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

How do you turn of the yellow box with the magnifying glass in it? I hate it so much I am looking for a different browser to use!

  • 6 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by kemk

more options

If I highlight a word, or accidentally highlight a word, I get this ever present little yellow box with a magnifying glass or the words "Loading". I hate it. I have to move the cursor to a blank area and click to get rid of it. It is quite the annoyance. I am tired of fighting the browser to get my work done! What moron came up with this? I can't find a way to shut it off.

If I highlight a word, or accidentally highlight a word, I get this ever present little yellow box with a magnifying glass or the words "Loading". I hate it. I have to move the cursor to a blank area and click to get rid of it. It is quite the annoyance. I am tired of fighting the browser to get my work done! What moron came up with this? I can't find a way to shut it off.

Chosen solution

Also, to help with further research, you could paste your extension list into a reply. The easiest way to get that list is to use the support information page, which you can open using either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
  • (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

Scroll down a bit to the Extensions heading, then select the whole table below it with your mouse and copy (e.g., right-click > Copy or Ctrl+c), then paste into a reply here. It's a bit messy but we're used to it.

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (6)

more options

This doesn't sound like a function of Firefox, possibly malware or an add-on. Try the following:

more options

If you enter the my question in google you can find forums with people having the same issue with Firefox. I think Firefox added this feature without a way to turn it off. Have you tried highlighting a word from a web page? It's not malware--it is a Firefox problem. I was hoping someone from Firefox would read this and discover this little annoying feature is a Pain in the....

more options

I am from Mozilla, and we did not add such a feature, which is why I said that you likely have an addon or malware that added it (the people you found in your search likely had the same). Did you try the steps I suggested?

more options

If you aren't sure it's an extension, why not take few minutes to test in Firefox's Safe Mode? That's a standard diagnostic tool to deactivate extensions and some advanced features of Firefox. More info: Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode.

If Firefox is not running: Hold down the Shift key when starting Firefox.

If Firefox is running: You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
  • Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

and OK the restart.

Both scenarios: A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Refresh).

Any improvement?

Also, for the record, I'm attaching a screen shot of some text I highlighted in this thread...

more options

Chosen Solution

Also, to help with further research, you could paste your extension list into a reply. The easiest way to get that list is to use the support information page, which you can open using either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
  • (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

Scroll down a bit to the Extensions heading, then select the whole table below it with your mouse and copy (e.g., right-click > Copy or Ctrl+c), then paste into a reply here. It's a bit messy but we're used to it.

more options

It must of been a function of an add-on. I shut most of them down and the annoying little yellow box with the magnifying glass disappeared. Sorry for blaming Firefox. I can't image why any of the add-ons I use would have this function. Anyway, thanks again!