/Browser Cleanup /Firefox Keeps Crashing on Mac? Top Solutions in 2021
If you're currently wondering how to install firefox on your Mac device, wonder no more! This guide goes over how to install firefox!Mozilla Firefox Download. There is an easy fix for that. For changing app icon on Mac, you’ll need to access Applications folder, then select any App for which you wish to change the icon.; Right-click the app and select “Get Info” or select the application and press CMD+I. Now Firefox is joining Chrome by generally releasing an update that can take advantage of Apple Silicon. According to Mozilla support, all you should have to do is restart your browser and you.
Help! My Firefox keeps crashing on Mac everytime I use it.
It is so annoying to close and reopen this browser every single time. How do I fix firefox keeps crashing Mac issue?
Of course! Read this new post in detailed, you will find the easiest ways to fix firefox keeps crashing on Mac.
How Do I Fix Firefox from Crashing on Mac?
Users of Mozilla Firefox browser are confused when opening it but it closes or quits. So how to fix this Firefox crash Mac issue? Try these ways below:
- Update Firefox Browser
- Update Your Mac OS
- Update Plugins
- Update the Security Software
- Use Safe Mode
- Clean Install Firefox
- Check Hardware
- Report Crash Error
Article GuidePart 1. What Does Browser Crash Mean?Part 2. How Do I Fix Firefox from Crashing on Mac?Part 3. How to Solve Firefox Crashing on Startup Issue?Part 4. Prevent Firefox Problems with Browser Cleanup ToolPart 5. Conclusion
Part 1. What Does Browser Crash Mean?
A Browser Crash is an unexpected quitting or closing of a browser in the middle of any activity. Once a browser crashes, you can see a pop-up crash report box to let the developers know of what happened. We all experience crashing browsers at some point in our lives and it is fine. However, if the crashing happens most of the time, well this is a big problem already.
There are recent reports that the Mozilla Firefox browser is experiencing frequent crashing issues and users can no longer stand it. This is a terrible user experience. However, there are also possible solutions on how to fix firefox keeps crashing on Mac issues.
Part 2. How Do I Fix Firefox from Crashing on Mac?
When your Firefox keeps crashing constantly, don't panic! We will help you get over this issue and fix in no time. Here are some tips recommended by Mozilla in order to fix firefox crashes problems.
2.1 Update Firefox Browser
The crashing problem can also be caused by bugs on the current version that you are using. To fix this issue, try to check if there is an available update for your Firefox browser:
- Click the menu button.
- Click Help.
- Scroll down to About Firefox.
- Let Firefox check and scan for updates.
- Click Restart to Update Firefox.
The Firefox browser will restart in a while and it will load up using the updated version without the crashing anymore.
Note: Make sure you only download the latest firefox version from the official site to avoid malware infections.
2.2 Update your Mac OS
Your computer's operating system can also cause crashing on some web browsers. Follow these steps on how to update your computer's operating system:
- Go to AppStore.
- Click on Updates.
- Find Software Updates.
- Find Mac OS.
- Click Update and wait until Mac restarts.
2.3 Update Plugins
If you have already updated both the Firefox browser and the computer's OS and the firefox keeps crashing still, check maybe your plugins needed some upgrade in order to get rid of the issue. Check your installed plugin's website for their latest update and install it on your browser.
2.4 Update Security Software
You internet security protection software can also interrupt your web browsing activity at random times and this can be so frustrating.
This might be a sign that your anti-virus software needs an update. To fix this, simply go your anti-virus' settings and check for the latest updates and follow the steps on how to install it.
2.5 Open Firefox in Safe Mode
To further determine if the problem is more than just crashing, try using Firefox on Safe mode and check whether it is still crashing or not. Here is how to open Firefox in safe mode:
- Go to the menu and click Help.
- Click Restart with Add-ons Disabled.
- Click SHIFT upon starting the Firefox browser to enter Safe mode.
2.6 Clean Install Firefox
If using the Safe mode does not fix firefox keeps crashing issue then why not try a clean install and check if it is still happening? Don't worry about your bookmarks, and other personal downloads, these files are stored and saved on a separate folder.
Uninstall Firefox
- Delete Firefox installation folders : (C:Program FilesMozilla Firefox and C:Program Files (x86)Mozilla Firefox).
- Download a new Firefox browser.
- Follow the installation process.
Once you have installed a fresh and clean browser, test to see if the crashing still occurs.
2.7 Report Crash Error
To better get a real fix on the Firefox keeps crashing issue, you can report it straight to the developers. All you need is to note down the crash ID.
Follow these steps on how to report crash incidents.
- Go to the Firefox location bar and enter about: crashes.
- Find Report ID and look for the latest crash and open it in a new tab (it will lead to crash-stats.mozilla.com).
- A message will appear 'Your report is being processed'.
- Wait until the process is finished.
2.8 Check Hardware
Although least among the suspects, your hardware can also interrupt the way the browsers act. If the RAM is out of space, it might cause certain crashing on any applications, software, and services that you are using on the device. You can use the Memtest86+ tool to diagnose your RAM.
Part 3. How to Solve Firefox Crashing on Startup Issue?
If your Firefox keeps crashing on startup, you tried it again and again but it still doesn't work, you might lose all your patience soon. Don't worry, because we have solutions recommended by Mozilla to help you get Firefox working again.
The first thing you need to do is to check if Firefox is on Safe Mode, just following the steps mentioned above of Open Firefox in Safe Mode in Part 2, then see if Firefox still crashing. If Firefox crashing happens in Safe Mode, then you need to clean install Firefox:
- Remove Firefox from your Mac.
- Delete installation folders of Firefox: (which located in C:Program FilesMozilla Firefox or C:Program Files (x86)Mozilla Firefox).
- Download a new version of the Firefox browser.
- Double-click on it and follow the installation process.
Last, Firefox crashing on startup may due to some malware or software. Just doing a deep scan on your Mac to find malware or software that causing the crash problem and remove them permanently.
Part 4. Prevent Firefox Problems with Browser Cleanup Tool
Now when all else fails, and you feel like you have done everything thing you could, we recommend to rely on a better solution like cleaners to prevent firefox keeps crashing problem.
iMyMac PowerMyMac is a safe and effective tool that automatically scans and detects any Junk Files to get rid of, diagnoses Mac status, cleans browsers, and many more.
To better prevent firefox not working on Mac problem, use Privacy by iMyMac PowerMyMac to resolve it as soon as possible:
- Download and Launch iMyMac PowerMyMac.
- Choose Privacy Option and Start Scan.
- Preview and Select Desired Browser Data to Clean.
- Wait for Browser Cleaning Finished.
Step 1. Download and Launch iMyMac PowerMyMac
Download iMyMac PowerMyMac on your computer and launch the program.
Step 2. Choose Privacy Option and Start Scan
Launch the program and find Privacy on the left side tools. Then click Scan.
Step 3. Preview and Select Desired Browser Data to Clean
Preview and delete browser cookies, caches, histories, and other necessary files that can cause crashing.
Step 4. Wait for Browser Cleaning Finished
Click Clean and wait until all the process is completed
So easy, isn't it? It could help to prevent problems like FireFox's breakdown. PowerMyMac also helps you solve your Mac running slow or looking for duplicate photos issues or others, just have a free trial first!
Next time that you are experiencing browser crashing on your Mac, use Privacy for the fast and efficient result. No confusing methods, and reckless efforts.
Part 5. Conclusion
There you have it, you have just learned how to fix firefox keeps crashing 2021 on your Mac. You will no longer get frustrated while surfing online. If your firefox tabs keep crashing, check out ways here to fix it. Have you already tried Privacy by iMyMac PowerMyMac so that you can make your Mac cleaned up? Share your comments below!
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How can I do when Firefox hangs? It says 'Not Responding', can you help me?
iMyMac2018-11-28 11:04:06
Just follow the guide provided by Mozilla to help you solve Firefox hangs issue: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-hangs-or-not-responding
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Mozilla's Firefox browser is known for its speed and a large collection of extensions that let you customize the experience to your heart's desire. But when Firefox is running slow, crashing, or not loading websites properly, it can be frustrating to figure out why. Follow our step-by-step guide to get your Firefox back to tip-top condition.
What are the most frequent problems with Firefox?
Overall, Firefox is a top-rated and highly reliable browser — good choice for both professional and everyday users. However, serving so many platforms on so many devices and screens, even the best of the best sometimes let us down. But worry not, in this how-to we've combined the most frequently occurring Firefox problems and written specific instructions on how to fix them.
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Why is Firefox so slow, hangs or keeps freezing?
Slow Firefox browsing experience is truthfully beyond annoying. It seems like it's almost working, but you can't get anything done.
Here we've listed some suggestions that should get your Firefox run faster.
1. Close inactive tabs
See how many tabs you have opened. More than a few? Active tabs mean active processes that take up your laptop's RAM and drastically slow down its capabilities. Just close the tabs you're not actively using. If they are important to remember, save them to bookmarks or stash them in a special 'Read Later' list in a to-do application such as 2Do.
2. Clear Firefox cookies and cache
All the websites you visit leave behind cached image files, which are supposed to speed up load times, and cookies, which can save you from having to log in over and over. Those are big conveniences if they work the way they're supposed to, but sometimes cache and cookies can cause glitches and slowdowns.
If Firefox is acting up, you can clear cookies and cache by doing the following:
- Click the Library button
- Choose History > Clear Recent History
- Change the time range to Everything
- Click the arrow next to the word Details
- Select Cache and Cookies
- Then click the Clear Now button
Alternatively, you can do this easier and safer with CleanMyMac. Just click Privacy in the sidebar and then choose Firefox from the list. Change the time range to Everything, and you can clear all of the cookies, browsing history, downloads history, tabs, saved passwords, and even autofill values.
3. Update Firefox and macOS
If closing tabs and clearing the cache didn't work, it's a good idea to update Firefox and macOS to its latest versions. When Firefox is active, just click on Firefox in the menu and select About Firefox. The latest available update should start downloading automatically. When it's ready, click Restart to Update Firefox and you are ready to go.
Updating macOS is easy too. Just launch the App Store on your Mac. Go to the Updates tab and wait till it shows you all the new software versions available. If you see new updates for macOS, click Update and follow the restart instructions.
4. See what consumes hardware resources
If the problem persists, check for high hardware resource usage. For basic information, you can use Mac's native Activity Monitor. However, to see the whole picture, get a pro-level app, such as iStat Menus. If you see Firefox using too much memory or CPU, you need to take some action.
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5. Troubleshoot plugins and extensions
When Firefox stops responding to your clicks it's very likely that one of your installed plugins is the culprit. To check for that, click the Menu button, and then choose Add-ons. In the Add-ons Manager's Plugins panel, you can select Never Activate for each plugin, then restart Firefox and see if the problem is still happening.
If the problem is gone, turn the plugins back on one by one, just changing that Never Activate option back to Always Activate. Restart Firefox each time and then try to recreate the error. Once the problem reappears, you'll know it was likely caused by the last plugin you re-enabled.
Mozilla Firefox Macbook Pro
You can also remove a plugin with CleanMyMac's Extensions tab, which is actually a lot easier than using Firefox. In Firefox itself, you have to type about:plugins, then find the file path for that plugin and navigate to it in the Finder. Mozilla then recommends you change the filename to add an X in front, which will remove the plugin. You can reinstall a fresh copy of the plugin (from official sources only!), or just see if you can live without it.
To check your extensions in Firefox, go to about:add-ons, then click Extensions in the sidebar. You can disable extensions here, and then turn them back on one by one, in the same way you just checked your plugins. If you want to remove all your extensions and start fresh, you can click the Remove button or use the Extensions tab in CleanMyMac, which manages extensions, add-ons, and plugins from one place.
6. Stop loading Flash content
Preventing Flash content from loading automatically deserves a separate explanation. Some websites use way too much Flash content, and loading and playing all of that uses up your computer's resources, especially if you keep a lot of tabs open. Luckily, you can tell Firefox to stop loading Flash content by default, until you ask for it.
- Click the Menu button and select Add-ons, or select Tools > Add-ons from your Mac's menu bar. (Or press Command-Shift-A, or type about:add-ons into the URL bar. It all takes you to the same place.)
- In the Add-ons Manager, click Plugins in the sidebar, and then look for Shockwave Flash.
- Change the dropdown from Always Activate to Ask to Activate. After that, websites will display an Activate Adobe Flash button in place of Flash content, and all you have to do is click that to allow Flash to display it.
Following the tips above should eliminate 90% of your Firefox problems. But if you're still experiencing troubles, there is more you can do. Read on.
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Mozilla Firefox crashes unexpectedly or won't open
Whether Firefox shows you an error message every time you try to launch the app or right when you're in the middle of a working session, there is only one way to fix that — reinstall the application.
The easiest way to reinstall Firefox is to quit it, delete the Firefox file from your Applications folder, and download the new version from the official Mozilla website. That will uninstall the application but keep all your user data intact, and when you reinstall a new copy, you bookmarks and passwords will still be there.
But that's not the best way to do it, since Firefox leaves all kinds of data on your hard drive besides the main application file. A better way is to use an application that's able to delete all Firefox information completely or simply reset the app, such as CleanMyMac.
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To reset the Firefox browser app on mac:
- Launch CleanMyMac
- Go to the Uninstaller tab
- Choose Firefox from the list
- Choose Application reset and click Uninstall round button
There are rare cases when the 'Firefox quit unexpectedly' message could be caused by the Mac security update. This happens when your Mac's firewall used to recognize previous versions of Firefox but no longer trusts the new one. Follow official Mozilla documentation to fix this issue.
Firefox shows errors loading websites
So your Firefox is fast and doesn't randomly quit, but still doesn't seem to load websites. There are a few things that might cause this, so let's zero in on the problem by gradually excluding various perpetrators.
1. Check your network connection
Turn your modem off and on (helps in nearly all cases). Check that your network connection is performing up to standards by using WiFi analyzers, such as NetSpot and WiFi Explorer. As soon as you launch NetSpot, make sure it's set to Discover mode, and it will scan all nearby WiFi networks automatically. WiFi Explorer is just as easy — launch the app and click the play button to analyze the network quality around you.
2. Launch websites in other browsers
If your WiFi network seems to be fine, it's good to check whether the connection works in other browsers, like Safari or Chrome, just to make sure that the problem in fact is with Firefox specifically. Then, check the settings in your firewall by following the steps outlined by Mozilla.
3. Fix the proxy server issue
Does Firefox Run On Mac
If upon loading the website you get the 'Proxy server is refusing connections' message, there is an easy fix for that.
- Open Firefox > Menu > Options
- In the Options, click Advanced and then Network
- Choose Settings and then 'No proxy' and click OK
- Restart Firefox and the problem should be fixed
4. Validate the security certificate
In case Firefox shows you that it has troubles validating some website's security certificate, it might be related to improperly set date and time on your system. Just make sure your timezone settings in System Preferences > Data & Time are configured correctly and Firefox should go back to validating the website certificate normally.
5. Flush DNS cache
Another option you can try is flushing the DNS cache, which acts as a temporary database, storing all sorts of connectivity logs and website access attempts.
- Open up the Terminal utility
- Type sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder;say DNS cache has been flushed
- Press Enter and type your admin password when prompted
- An alert a few moments later will inform you that the process is complete
Combine flushing the DNS cache with clearing out cache and cookies from Firefox, and restarting your Mac to get the best result.
6. Disable DNS prefetching
If you are still experiencing troubles loading websites, it could be that DNS prefetching is at play. Usually Firefox tries to speed up loading new websites by using DNS prefetching, but it can also cause loading errors with some system configurations. To disable DNS prefetching:
- In the address bar, type about:config and press Return. The about:config 'This might void your warranty!' warning page may appear. Click 'I accept the risk!' to continue.
- Hold down the Ctrl key while you click on the list of preferences. Select New and then select Boolean.
- In the 'Enter the preference name' field, enternetwork.dns.disablePrefetch and click OK.
- Select True when prompted to set the value and click OK.
7. Scan your Mac for malware
The last step to try to fix the website loading issue is to check your system for malware. If you remember Firefox being haunted by ad pop-ups, toolbars you didn't install yourself, or a new default home page, you might have picked up some malware that's hijacking your browser sessions.
A simple malware tool for Setapp users is CleanMyMac Malware Removal tool. It's a free download, with a pro license for more active, real-time protection. The free product will however scan your Mac and safely remove any malware at no cost to you.
Firefox doesn't work as it should
When your Firefox is just generally behaving incorrectly, a few more tips might come in handy. Start with restarting your Mac, and then clear the cache and troubleshoot your plugins as described above.
1. Restart Firefox in Safe Mode
When clearing the cached data doesn't help, try restarting the browser in Safe Mode. This will temporarily turn off your extensions, as well as any extra themes and toolbars, and hardware acceleration. The easiest way to do this is to quit Firefox and restart it holding down your Mac's Option key.
If the problem you were having magically goes away in Safe Mode, then you can proceed to check your extensions, themes, and anything else you've added to Firefox. If you're still having the problem in Safe Mode, that's a sign you might need to just trash your copy of Firefox and start over with a fresh install.
2. Refresh Firefox
There is another clever feature inside Firefox that clears out your extensions and themes, plus resets all the preferences to default, but keeps your personal information intact, including bookmarks, history, open tabs and windows, saved passwords, autofill info, and even cookies.
- Open Firefox, and type about:support in the URL bar, which takes you to the Troubleshooting Information page
- You'll find a lot of information about your browser installation, as well as a big friendly Refresh Firefox button at the top-right
- You can also get to Safe Mode this way, by clicking the button that says Restart with Add-ons Disabled
3. Create a new Firefox profile
For times, when neither options fixed the problem, try creating a fresh Firefox profile, which won't have any of your bookmarks, passwords, and user preferences, but might get rid of the problem.
- Open the Terminal utility
- Type in /Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/MacOS/firefox-bin -P
- Press Enter and the Profile Manager window should open
- Click Create Profile… then Next and enter the name for the profile
- Press Done
Firefox For Mac Computers
4. Turn off hardware acceleration
In cases when Safe Mode seemed to fix the problem but checking plugins didn't bring any result, the problem may hide in hardware acceleration, which is off by default in Safe Mode. Here's how to turn it off in the regular mode too:
- Open Firefox > Preferences
- In the General panel, scroll down to the Performance section and uncheck the box labeled 'Use recommended performance settings'
- Uncheck another box named 'Use hardware acceleration when available'
- Then quit and restart Firefox
There you go. About a dozens of apparent and not-so-apparent tips should bring your Firefox to the best shape possible. And even if you don't experience many troubles with Firefox, following some tips above would help you optimize its speed and responsiveness. Best of all, you don't need a lot of third-party tool to perform a thorough checkup, and all the tools you need are easily available on Setapp.
Mozilla Firefox For Macbook Air
Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.
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