Join the AMA (Ask Me Anything) with the Firefox leadership team to celebrate Firefox 20th anniversary and discuss Firefox’s future on Mozilla Connect. Mark your calendar on Thursday, November 14, 18:00 - 20:00 UTC!

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.

Avatar for Username

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

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Cannot get preferences menu from Firefox

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 125 views
  • Last reply by LaPoodella

LaPoodella
LaPoodella
more options

I cannot set my preferences because the preferences menu will not display when I select Command, from the pulldown menu under Firefox in the top left banner. I am stuck with whatever this is. I cannot set my search engine. I cannot set my popup preference. I cannot set any preference. I use Mac BigSur 11.5.2. I can't share data. I am having trouble streaming my favorite radio station because I cannot reset my popup preference for the station. Nor can I use my search engine: DuckDuckGo without typing it into the Start search box because I cannot set my search engine preference. I cannot set other preferences because it seems I don't have any options since I can't get the preference menu.

I cannot set my preferences because the preferences menu will not display when I select Command, from the pulldown menu under Firefox in the top left banner. I am stuck with whatever this is. I cannot set my search engine. I cannot set my popup preference. I cannot set any preference. I use Mac BigSur 11.5.2. I can't share data. I am having trouble streaming my favorite radio station because I cannot reset my popup preference for the station. Nor can I use my search engine: DuckDuckGo without typing it into the Start search box because I cannot set my search engine preference. I cannot set other preferences because it seems I don't have any options since I can't get the preference menu.

Chosen solution

Is the Preferences page available using either of these methods:

  • (menu bar) Firefox > Preferences
  • type or paste about:preferences into the address bar and press Enter/Return to load it

If the page won't open when you try those, could you test in Firefox's Safe/Troubleshoot Mode? In that mode, Firefox temporarily deactivates extensions, hardware acceleration, any userChrome.css/userContent.css files, and some other advanced features to help you assess whether these are causing the problem.

You can restart Firefox in Safe/Troubleshoot Mode using either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > Help > Troubleshoot Mode... (before Fx88: Restart with Add-ons Disabled)
  • (menu bar) Help menu > Troubleshoot Mode... (before Fx88: Restart with Add-ons Disabled)

and OK the restart. A small dialog should appear. Click the Open button (before Fx88: "Start in Safe Mode" button).

Any improvement?

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (3)

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 25 Contributor
more options

Chosen Solution

Is the Preferences page available using either of these methods:

  • (menu bar) Firefox > Preferences
  • type or paste about:preferences into the address bar and press Enter/Return to load it

If the page won't open when you try those, could you test in Firefox's Safe/Troubleshoot Mode? In that mode, Firefox temporarily deactivates extensions, hardware acceleration, any userChrome.css/userContent.css files, and some other advanced features to help you assess whether these are causing the problem.

You can restart Firefox in Safe/Troubleshoot Mode using either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > Help > Troubleshoot Mode... (before Fx88: Restart with Add-ons Disabled)
  • (menu bar) Help menu > Troubleshoot Mode... (before Fx88: Restart with Add-ons Disabled)

and OK the restart. A small dialog should appear. Click the Open button (before Fx88: "Start in Safe Mode" button).

Any improvement?

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Note that Preferences has been renamed and is now named Settings on all supported platforms (Linux, Mac Windows, Mobile).

LaPoodella
LaPoodella Question owner
more options

So where are settings? And what does "Preferences" do? It still shows in the dropdown menu.