Firefox won't open YouTube or Facebook webpages
Both sites worked fine until this morning. I checked via Chrome and Brave and both websites work fine under those browsers so I'm not sure why these sites will no longer load. Other websites will open with Firefox, just not YouTube or Facebook. Other websites with embedded YT videos will load, but the videos will not appear.
I updated my anti-virus (Avast!) and also tried disabling and then removing my VPN extension from Firefox and restarting the PC but the websites still won't load.
Chosen solution
You can check the connection settings.
- Options/Preferences -> General -> Network: Connection -> Settings
If you do not need to use a proxy to connect to internet then try to select "No Proxy" if "Use the system proxy settings" or one of the others do not work properly.
See "Firefox connection settings":
You can check for problems with preferences.
- delete possible user.js and numbered prefs-##.js files and rename/remove the prefs.js file to reset all prefs to the default value including prefs set via user.js and prefs that are no longer supported in current Firefox releases
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/preferences_not_saved
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/resetting_preferences
All Replies (13)
Make sure you are not blocking content.
Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link}
A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh). Is the problem still there?
One issue that seems more common lately is Firefox's Tracking Protection feature. When it is blocking content in a page, a shield icon will appear at the left end of the address bar next to the padlock icon. This article has more info on managing this feature: Tracking Protection {web link}
Please update to Firefox 67.0.4, which is the most recent version.
I'd also suggest you remove Avast entirely, and instead install Security essentials and malwarebytes.
Do you possibly use "Resist Fingerprinting"?
When resist fingerprinting (RFP) is enabled then some items are spoofed (TimeZone: UTC, UserAgent: Firefox 60 ESR on Windows 7).
You can check this pref on the about:config page to see if resist fingerprinting (RFP) is enabled and if this pref is user set (bold) reset to false via the right-click context menu.
- privacy.resistFingerprinting = false
Tried SafeMode but the websites still won't load.
No shield or padlock in the address bar when I try to load either YouTube or Facebook. The browser just times out.
Tyler Downer said
Please update to Firefox 67.0.4, which is the most recent version. I'd also suggest you remove Avast entirely, and instead install Security essentials and malwarebytes.
Sorry. I entered the wrong version of Firefox in my question. I am already running 67.0.4, not 60.0.
Then you must have resist fingerprint enabled. Please disable that
cor-el said
Do you possibly use "Resist Fingerprinting"? When resist fingerprinting (RFP) is enabled then some items are spoofed (TimeZone: UTC, UserAgent: Firefox 60 ESR on Windows 7). You can check this pref on the about:config page to see if resist fingerprinting (RFP) is enabled and if this pref is user set (bold) reset to false via the right-click context menu.
- privacy.resistFingerprinting = false
Tried that. No change. The websites still won't open.
What Windows version are you using and what Firefox version?
You can try these steps in case of issues with web pages:
You can reload web page(s) and bypass the cache to refresh possibly outdated or corrupted files.
- hold down the Shift key and left-click the Reload button
- press "Ctrl + F5" or press "Ctrl + Shift + R" (Windows,Linux)
- press "Command + Shift + R" (Mac)
Clear the Cache and remove the Cookies from websites that cause problems via the "3-bar" Firefox menu button (Options/Preferences).
"Remove the Cookies" from websites that cause problems:
- Options/Preferences -> Privacy & Security
Cookies and Site Data -> Manage Data
"Clear the Cache":
- Options/Preferences -> Privacy & Security
Cookies and Site Data -> Clear Data -> Cached Web Content: Clear
Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.
- switch to the DEFAULT theme: "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Themes
- do NOT click the "Refresh Firefox" button on the Safe Mode start window
Still no joy.
I tried reinstalling Firefox and that worked but when I copied over my backup profile, the issue started again.
Chosen Solution
You can check the connection settings.
- Options/Preferences -> General -> Network: Connection -> Settings
If you do not need to use a proxy to connect to internet then try to select "No Proxy" if "Use the system proxy settings" or one of the others do not work properly.
See "Firefox connection settings":
You can check for problems with preferences.
- delete possible user.js and numbered prefs-##.js files and rename/remove the prefs.js file to reset all prefs to the default value including prefs set via user.js and prefs that are no longer supported in current Firefox releases
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/preferences_not_saved
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/resetting_preferences
Looks like it was an issue with a VPN called proxmate. Had to clear it out but once it was gone, things are working again. Thanks for the help everyone.
That was very good work. Well done. Please flag your last post as Solved Problem so others will know.