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click action requires cursor to move off field before completing

  • 3 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by trav77

trav77
trav77
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Just recently and I think since upgrading to version 33.0.2 the click behaviour of Firefox seems to have changed. Previously if I clicked on the URL it was highlighted, now when I click on it nothing happens until I move the cursor off the URL field. This behaviour seems to happen in various places, eg in the Options dialogue, same behaviour. Also when trying to specifically select the contents of a field the last one or two characters (using the mouse to select from right to left) don't get highlighted until I move the cursor off the field. Is this new behaviour deliberate or may I have a problem ? I had some problems with Malware (sweetim) but I seem to have cleaned them, and have completely erased all trace of Firefox and downloaded new from scratch (although have used sync).

Just recently and I think since upgrading to version 33.0.2 the click behaviour of Firefox seems to have changed. Previously if I clicked on the URL it was highlighted, now when I click on it nothing happens until I move the cursor off the URL field. This behaviour seems to happen in various places, eg in the Options dialogue, same behaviour. Also when trying to specifically select the contents of a field the last one or two characters (using the mouse to select from right to left) don't get highlighted until I move the cursor off the field. Is this new behaviour deliberate or may I have a problem ? I had some problems with Malware (sweetim) but I seem to have cleaned them, and have completely erased all trace of Firefox and downloaded new from scratch (although have used sync).

Chosen solution

You can try to disable hardware acceleration in Firefox.

  • Tools > Options > Advanced > General > Browsing: "Use hardware acceleration when available"

You need to close and restart Firefox after toggling this setting.

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All Replies (3)

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
  • Moderator
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Try Firefox Safe Mode to see if the problem goes away. Firefox Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode that turns off some settings, disables most add-ons (extensions and themes).

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

  • In Firefox 29.0 and above, click the menu button New Fx Menu, click Help Help-29 and select Restart with Add-ons Disabled.
  • In previous Firefox versions, click on the Firefox button at the top left of the Firefox window and click on Help (or click on Help in the Menu bar, if you don't have a Firefox button) then click on 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".
Safe Mode Fx 15 - Win

If the issue is not present in Firefox Safe Mode, your problem is probably caused by an extension, and you need to figure out which one. Please follow 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.

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

You can try to disable hardware acceleration in Firefox.

  • Tools > Options > Advanced > General > Browsing: "Use hardware acceleration when available"

You need to close and restart Firefox after toggling this setting.

trav77
trav77 Question owner
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Thanks for both suggestions, I have tried disabling hardware acceleration and that has fixed the problem - brlliant, I'm most grateful for your help.