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

Back button stops working

  • 5 ŋuɖoɖowo
  • 1 masɔmasɔ sia le esi
  • 3 views
  • Nuɖoɖo mlɔetɔ dbronstein

more options

I have a problem with firefox where the back button will just stop working. It turns light gray (as if there is no page to go back to) so you can't press it. You can still right-click on the button and navigate back to previous pages that way, but you can't simply click the button. I haven't found it related to specific sites. I'll just be browsing and suddenly it goes day. I have version 36.0.1 on Windows 7 sp1.

I have a problem with firefox where the back button will just stop working. It turns light gray (as if there is no page to go back to) so you can't press it. You can still right-click on the button and navigate back to previous pages that way, but you can't simply click the button. I haven't found it related to specific sites. I'll just be browsing and suddenly it goes day. I have version 36.0.1 on Windows 7 sp1.

All Replies (5)

more options

You can check for problems with the places.sqlite database file in the Firefox profile folder.


The System Details list shows that you run an older Firefox 36 version that is no longer supported with security updates.

  • It is important to update Firefox and add-ons to the latest versions to get all security fixes.

Please update to the current Firefox 38 release.

  • Help > About Firefox
more options

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/update-firefox-latest-version 38.0.5

Your Adobe.com software is out of date.


After you have done everything else,

Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web Link} by holding down the <Shift>
(Mac Options)
key, and then starting Firefox. Is the problem still there?

more options

Thanks for the replies. I have updated firefox and done the places.sqlite maintenance and the problem has occurred again.

more options

Are you using Sync to sync the bookmarks?

more options

This has nothing to do with bookmarks. The back button stops working.