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Google image search is missing some images

  • 10 replies
  • 9 have this problem
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

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I have one user that does a Google image search and some of the images will not show. This only happens in Firefox for him. It works in Chrome fine and it works on my Firefox fine.

There must be a setting in there somewhere that got changed. Where should I look?

It is version 18 running on XP.

I have one user that does a Google image search and some of the images will not show. This only happens in Firefox for him. It works in Chrome fine and it works on my Firefox fine. There must be a setting in there somewhere that got changed. Where should I look? It is version 18 running on XP.

All Replies (10)

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Maybe that user inadvertently blocked images from some domains.

Does that user have that problem when running in the Firefox SafeMode?
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Safe+Mode
Don't select anything right now, just use "Continue in SafeMode."

When in Safe Mode...

  • The status of plug-ins is not affected.
  • Custom preferences are not affected.
  • All extensions are disabled.
  • The default theme is used, without a persona.
  • userChrome.css and userContent.css are ignored.
  • The default toolbar layout is used.
  • The JIT Javascript compiler is disabled.
  • Hardware acceleration is disabled.

If not, see this:
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/troubleshooting+extensions+and+theme...

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If images are missing then check that you aren't blocking images from some domains.

  • Check the permissions for the domain in the current tab in "Tools > Page Info > Permissions"
  • Check that images are enabled: Tools > Options > Content: [X] Load images automatically
  • Check the exceptions in "Tools > Options > Content: Load Images > Exceptions"
  • Check the "Tools > Page Info > Media" tab for blocked images (scroll through all the images with the cursor Down key).

If an image in the list is grayed and there is a check-mark in the box "Block Images from..." then remove that mark to unblock the images from that domain.

Make sure that you do not block third-party images, the permissions.default.image pref should be 1.

There are also extensions like Adblock Plus (Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) and security software (firewall, anti-virus) that can block images and other content.

See also:

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same failure with Firefox 19 + 20.*: Google doesn't show image results on the first result page, within the first or at the latest beginning with second result page images didn't show up, without any hint/sign/message (screenshot attached).

--NO ad-block add-on! --Cookies allowed --image permission set + OK --NO image blocking, neither by Firefox, nor by Firewall, nor by Security

Opera 12.*, Comodo Dragon (a Chrome variant) 26.* and IE 9.* show images on all Google result pages.

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Did you try Safe Mode?


You can try to delete the prefs.js file and possible numbered prefs-##.js files and a possible user.js file to reset all prefs to the default values.

You can inspect and manage the permissions for all domains on the about:permissions page.


Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.

See "Creating a profile":

If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from an existing profile to the new profile, but be careful not to copy corrupted files.

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same result in safe mode: - missing image results starting with the last two images on result page 1, - missing all image results on all following result pages

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Having the same problem with default Firefox installation on Fedora 19.

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@usereleven While a number of tests (safe mode, w/o add-ons, new profile, etc.) I could find a reason for this Google (image search) behaviour. Strange was: sometimes the image search correctly worked, mostly not. But ... the failure disappeared in Fx 21.*, Fx 21 & 22 work correctly.

[imho: the communication between Fx an Google search stumbled at that point when Fx should say "now I am scrolling to result page 2/next result page". Either Fx didn't say anything like that, OR Google didn't understand that kind of message. ]

Can you upgrade to Fx 21+? Should solve the problem.

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I am currently using the Fx 22.0. Problem is still there. Additionally, I have realized that Chrome also has the same problem. It's a huge possibility that problem is OS wide.

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@usereleven This problem obviously occurs on two different plattforms and in two different browsers. So it seems to be much more a google problem/failure and less a browser error. Does Google give any information about that?

good luck, Klaus (khelmsch_de)

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You can rename or delete the prefs.js file and possible numbered prefs-##.js files and a possible user.js file to reset all prefs to the default value.

Also check your security software

Boot the computer in Windows Safe Mode with network support (press F8 on the boot screen) as a test to see if that helps.