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

when I open Firefox it loads with 2 side by side windows open, how do I get just one?

  • 5 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by WendiJ

more options

The left 1/4 of the screen opens in Hotmail. The right 3/4 of the screen opens in the home page I have chosen in Settings. It appears that the right 3/4 is the dominant page. When I open any new URL site it loads in the 3/4 page side. To the best of recollection (happened months ago) this occurred when I was working in a free 2-week Ancestry link. It's obviously frustrating. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

The left 1/4 of the screen opens in Hotmail. The right 3/4 of the screen opens in the home page I have chosen in Settings. It appears that the right 3/4 is the dominant page. When I open any new URL site it loads in the 3/4 page side. To the best of recollection (happened months ago) this occurred when I was working in a free 2-week Ancestry link. It's obviously frustrating. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Chosen solution

First, make sure that you didn't inadvertently set Hotmail and that "dominant page" as your Homepages. In Options multiple homepages are separated with the vertical bar symbol, a "pipe" -- | .

Second, check your bookmark for Hotmail and make sure that in Properties (right-click contextual menu) that Load this bookmark in the sidebar isn't selected.

Read this answer in context 👍 2

All Replies (5)

more options

Hi, please try : uninstall Firefox. Then Delete the Mozilla Firefox Folders in C:\Program Files , C:\Program Files(x86) & C:\ProgramData Then restart system. Then run Windows Disk Cleanup. (Note: This should be Pinned and run Weekly, If never done below expect 10's of gig's) Then run it again and click the button that says Cleanup System Files. Note: your Firefox Profile is saved. But you should make a back up before you do :

Reinstall with Current Release Firefox 59.0.2 with a Full Version Installer

Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.

more options

Chosen Solution

First, make sure that you didn't inadvertently set Hotmail and that "dominant page" as your Homepages. In Options multiple homepages are separated with the vertical bar symbol, a "pipe" -- | .

Second, check your bookmark for Hotmail and make sure that in Properties (right-click contextual menu) that Load this bookmark in the sidebar isn't selected.

more options

Other things that need attention:

The System Details list shows an outdated Shockwave Flash plugin (current is 29.0.0.113).

  • Shockwave Flash 27.0 r0

You can download the latest Flash player plugin for Firefox on this page.

more options

the-edmeister said

First, make sure that you didn't inadvertently set Hotmail and that "dominant page" as your Homepages. In Options multiple homepages are separated with the vertical bar symbol, a "pipe" -- | . Second, check your bookmark for Hotmail and make sure that in Properties (right-click contextual menu) that Load this bookmark in the sidebar isn't selected.

THIS DID IT. Thanx so much. Was really frustrating before receiving this solution.

more options

Pkshadow said

Hi, please try : uninstall Firefox. Then Delete the Mozilla Firefox Folders in C:\Program Files , C:\Program Files(x86) & C:\ProgramData Then restart system. Then run Windows Disk Cleanup. (Note: This should be Pinned and run Weekly, If never done below expect 10's of gig's) Then run it again and click the button that says Cleanup System Files. Note: your Firefox Profile is saved. But you should make a back up before you do : Reinstall with Current Release Firefox 59.0.2 with a Full Version Installer Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.

I tried this step by step and it did not work. Another responder provided another possibility and it worked. I really appreciate your response even though it didn't work in my case.