Add-ons are an important aspect of Firefox. They help to: Customize your browsing experience Providing productive and time-saving solutions. But what if these add-ons suddenly stop working? Fortunately, there are ways to fix them. In this article, we'll cover the top 6 ways to fix Firefox add-ons that aren't working on your computer.
While the reason for your extensions not working could range anywhere from an outdated browser to incorrect settings, troubleshooting solutions are easy to implement. In this article, we'll cover them all. So, let's get started.
1. Re-enable add-ons
Add-ons may not work if they don't start properly when you start Firefox. You can try disabling and re-enabling add-ons. Here's how.
Step 1: Launch Firefox on your computer. Click the menu icon (three vertical lines) in the upper right corner to go to Add-ons & Themes.
Alternatively, you can also use Ctrl+Shift+A to achieve the same thing.
Restart Firefox now to see if the issue is now resolved.
2. Correct the system date and time.
Many applications and programs use the date and time on your computer. If your computer displays an incorrect date or time, it can cause conflicts with Firefox and other applications. You can set your computer's date and time to avoid this.
Step 1: Right-click the clock and date icon in the taskbar and select Adjust date and time.
Step 2: In the next window, toggle the switch next to “Set time automatically.” Now click the “Change” button to set the date and time manually.
3. Disable add-on preference
Preferring add-ons on Firefox helps the browser disable add-ons that are currently out of process. Firefox may assume some add-ons are out of process. If this is the case, you can try disabling add-on preferences on Firefox to see if it helps. Here's how.
Step 1: Launch Firefox, type about:config in the address bar at the top, and press Enter.
Step 2: You will see a brief warning regarding the advanced configuration change. Click "Accept the risk and continue" to proceed.
Step 3: Type extension.webextensions.remote in the search box at the top and use the toggle switch to change its value to false.
Now restart Firefox to see if the add-ons are working fine now.
4. Avoid using DOM storage
Similar to cookies, DOM storage (also known as web storage) allows web developers to store session-specific or domain-specific information on your browser. Any issues with DOM storage can also interrupt the operation of add-ons in Firefox. You can try temporarily disabling it to see if that helps. Here's how.
Step 1: Launch Firefox, type about:config in the address bar at the top, and press Enter. Click "Accept the risk and continue" to proceed.
Step 2: Type dom.quotaManager.useDOSDevicePathSyntax in the search box at the top and click the toggle button to change its value to false.
5. Update Firefox
Finally, if the above solutions don't help you, you may have to consider: Update Firefox Start from scratch. Doing so will remove your add-ons and preferences while keeping your bookmarks, saved passwords, and open tabs intact. Here's how.
Step 1: Open Firefox on your computer. Click the menu icon in the top right, go to "Help," and select "More troubleshooting information."
Step 2: In the next window, click the Refresh Firefox button to reset it.
Step 3: Choose Refresh Firefox when prompted.
You should be able to do that. Since most of your browser settings are reset to their defaults, Firefox should now work fine.
6. Update or reinstall Firefox
Running older and outdated versions of Firefox can cause issues with add-ons, so it's a good idea to keep Firefox up to date.
Step 1: Open Firefox on your computer. Click the menu icon, go to Help, and select About Firefox.
Step 2: Once there, Firefox should automatically start checking for and installing any new updates.
Restart Firefox afterward. If that doesn't help, try uninstalling Firefox and downloading a fresh version from the Mozilla website to install it again.
Extra comfort
Using add-ons on Firefox is a great way to increase productivity. However, any issues with their operation can easily interrupt your workflow. The solutions above are the best ways to fix Firefox add-ons not working on your computer, but if you've found a solution other than these, share it in the comments below.
