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'Password Required' window won't close when hit cancel button

  • 6 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

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I have password protection using firefox. When I open a site where I have a password save I get the 'Password Required' pop-up window. Although I save a number of passwords, I don't save them all or I don't want to use it. Lately, I have anoticed that the window prompt appears twice; however, today, after downloading and installing the new update, I am having difficulties closing the pop-up, so much difficulties that I have to go into Task Manager and end the task.

I opened gmail and received the two pop-ups which I cancelled; after entering my username and redirected to the password page, the 'Password Required' pop-up refuses to close, locking me out of Firefox.

Does anyone else have this problem? Is there a fix?

I have password protection using firefox. When I open a site where I have a password save I get the 'Password Required' pop-up window. Although I save a number of passwords, I don't save them all or I don't want to use it. Lately, I have anoticed that the window prompt appears twice; however, today, after downloading and installing the new update, I am having difficulties closing the pop-up, so much difficulties that I have to go into Task Manager and end the task. I opened gmail and received the two pop-ups which I cancelled; after entering my username and redirected to the password page, the 'Password Required' pop-up refuses to close, locking me out of Firefox. Does anyone else have this problem? Is there a fix?

All Replies (6)

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Sorry, but that doesn't sound like a built-in feature and could indicate a scam site or malware, or at best a poorly behaved add-on. Could you capture a screen shot of that dialog and attach the image file to a reply? This article has tips: How do I create a screenshot of my problem? (Please cut out or blur sensitive information if it shows your mailbox.)

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here is a screenshot of the master password pop-up

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Well that dialog looks normal!

Do you have Firefox Sync set up? It's normal to get prompted for the master password shortly after startup to unlock your Firefox Account password so Sync can run. Usually if I cancel that I don't see it again for the rest of the session.

Do you have a login saved for Google? If you don't want Firefox to try to fill a password on Google, you may want to delete the login. You should be able to clear saved logins you no longer want here:

Windows: "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Options Mac: "3-bar" menu button (or Firefox menu) > Preferences

In the left column, click Security. Then on the right side, find the "Saved Logins" button.


If neither of those explains the appearance of the box, it seems suspicious, do you have any add-ons that require logins, such as email monitoring extensions? You can view, disable, and often configure or remove extensions on the Add-ons page. Either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Command+Shift+a)
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons

In the left column, click Extensions. Then cast a critical eye over the list on the right side. Do any of them logically need to connect with any of your password-protected accounts?

Firefox hides any extensions it installs from this list, so everything shown here is your choice, your responsibility. If in doubt, disable.

Often a link will appear above at least one disabled extension to restart Firefox. You can complete your work on the tab and click one of the links as the last step.

Any improvement?

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I do have multiple saved passwords for google accounts, I just don't save my main personal account as I use it regularly. I am accustomed to the pop-up; I often cancel it twice and that is the end of it. I login to my account and all is well. Today however, I cancel the popup twice, enter my username and once it moves to the password screen, I can't get rid of the pop-up. Every time I hit cancel another one appears. It locks my browser, I can't access any other tabs, and I have to force the program to close. I have minimal extensions, add-ons, or plugins. This unusual activity is very new and has only started since I did the last update.

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It could be a new bug. The "two stage" login has stymied the password filler so there could be some new code to work around that which has gone haywire. I don't use the password manager for websites so I haven't seen the problem personally. I guess I could try it in a test profile...

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Did you check for issues caused by an extension?

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

  • switch to the DEFAULT theme: "3-bar" menu button# or Tools -> Add-ons -> Appearance
  • do NOT click the "Refresh Firefox" button on the Safe Mode start window