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Add security exception dialog box's buttons are off the bottom of the screen - how am I supposed to click them?

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  • Last reply by semrick

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I'm developing a web app and need to add a security exception temporarily. The Add Security Exception dialog box from FireFox is too tall to fit on the screen. The buttons at the bottom of the window are below the start menu. I can't make the dialog box smaller, it doesn't allow the edges to be dragged. The only way I can get to the buttons is at work, where I have additional monitors. If I drag the dialog box to a window with a higher(?) resolution, then I can get to the buttons. That option isn't available if I'm just using my laptop with no extra monitors.

I'm developing a web app and need to add a security exception temporarily. The Add Security Exception dialog box from FireFox is too tall to fit on the screen. The buttons at the bottom of the window are below the start menu. I can't make the dialog box smaller, it doesn't allow the edges to be dragged. The only way I can get to the buttons is at work, where I have additional monitors. If I drag the dialog box to a window with a higher(?) resolution, then I can get to the buttons. That option isn't available if I'm just using my laptop with no extra monitors.

Chosen solution

That dialog is unnecessarily tall; it normally would be shorter.

Sometimes the settings file that stores window dimensions 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 xulstoreOLD.json. If you see a file named localstore.rdf, it is obsolete, you can delete it.

Start Firefox back up again. Do 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.

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(Added a screen shot)

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Chosen Solution

That dialog is unnecessarily tall; it normally would be shorter.

Sometimes the settings file that stores window dimensions 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 xulstoreOLD.json. If you see a file named localstore.rdf, it is obsolete, you can delete it.

Start Firefox back up again. Do 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.

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That did it. Thanks!