and use the same egines, shields and definions no idea why they essentially become one! I looked around for a free AV that gives what both Avast and AVG offer and there's nothing reputable out there to compare so I uninstalled, used the their uninstall tool too, then installed Bitdefender. Normality restored and it seems to work well in the background. Only problem is it doesn't give all the bells and whistles that Avast/AVG offer.

One other thing I found out is that Avira is now tied in with Norton! Even more surprising is that Avast/AVG along with Norton and Avira are all owned by Gen Digital. For the moment Norton and Avira seem to be keeping their own AV's seperate.

This is the first time I've ever used Bitdefender, don't think they've had a free version for very long, but I may try out Avira which I'd have used in the past and never had any real issues with it. I was a little tempted to go back to my first go to which was Zonealarm which now incorporates an AV but it's reviews are not great shame as I really wanted combined AV and firewall solution.

One thing I had overlooked and maybe others have also is that if your on a modern Windows machine there is the built in Microsoft Defender AV and it's own Firewall which are both rated quite highly. Uninstall any third party AV or Firwall and Windows automatically re-enables both by default so we all have protection from Microsoft.

I've posted on Avasts user forum also but haven't had any notification of there being a fix as yet, will revisit there and see if anything has changed.

Sorry for the lack of updates. We were able to identify an issue as being reported by users of Avast and it having been reported in their forums.

Approximately two days ago, Avast issued a hot fix which has apparently resolved the issue. Your Avast installation may have already been updated, but you can always check for updates to it.

Hi there Standard8,

No problem and thanks for getting back and advising on the Hot Fix. I'll be reinstalling Avast again this evening and fingers crossed this time it's all fixed, otherwise it's back to Bitdefender or may be even Avira.

Are you UK based mate? Just the standard8 name/cars I recall from my childhood.