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How do I stop the windows I have open - from being reduced in size and moved to the upper left corner of screen, when I leave system not in use for a while?

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 7 views
  • Last reply by WestEnd

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This occurs whenever it would normally be roughly time for a screen saver to come on. But I have screen saver turned off = "none" So if I have a bunch of windows open, when I come back they are all shifted to small size ( ~ 1/32 of screen) and stacked on top of each other in upper left corner. Then I have to move and resize each one. + next time I open that type of program/window, it comes up as the small size (so have to resize etc.) Using Windows 7 Professional OS (with "auto arrange" turned off, but grid turned (doesn't seem to change this problem either way). Using Firefox 64bit version 61.0.1 Hopefully this info provides you with a few clues that will help you help me. Thanks much. Paul

This occurs whenever it would normally be roughly time for a screen saver to come on. But I have screen saver turned off = "none" So if I have a bunch of windows open, when I come back they are all shifted to small size ( ~ 1/32 of screen) and stacked on top of each other in upper left corner. Then I have to move and resize each one. + next time I open that type of program/window, it comes up as the small size (so have to resize etc.) Using Windows 7 Professional OS (with "auto arrange" turned off, but grid turned (doesn't seem to change this problem either way). Using Firefox 64bit version 61.0.1 Hopefully this info provides you with a few clues that will help you help me. Thanks much. Paul

All Replies (4)

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Hi, please ignore last post.

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Hi Paul, I can't think of any good reason for that behavior!

Does Windows enter sleep mode, or not quite?

Do you use multiple monitors?


Sometimes the settings file that stores window dimensions becomes corrupted with nonsensical values. You can rename the file and have Firefox rebuild it. Here's how:

Open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table on the page, on the Profile Folder row, click the "Open Folder" button. This should launch a new window listing various files and folders in Windows Explorer.

Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox and Exit, either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > Exit
  • (menu bar) File > Exit

Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup, then rename xulstore.json to something like xulstore.old. If you see a file named localstore.rdf, rename that one to localstore.old.

Start Firefox back up again. Do windows display normally again?

That "mini-reset" will hide the menu bar and bookmarks toolbar. You can use one of these methods to show the toolbar list and select the desired bars there:

  • right-click (on Mac Ctrl+click) a blank spot on the tab bar (or the "+" button)
  • (menu bar) View > Toolbars
    On Windows, tap the Alt key to activate the menu bar temporarily.
  • in Customize mode > Toolbars button (see: Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars)

To turn on the Bookmarks Toolbar, Menu Bar, or other bars, click it on the list.

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Thank you very much for immediate reply and help. I have followed your instructions/maneuver & will wait to see if it works. Have to wait - roughly an hour - of inactivity before this usually happens. Thanks either way. Paul

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pweath said

Thank you very much for immediate reply and help. I have followed your instructions/maneuver & will wait to see if it works. Have to wait - roughly an hour - of inactivity before this usually happens. Thanks either way. Paul

That sounds like a Windows O/S issue that is doing that and not remember the settings. I know one Edge in W10 if I leave it open and sign out and resign in the Edge reverts back to the original size. So if your system is signing out that could be why it closes everything and returns everything to default size.