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This article will show you how to ‘Firefox Is Already Running, but Is Not Responding’ issue. Among the many web browsers available on the internet, Firefox is among the most widely used. It is necessary for you to have an unlocked profile in order for the browser to function correctly. The message “Firefox is already running but is not responding” will appear on your screen in the event that it is locked by accident.
In addition, you will experience the same issue if Firefox is not properly shut down and is still operating in the background. It is important to keep reading because there are many factors that contribute to the problem. Every single piece of information that you save in Firefox is compiled into a profile for Firefox. A disc that is used for local storage is where this profile is kept. Utilise this folder that is stored on your personal computer in the event that there is a problem with Firefox.
In the event that it is required, all of the data can be restored when you reinstall the browser. There are times when your browser locks your profile, which provides an indication that your browser is locked. This is done for reasons of consistency and stability. In this particular instance, the application makes use of this profile file in order to run the browser, which is what causes the problem. Here are the ways how to ‘Firefox Is Already Running, but Is Not Responding’ issue.
Causes of the ‘Firefox Is Already Running, but Is Not Responding’ issue
- Unresponsive Processes: Firefox may not have shut down properly, and there could be lingering processes in the background. This can prevent a new instance of Firefox from starting.
- Corrupted Profiles: The user profile used by Firefox might be corrupted. This can happen due to various reasons, including sudden shutdowns or errors during the saving of user data.
- Extensions/Plugins Conflict: Some extensions or plugins may not be compatible with the current version of Firefox, leading to conflicts that result in unresponsiveness.
- Outdated Firefox Version: Using an outdated version of Firefox may cause stability issues. Updating to the latest version can resolve compatibility problems and improve overall performance.
- Firewall or Antivirus Software: Security software, such as firewalls or antivirus programs, may interfere with Firefox processes, causing it to become unresponsive.
- Hardware Acceleration Issues: Hardware acceleration, designed to enhance browser performance, may not work correctly on some systems and could lead to Firefox not responding.
How to ‘Firefox Is Already Running, but Is Not Responding’ issue
Identify and Close Rogue Processes
- Press
Ctrl + Shift + Escto open the Task Manager. - Look for any Firefox processes in the “Processes” or “Applications” tab.
- Select the processes and click “End Task” or “End Process.“
Task Manager Check
- Open the Task Manager on your computer (Ctrl + Shift + Esc for Windows, Command + Option + Esc for Mac).
- Look for any Firefox processes in the list.
- If you find any, select them and click “End Task” to terminate the processes.
Clear Firefox Cache and Cookies
- Click on the Firefox menu and select “Options.”
- Go to the “Privacy & Security” tab.
- Under “Cookies and Site Data,” click “Clear Data.”
Create a New Firefox Profile
- Press
Win + Rto open the Run dialog. - Type
firefox.exe -Pand press Enter. - Click “Create Profile” and follow the on-screen instructions.
Reinstall Firefox
- Uninstall Firefox from the Control Panel.
- Download the latest version from the official website.
- Install Firefox following the on-screen instructions.
Refresh Firefox
- In the Firefox menu, click on the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
- Select ‘Help‘ and then choose ‘Troubleshooting Information.’
- Click on ‘Refresh Firefox’ and confirm your choice.
- This process restores Firefox to its default state while preserving essential data like bookmarks and passwords.
Conclusion
Your bookmarks, personal settings, and other information are stored on your Firefox profile, which is accessible through the browser. For normal operation, it requires a profile that has been unlocked. Should you accidentally lock the profile, you will be presented with a message stating that Firefox is already running, but it is not responding to your actions. This post will demonstrate how to remove this error message and return Firefox to its normal functioning state so that you can continue using it.
Questions and Answers
If your Internet security software includes a feature that allows you to clear the virtual cache, this can be done by checking the virtualization settings. If you need further assistance, you can also visit the support website of the software provider. It is possible that some Windows users will experience a failure to start Firefox after an update if they have AVG or AVAST antivirus installed.
In the event that you receive a message that reads, “Firefox is already running, but it is not responding,” In order to use Firefox, you must first close the current Firefox process, restart your device, or use a different profile. This indicates that you have a Firefox browser that is still running on another machine.
When you clear your cache in Firefox, you are removing unnecessary files from your browser, which helps your browser run faster. When you visit a website, the cache in Firefox will temporarily store parts of the website so that it can load more quickly the next time you visit the website. However, files in your cache accumulate rapidly, which causes your system to run more slowly.
In order to force Firefox to download the most recent files, you can use the Ctrl + F5 shortcut. To refresh the page, simply press the F5 key while holding down the Control key, or you can click the refresh button. In the event that you want Firefox to consistently download the most recent files, you can modify the document frequency setting in the following manner: The following should be typed into the address bar: about:config.