The more you use your web browser, the more problems you are likely to encounter. It’s almost inevitable. It is also understandable. There was a time when browsers were just for surfing the web. Today we use them for everything. In fact, I’d bet 90% of what 90% of people do on a computer is through a web browser.
Because of this ubiquity, it’s no surprise that our browsers eventually give in to the pressure we put on them. And when you don’t clear your browser’s cache regularly (and treat it with care), it can crash.
When this happens, you need to take drastic measures. No, I’m not talking about uninstalling and reinstalling (although that could certainly do the trick), but rather resetting the browser.
The benefits of synchronization
When you reset most web browsers, you lose all your data, your bookmarks, your passwords…everything. It is as if you are installing the software for the first time. This way you can be sure that the browser will work as expected. However, a Firefox reset does not delete your bookmarks and passwords. On the other hand, it removes all extensions and customizations (because these are usually the two things that cause problems for the browser).
Before doing this reset, I advise you to make sure that you have backed up things such as bookmarks or that you have linked your browser to a synchronization service. For example, with the Firefox browser, you can sign up for a free Firefox sync account and sync things like bookmarks, settings, open tabs, passwords, cookies, history, add-ons , credit cards and addresses.
Once you’ve done that, when you reset Firefox, all you have to do is log into your sync account and everything will sync. The downside is that if, say, a particular setting or extension is causing the problem, as soon as the sync is complete, you might end up back at square one. Because of this issue, I never add the settings or add-ons to the list of synced items.
I strongly recommend against syncing settings and add-ons. ZDNET France screenshot.
Once you’ve set up your sync account, it’s time to refresh (or “reset”) Firefox.
How to Reset Firefox
The only thing you will need for this operation is an instance of the Firefox browser running. I always recommend using the latest version available, so be sure to update the browser every chance you get.
1. Open Firefox
This, of course, assumes Firefox is opening. If not, you’ll most likely need to uninstall and reinstall the app or delete your profile folder (we’ll get to that in a bit).
2. Open the Troubleshooting Information Page
Click the Firefox menu in the upper right corner (three horizontal lines) and click Aid > More troubleshooting information. You can also type about:support in the address bar.
Access to the troubleshooting window is through the Firefox main menu. ZDNET France screenshot.
3. Refresh Firefox
On the page that appears, click the button Repair Firefox.
You can also use Troubleshoot Mode, which temporarily disables all add-ons, themes, and customizations. ZDNET France screenshot.
4. Check Refresh
A new pop-up window appears. Click on Repair Firefox to check the process. This operation will delete the (possibly) incriminated elements and restart the browser. Once the browser restarts, be sure to log back into your Firefox account and allow syncing.
Firefox will not refresh until you click the required button. ZDNET France screenshot.
What to do if Firefox does not start?
If you find yourself in such a situation, you have two options:
- Uninstall/reinstall Firefox
- Rename your profile directory
I suggest you first rename your profile directory. So when you reopen Firefox, it will create a new folder and you will be back to square one. Be sure to close Firefox and rename the directory in question, which is in one of the following places:
-
Linux (snap version) : /home//snap/firefox/common/.mozilla/firefox/ -
Linux (non-snap version) : /home//.mozilla/firefox -
macOS : /Users//Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/ -
Windows : C:UsersAppDataRomaingMozillaFirefoxProfiles
In all the cases shown above,
Inside this folder you will find a subfolder with a random name. This is your profile folder. Close Firefox, rename the folder and reopen the browser. This should create a new profile folder and you’ll be up and running again.
Hopefully, you’ll never have to take such drastic measures. But if the opportunity arises, you are now ready to face the situation.
Source: “ZDNet.com”