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Firefox refuses to close using red X; have to right click on screen bottom to close

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  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by cor-el

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System is a PC running Windows XP (fully updated). Fios Quantum internet connection. All of a sudden, today, I cannot shut down Firefox with the red X - click on it and nothing happens. CAN close the program down by right clicking in the system tray icon and choosing "close."

System is a PC running Windows XP (fully updated). Fios Quantum internet connection. All of a sudden, today, I cannot shut down Firefox with the red X - click on it and nothing happens. CAN close the program down by right clicking in the system tray icon and choosing "close."

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Hello MicroBioProf, Try Firefox Safe Mode to see if the problem goes away. Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode, which disables most add-ons.

(If you're not using it, switch to the Default theme.)

  • On Windows you can open Firefox 4.0+ in Safe Mode by holding the Shift key when you open the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
  • Or open the Help menu and click on the Restart with Add-ons Disabled... menu item while Firefox is running.

FirefoxSafeMode

Once you get the pop-up, just select "'Start in Safe Mode" Safe Mode Fx 15 - Win

If the issue is not present in Firefox Safe Mode, your problem is probably caused by an extension, and you need to figure out which one. Please follow the Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems article for that.

To exit the Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before opening Firefox for normal use again.

When you figure out what's causing your issues, please let us know. It might help other users who have the same problem.

note also to Update Firefox to the latest version

Thank you.

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Try to use "Firefox > Exit" (Windows: Firefox/File > Exit; Mac: Firefox > Quit Firefox; Linux: Firefox/File > Quit) to close Firefox if you are currently doing that by clicking the close X on the Firefox title bar.

See also: