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.

location bar is empty

  • 5 replies
  • 12 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by ronv

louploup
louploup
more options

When a site opens without typing URL in location bar (i.e., home page opens automatically, click link in pdf file, etc.), the location bar shows nothing. In order for the URL to show, I have to select it in "History."

Also, when restarting, all pages reopen with location bar blank, and location under "Window" for every one is "Mozilla Firefox" instead of the actual name of the site. As above, I have to select from "History" to make URL appear in Location bar and have site identified properly in Window.

When a site opens without typing URL in location bar (i.e., home page opens automatically, click link in pdf file, etc.), the location bar shows nothing. In order for the URL to show, I have to select it in "History." Also, when restarting, all pages reopen with location bar blank, and location under "Window" for every one is "Mozilla Firefox" instead of the actual name of the site. As above, I have to select from "History" to make URL appear in Location bar and have site identified properly in Window.

All Replies (5)

ideato
ideato
more options

Probably Corrupt localstore.rdf, see the above link for more information.


thank you

Please mark "Solved" the answer that really solve the problem, to help others with a similar problem.

louploup
louploup Question owner
more options

Nope, not it. I wish it had been that easy.

I replaced the localstore.rdf file twice, and the symptoms remain. I even left the window open where that file is located (root:Library:Application Support:Firefox:Profiles:89bknfrk.default:localstore.rdf) and watched it being recreated when I reopened Firefox, and gets updated when I browse. [edit: symptom--empty location bar--URL does show when I select home page via symbol on right side of bar, but URL does not show when I open new page or tab.]

Another possibly related symptom: Some windows in Firefox only show the "+" where the tab with name of site is supposed to be. When I open a new tab using the plus or command T, the original window cannot be opened without closing the other tab(s) that have been opened on top of it. [edit--I cannot replicate this problem, so perhaps it has solved itself or due to the replacement of localstore.rdf]

Also, fyi, I recently repaired permissions on start up drive/volume (Corsair CSSD-F60GB2-A ).

Thanks for help.

Modified by louploup

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

You can try to clear the cache.

  • Firefox > Preferences > Advanced > Network > Offline Storage (Cache): "Clear Now"

Did you try a new window to see if it work better in that new window?

If you use session restore to reopen tabs then try to close and restore the tabs that misbehave.

louploup
louploup Question owner
more options

Clearing cache, no change. The URLs still do not show when navigating to site from outside the window/tab.

Restore tabs? What a hassle if I have more than a couple open. That's what I've been doing.

Problem with first tab not being reachable without closing later ones persists.

I'm getting pretty tired of Firefox's crappy behavior and I can't stand Safari's interface (doesn't let me set to download pdfs as files without viewing first). What's my options?

ronv
ronv
more options

I have Firefox 15. I've had this problem for the last couple of updates. Whenever I open a hyperlink from an email, PDF, etc., my Firefox window has an empty "Navigation Toolbar" (a.k.a Location bar, address bar, URL bar) that says only "Go to a Website." The address field is empty. The Reload and related icons are grayed out.

SOLUTION: A temporary solution is to right-click on the TAB where the page title is located. Select "Reload Tab." The website address and associated buttons will appear.