We're calling on all EU-based Mozillians with iOS or iPadOS devices to help us monitor Apple’s new browser choice screens. Join the effort to hold Big Tech to account!

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

firefox won't open unless i am running as administrator

  • 8 replies
  • 0 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by zeroknight

more options

For some reason Firefox stop working about a week ago and i can get to work again. I can only open it as administrator but when it opens I cant do anything. I have tried all the fixes in the forum and nothing plus reinstalling it several times. I looked into the console and a whole bunch of errors showed up. can anybody help me?

For some reason Firefox stop working about a week ago and i can get to work again. I can only open it as administrator but when it opens I cant do anything. I have tried all the fixes in the forum and nothing plus reinstalling it several times. I looked into the console and a whole bunch of errors showed up. can anybody help me?

All Replies (8)

more options

here is a image of the Firefox console. console errors

more options

Try to uninstall Firefox and reinstall Firefox as a normal user. You can find the full installer of the current Firefox release (123.0) in all languages and all operating systems here:

You can open the Properties of the Firefox desktop shortcut via the right-click context menu and check the "Compatibility" tab. Make sure all items are deselected in the "Compatibility" tab of the Properties window.

  • Privilege Level: "Run this program as Administrator" should not be selected
  • "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" should not be selected

Also check the Properties of the firefox.exe program in the Firefox program folder and possible shortcuts on the desktop.

more options

i'm sorry but this did not work. still the same.

more options

Try to start Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode to see if that works.

  • Windows: hold down the Shift key while starting Firefox
  • Mac: hold down the Options key while starting Firefox

You can create a new profile as a quick test to see if your current profile is causing the problem.

See "Creating a profile":

If the new profile works, you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be careful not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.

more options

Nope. tried opening profile manager every way on the troubleshooting page and nothing. it tries to load but i get nothing

more options

Reinstall the Visual C++ Redistributable.

Does it still happen with Developer Edition?

more options

c++ didn't work. However it works in developer edition.

more options

Uninstall Firefox and also delete the installation folder from Program Files before reinstalling.