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Search Engines Missing + Open Link In New Tab Not Functional

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In the last couple days my search engines have disappeared and I can no longer right click -> open link in new tab. Right clicking and selecting anything is no longer functional. I have attached an image of what happens when I right click in Firefox, and it's a mess. When this began, I'd had the previous version of Firefox, have since updated to 80, and am still having these issues. I've attempted various solutions (search.json.mozlz4 for the search engines and about:config for the open link in new tab issue) by searching through other users' questions, but nothing has worked so far. The only other significant thing I've done in the past week is refresh my browser at Firefox's insistence. Please help!

In the last couple days my search engines have disappeared and I can no longer right click -> open link in new tab. Right clicking and selecting anything is no longer functional. I have attached an image of what happens when I right click in Firefox, and it's a mess. When this began, I'd had the previous version of Firefox, have since updated to 80, and am still having these issues. I've attempted various solutions (search.json.mozlz4 for the search engines and about:config for the open link in new tab issue) by searching through other users' questions, but nothing has worked so far. The only other significant thing I've done in the past week is refresh my browser at Firefox's insistence. Please help!
Attached screenshots

Chosen solution

x-ref: https://twitter.com/631362/status/1299372247732367360

Hi Stephanie,

Have you tried Firefox Safe Mode yet?

Try Firefox Safe Mode to see if the problem goes away. Firefox Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode that temporarily turns off hardware acceleration, resets some settings, and disables add-ons (extensions and themes).

If Firefox is open, you can restart in Firefox Safe Mode from the Help menu:

  • Click the menu button Fx57Menu, click Help Fx57Help and select Restart with Add-ons Disabled.

If Firefox is not running, you can start Firefox in Safe Mode as follows:

  • On Windows: Hold the Shift key when you open the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
  • On Mac: Hold the option key while starting Firefox.
  • On Linux: Quit Firefox, go to your Terminal and run firefox -safe-mode
    (you may need to specify the Firefox installation path e.g. /usr/lib/firefox)

When the Firefox Safe Mode window appears, select "Start in Safe Mode".

Fx68SafeMode

If the issue is not present in Firefox Safe Mode, your problem is probably caused by an extension, theme, or hardware acceleration. Please follow the steps in the Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems article to find the cause.

To exit Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before opening Firefox for normal use again.

When you figure out what's causing your issues, please let us know. It might help others with the same problem.

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All Replies (2)

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Chosen Solution

x-ref: https://twitter.com/631362/status/1299372247732367360

Hi Stephanie,

Have you tried Firefox Safe Mode yet?

Try Firefox Safe Mode to see if the problem goes away. Firefox Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode that temporarily turns off hardware acceleration, resets some settings, and disables add-ons (extensions and themes).

If Firefox is open, you can restart in Firefox Safe Mode from the Help menu:

  • Click the menu button Fx57Menu, click Help Fx57Help and select Restart with Add-ons Disabled.

If Firefox is not running, you can start Firefox in Safe Mode as follows:

  • On Windows: Hold the Shift key when you open the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
  • On Mac: Hold the option key while starting Firefox.
  • On Linux: Quit Firefox, go to your Terminal and run firefox -safe-mode
    (you may need to specify the Firefox installation path e.g. /usr/lib/firefox)

When the Firefox Safe Mode window appears, select "Start in Safe Mode".

Fx68SafeMode

If the issue is not present in Firefox Safe Mode, your problem is probably caused by an extension, theme, or hardware acceleration. Please follow the steps in the Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems article to find the cause.

To exit Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before opening Firefox for normal use again.

When you figure out what's causing your issues, please let us know. It might help others with the same problem.

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Andrew, thank you so much! Narrowed it down to a recently-installed extension and everything appears to be working again.