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

Updated to version 67.0.2 (64-bit) of Firefox. Cannot launch Firefox without being prompted to create a new profile.

  • 6 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

I am using Firefox Sync. Today Firefox updated to version 67.0.2 (64-bit). As I began using it I noticed some strange behavior. The first thing I noticed was that I couldn't add any additional tabs past 4 tabs (the number is irrelevant, since the number changes). Thinking that the application was frozen, I closed Firefox. Upon relaunch I get this message:

"Using an older version of Firefox can corrupt bookmarks and browsing history already saved to an existing Firefox profile. To protect your information, create a new profile for this installation of Firefox."

I then have to either Exit or Create New Profile. I've done this several times and have had to re-do this task over and over today. I suspect that my Firefox Sync profile is corrupt. I've tried resetting Firefox, reinstalling, etc.

In about:profiles I now have several profiles in existence. One for each time I've reset using the Create New Profile button.

Does anyone have any advice on how to continue?

I am using Firefox Sync. Today Firefox updated to version 67.0.2 (64-bit). As I began using it I noticed some strange behavior. The first thing I noticed was that I couldn't add any additional tabs past 4 tabs (the number is irrelevant, since the number changes). Thinking that the application was frozen, I closed Firefox. Upon relaunch I get this message: "Using an older version of Firefox can corrupt bookmarks and browsing history already saved to an existing Firefox profile. To protect your information, create a new profile for this installation of Firefox." I then have to either Exit or Create New Profile. I've done this several times and have had to re-do this task over and over today. I suspect that my Firefox Sync profile is corrupt. I've tried resetting Firefox, reinstalling, etc. In about:profiles I now have several profiles in existence. One for each time I've reset using the Create New Profile button. Does anyone have any advice on how to continue?

All Replies (6)

more options

Do you have multiple Firefox versions installed or both 32-bit and 64-bit versions?

You can check the compatibility.ini file in each profile to see the installation path of the Firefox program last used it.

Firefox 67 and later can use a dedicated profile for each of the Firefox update channels and will lock the profile, so it can only be used by Firefox in a specific installation folder. For Release versions this profile would be a xxxxxxxx.default-release profile, profiles used in older Firefox versions usually used a xxxxxxxx.default profile (a refresh adds a time stamp). The installs.ini file stores the hash of the installation path of each locked profile.

more options

@cor-el. The second link didn't work for me.

The problem seems to only happen when I use Firefox Sync. If I don't sign in to Firefox I don't have this problem.

Any other ideas?

Thanks!

more options

Sorry, I forgot to answer your question. I only have the 64-bit version of Firefox installed.

more options
more options

@Cor-el. Thanks for the links. I'm not sure how they help though. I don't see any actionable items within them.

I can try removing all the profiles in about:profiles and logging in again, but I suspect it will not resolve the issue.

more options

This is likely a problem with profiles.ini and installs.ini that either aren't updated properly or there are otherwise problem with the created profile.

What does it say in the prompt to create a new profile? Does it mention problems with accessing a profile/

Boot the computer in Windows Safe mode with network support to see if that has effect in case security software is causing problems.