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.

I keep getting a message saying Helper extentsion has encountered a problem and need to close i want to disable it but can't find the file

StaceyF
StaceyF
more options

Trying to gt my computer to move faster i deleted microsoft internet explorer an in order to get my computer to let me on the internet i had to download firefox when i did this i started receiving a message that said Extentsion helper has encountered a problem and needs to close not knowing this came from firefox i tried to delete firefox but kept receiving the messag i have since re-downloaded firefox but can't find extension helper to deactivate it my computer will not let me do anything i need help resolving this please

Stacey Featherstone

Trying to gt my computer to move faster i deleted microsoft internet explorer an in order to get my computer to let me on the internet i had to download firefox when i did this i started receiving a message that said Extentsion helper has encountered a problem and needs to close not knowing this came from firefox i tried to delete firefox but kept receiving the messag i have since re-downloaded firefox but can't find extension helper to deactivate it my computer will not let me do anything i need help resolving this please Stacey Featherstone

All Replies (1)

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

Can you run Firefox long enough to display the Add-ons page? Either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons

In the left column, click Extensions. Then, if in doubt, disable. (Remove also is available for some extensions, but not the ones that Firefox found in a registry scan or shared folder elsewhere on your system.)

Often a link will appear above at least one disabled extension to restart Firefox. You can complete your work on the tab and click one of the links as the last step.

Any improvement?

If you cannot access the Add-ons page, try starting Firefox in Safe Mode, since that deactivates extensions and hopefully will stop that message from coming up long enough to get to the Add-ons page.

If Firefox is not running: Hold down the Shift key when starting Firefox.

If Firefox is running: You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
  • Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Reset).

Success?