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.

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 closed and archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

I have written a Windows DOS batch file that will close Firefox if it locks up on you

  • 4 replies
  • 3 have this problem
  • 14 views
  • Last reply by Moses

more options

I tested the program and found no problem using it. Using your file explorer, go to a directory of your choosing.
(Not the desk top)
Create a new file and call it KillFirefox.bat or whatever you want. Note; this is a BAT file.
Open the file with a file editor, and copy everything below into it (after the ========= of course).
Save the file. Now, use the file explorer, right click the new program, and select
Create A Shortcut. Then move the shortcut to the desk top. Place it somewhere on the screen
so that if Firefox locks up, you can still reach the shortcut.


If you want more information about Taskkill, open a DOS window, and type Taskkill /?


WARNING ! ! ! You will loose anything that has not been saved.
==================================================================================

TASKKILL /T /F /IM Firefox.exe

exit

TASKKILL system [/U username [/P [password]]]
         { filter processid | /IM imagename } /T /F
Description:
    This tool is used to terminate tasks by process id (PID) or image name.
Parameter List:
    /S    system           Specifies the remote system to connect to.
    /U    [domain\]user    Specifies the user context under which the
                           command should execute.
    /P    [password]       Specifies the password for the given user
                           context. Prompts for input if omitted.
    /FI   filter           Applies a filter to select a set of tasks.
                           Allows "*" to be used. ex. imagename eq acme*
    /PID  processid        Specifies the PID of the process to be terminated.
                           Use TaskList to get the PID.
    /IM   imagename        Specifies the image name of the process
                           to be terminated. Wildcard '*' can be used
                           to specify all tasks or image names.
    /T                     Terminates the specified process and any
                           child processes which were started by it.
    /F                     Specifies to forcefully terminate the process(es).
    /?                     Displays this help message.
I tested the program and found no problem using it. Using your file explorer, go to a directory of your choosing.<br /> (Not the desk top)<br /> Create a new file and call it '''KillFirefox.bat''' or whatever you want. Note; this is a '''BAT''' file.<br /> Open the file with a file editor, and copy everything below into it (after the ========= of course).<br /> Save the file. Now, use the file explorer, right click the new program, and select<br /> '''Create A Shortcut'''. Then move the shortcut to the desk top. Place it somewhere on the screen<br /> so that if Firefox locks up, you can still reach the shortcut.<BR><BR><br /> If you want more information about Taskkill, open a DOS window, and type Taskkill /?<BR><BR><br /> '''WARNING ! ! !''' You will loose anything that has not been saved.<br /> <nowiki>==================================================================================</nowiki> <pre>TASKKILL /T /F /IM Firefox.exe exit TASKKILL [/S system [/U username [/P [password]]]] { [/FI filter] [/PID processid | /IM imagename] } [/T] [/F] Description: This tool is used to terminate tasks by process id (PID) or image name. Parameter List: /S system Specifies the remote system to connect to. /U [domain\]user Specifies the user context under which the command should execute. /P [password] Specifies the password for the given user context. Prompts for input if omitted. /FI filter Applies a filter to select a set of tasks. Allows "*" to be used. ex. imagename eq acme* /PID processid Specifies the PID of the process to be terminated. Use TaskList to get the PID. /IM imagename Specifies the image name of the process to be terminated. Wildcard '*' can be used to specify all tasks or image names. /T Terminates the specified process and any child processes which were started by it. /F Specifies to forcefully terminate the process(es). /? Displays this help message.</pre>

Modified by cor-el

All Replies (4)

more options

There are other methods of killing Firefox and the keyboard shortcut Alt+F4 may come in handy as that quits a program in Windows. (& Linux or Cmd +W in a Mac )

I am not sure that Firefox locking up will be a very common issue, but if it is then that needs investigating.

more options

@FredMcD -

Is there any way to suppress the command window from opening?

TIA :)

more options

Why is this in the forum?

more options

Moderators: see /forums/forum-moderators/710284

Perhaps this can be useful(?)