after emptying cache and cookies firefox mac won't load, then new install of firefox won't load.
On my mac mavericks, after emptying cache and cookies, firefox mac won't load, then new install of firefox won't load either. All I get is a spinning circle and cannot click on Firefox in the menu bar.
All Replies (11)
How did you clear the cache and cookies?
Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problem.
See "Creating a profile":
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues
If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.
I cannot create a new profile because the rotating circle doesn't let me click on anything, including the multiple vertical bars in the upper right corner. All I can ever do if Force Quit the non responding Firefox.
Can you tell us what files or folders you deleted?
Only the cache and cookies....so many there's no way of knowing them all. I followed the exact instructions to delete cache and cookies....and all seemed very simple.
What issues did you have that you wanted to delete the cache and cookies?
Did you use these instructions? "Clear the Cache":
- Firefox > Preferences > Advanced > Network > Cached Web Content: "Clear Now"
"Remove Cookies" from sites causing problems:
- Firefox > Preferences > Privacy > "Use custom settings for history" > Cookies: "Show Cookies"
Or did you use?
After an online account I have changed my account URL for me, all worked fine except for not being able to access one of that account's menu items, so they told me to clear my cache and cookies. That did seem to work. But when I rebooted my computer after that is when the issue arose of not being about to load Firefox.
I don't recall the exact wordage, but it was a box that let me check cache and check cookies to clear them. Each was a separate listing in the one box to state what I want cleared. I did not check the box that said history and downloads because I was afraid it might delete my computer download file.
That sounds like "History > Clear Recent History".
If clearing cookies didn't work properly then it is possible that the cookies.sqlite file that stores the cookies got corrupted.
- Rename (or delete) cookies.sqlite (cookies.sqlite.old) and delete other present cookies files like cookies.sqlite-journal in the Firefox profile folder in case the file cookies.sqlite got corrupted.
You can use this button to go to the currently used Firefox profile folder:
- Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder (Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder)
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
Yes, except when there was the option to "Clear Recent History" or a number of months, I chose the Everything as my History hadn't been cleared in a very long time.
The best I seem to be able to come up with is: 71x5d7ij.default in my Profile folder. The 2 items that seems to be of use there is: OfflineCache/index.sqlite and urlclassifier3.sqlite. Are either one of these the one I should put the .old? There doesn't seem to be any files named: cookies.sqlite or cookies.sqlite-journal.
Thank you so very much for your help and kind patience. It is greatly appreciated!
You are in the wrong location, probably here: Those files are in the location for the cache and some other files.
- /Users/<user>/Library/Caches/Firefox/Profiles/<profile>/Cache
You need to go to the main Firefox profile folder:
- /Users/<user>/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/<profile>/
You can use this button to go to the currently used Firefox profile folder:
- Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder (Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder)
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
OK, I went to those files and did as instructed. Unfortunately, I still get a blank page with the spinning circle....and Force Quit says Firefox is not responding ....same issue. My Firefox version says it is 36.0.1, but I do have a icon sitting beside it that says Firefox 5.0.dmg that says it is an older version, so I didn't install that. The version number I am using sounds odd to me. Could that possibly be the problem?
I am sorry this is being such a stubborn issue! I am so grateful for your time and expertise!
Maybe time of creating a new profile as a test to check if that works.
See "Creating a profile":
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues
If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.