Firefox process won't die

When I quit/close Firefox, wait 1 minute, then reopen Firefox, Firefox does not open...it just hangs.
When looking in my Task Manager, there are two firefox.exe processes running. Killing the process via the Task Manager is required to get Firefox to open/run again.

I'm quite familiar with the issue you've proposed via this KB article. My issue, though, is quite different. I don't get the annoying "Firefox is already running, but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your system.." alert box.
Further, with the known issue, the firefox process does eventually die. With this new issue, the firefox process never dies and appears orphaned.
Keep in mind this only started occurring after I upgraded to version 3.6.9 two days ago. There is no doubt in my mind something is broken in the newest build.
As a developer, I like adhering an important and well-known principle in the software development world when I build and maintain stuff: if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Sometimes I wonder/question if Mozilla developers hold the same conviction, given numerous new issues that make it into every new build of Firefox.
This also brings up another subject: does anyone do QA anymore? I like to test my stuff before letting others use it. It's extremely important to make sure your stuff is solid, before letting others use it. Cross your T's and dot your I's, for heaven's sake!

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No Gecko based browsers load websites on Windows 7,but they do on Windows XP. Also Firefox process won't close and browser can't close or restart.

I tried to install firefox 32 and no websites would load and also the process would not close. I tried disabling ipv6 turning my router settings so there is only ipv4 connection and disbaled also dns prefetching and set network settings to no proxy. I uninstalled firefox and tried to reintsall after completely removing everything leaving no trace looking in appdate local and roaming folders and using ccleaner and IObit Uninstaller. Then Firefox would work for a little bit and load Google Facebook and Youtube when I tried it but it was very slow regrading to the instllation of Firefox on my Windows XP which was upgraded from 30 to 32. Uninstalled again and tried older versions of Firefox,K Meleon Lunascape and even Flock. Flock worked but it is going to be unsupported soon. To end,when Firefox loaded webpages the cpu usage jumped from 8% to over 30% and then the websites loaded after the loading circle icon appeared. Other browsers I have work fine. Right now I use Opera.

I managed to fix the problem myself. I did a scan threat scan with malwarebytes antimalware pro that I had and adwcleaner and quarantined everything the first softare found and cleaned with the second everything that seemed to be leftovers of old unisntalled programs. Then had to delete the kmeleon and firefox appdata leftover profiles. I only lfet the firefox light folders which are the folders of the browser I wanted to keep. I then checked for tweaks. I got windows to desfault settings checking if I have doen any tweaks with avg pc tuneup 2011,Tweak Me! and UWT 2.2 and used TCP Optimizer to bring the network settings to windows default for 9000 kbps download speed (after I did a network speed test). Now firefox light is super fast and xcloses normally.

I had some problems with my pc, since then when I close Firefox it won't reopen unless i go to Task manager and end the process for FF.

I had some problems with my pc, since then when I close Firefox it won't reopen unless i go to Task manager and end the process for FF. I have uninstalled FF and re-installed it and no change.
Walt

See "Hang at exit":
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/Firefox_hangs
* [[Firefox hangs]]

I close firefox and try to open it again later, it WON'T and says, "Firefox is already running, but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your system." Firefox isn't running .

After I turn on my laptop and click on firefox it works fine and it opens THE FIRST TIME. So can you help? i DON'T WANT TO RESTaRT my computer everytime and sometimes have to clsoe firefox b/c I'm typing paper and computer goes slow.

Sounds like a "hang at exit" problem. There are several possible causes for that error. See:
* How to stop the running Firefox process
** In Task Manager, does firefox.exe show in the '''Processes''' tab?
** See: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Kill_application
* What may cause Firefox to hang at exit
** http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Firefox+hangs (see "Hang at exit" section)
** http://kb.mozillazine.org/Firefox_hangs
** https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Firefox+is+already+running+but+is+not+responding
* You may need to try Firefox Safe Mode
** You may need to use '''Safe Mode''' to locate the problem: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Safe+Mode
**Firefox Safe Mode is a diagnostic mode that disables Extensions and some other features of Firefox. If you are using a theme, switch to the DEFAULT theme: Tools > Add-ons > Themes '''before''' starting Safe Mode. When entering Safe Mode, do not check any items on the entry window, just click "Continue in Safe Mode". Test to see if the problem you are experiencing is corrected.
** If the problem does not occur in Safe-mode then disable all of your Extensions and Plug-ins and then try to find which is causing it by enabling '''one at a time''' until the problem reappears. '''You MUST close and restart Firefox after EACH change''' via File > Restart Firefox (on Mac: Firefox > Quit). You can use "Disable all add-ons" on the Safe mode start window.
** See the following for more information
*** http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes
*** http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Troubleshooting+plugins
*** http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Basic+Troubleshooting

Doesn't start when starting as administrator. Error Firefox is already running, but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your system.

Update firefox, it asked me to update flash, I tried to update flash but it said I had to close firefox. A box came up and said the Flash install would continue when I closed firefox. I closed all firefox windows and no update of flash occurred. I tried relaunching firefox but got the "Doesn't start when starting as administrator. Error Firefox is already running, but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your system." message. I rebooted the system, no improvement. I tried to run firefox as administrator and got the same message. Either I find a fix or I won't be able to use firefox and will have to go back to ie.

-> press '''CTRL''' + '''SHIFT''' + '''ESC''' to Open Task Manager -> Processes tab -> right-click '''firefox.exe''' and click '''End Process Tree''' -> close Task Manager
Troubleshooting extensions and themes
* https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Troubleshooting%20extensions%20and%20themes
Troubleshooting plugins
* https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Troubleshooting%20plugins
Check and tell if its working.

I try to launch firefox get the following message "firefox is already running, but is not resonding. to open a new window, you must first close the existing firefox process, or restart your system" firefox is not running and restart doesn't work

when I launch firefox get the following message "firefox is already running, but is not resonding. to open a new window, you must first close the existing firefox process, or restart your system" firefox not running and a restart doesn't solve the problem

Download a fresh Firefox copy and save the file to the desktop.
*Firefox 12.0.x: http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all.html
Uninstall your current Firefox version, if possible.
*Do NOT remove personal data when you uninstall your current Firefox version, because all profile folders will be removed and you will also lose your personal data like bookmarks and passwords from profiles of other Firefox versions.
Remove the Firefox program folder before installing that newly downloaded copy of the Firefox installer.
*It is important to delete the Firefox program folder to remove all the files and make sure that there are no problems with files that were leftover after uninstalling.
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_Firefox
Your bookmarks and other profile data are stored elsewhere in the Firefox Profile Folder and won't be affected by a reinstall, but make sure that you do not select to remove personal data if you uninstall Firefox.
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
See also:
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Firefox+is+already+running+but+is+not+responding
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_in_use
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Recovering_a_missing_profile

Why does firefox stop loading then when i close it and try to open it up again I keep getting this message:Firefox is already running, but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your system

Firefox will just stop loading/ connecting to the internet. The gray circle will just continually move but it never turns green to load the pages. I know it's not my internet because my internet explorer works just fine while this is happening to firefox. So I close firefox and then try to re open it but I get the message: Firefox is already running, but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your system. So I wait a little bit then try and re open it and still get the same message. I then go into my windows task manager and try and end the firefox proccess but it won't end. So I restart my computer and firefox eventually starts acting up again.

For possible causes of this error, and how to troubleshoot it see [[Firefox is already running but is not responding]].

Both Firefox & Thunderbird won't reopen after closing. require reboot

When I close Firefox or Thunderbird, they do not reopen later. Dialog box says they are still running, but process won't close in task manager. System requires reboot to get back in

Maybe your security (Anti-virus) software is checking files while Firefox is starting and takes so much time that Firefox can't access them and decides to skip loading those locked files. If that happens with sqlite database files like places.sqlite then bookmarks won't work properly. A second start works because the AV software had already checked the file. So you need to check the rules for Firefox in your security software.
A possible cause is security software (firewall) that blocks or restricts Firefox possibly after detecting changes (update) to the Firefox program.
Remove all rules for Firefox from the permissions list in the firewall and let your firewall ask again for permission to get full unrestricted access to internet for Firefox.
See [[Server not found]] and [[Firewalls]] and http://kb.mozillazine.org/Firewalls

I want to load Firefox on my computer at home, which is not connected to the internet. I want to download Firefox to my flashdrive and then add it to my computer at home. When I try to download Firefox, it won't let me change the path of where it download

I want to download Firefox on a flashdrive so I can then download it to my home computer which is not connected to the internet. When I download Firefox, it won't let me change the path and so tries to download on a public computer, which isn't allowed. The reason I want it on my home computer is because I'm creating web pages and I want to view my html pages using a variety of browsers, including Firefox.

From another computer, go to http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/, click "Free download" button, click "Save File" button, select your flash drive in "Save as" window. "Firefox Setup 3.6.13.exe" file will be saved in your flash drive.
You just need to insert it in your new computer and double-click on "Firefox Setup 3.6.13.exe" from Windows Explorer and follow instructions.

When I attempt to open firefox an error message appears telling me that firefox is already running, but I can't find it running. How do I do so or in any case close the already running Firefox process?

When I attempt to open Firefox instead of Firefox opening, an error message appears saying "Firefox is already running but isn't responding. To open another window please close the existing Firefox process or restart the system.", but I can't find that process of Firefox in order to kill it, and after restarting the system there is still the problem. I have found an emergency fix to at least get online, and that is to use"Firefox_Profile_Manager" in the start menu's "run" start menu, but the
Firefox that then opens is that one doesn't carry over what I had in my bookmarks but starts bookmarks anew.

Sounds like it is hanging when you exit and later try to restart Firefox.
* How to stop the running Firefox process
** In Task Manager, does firefox.exe show in the '''Processes''' tab?
** See: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Kill_application
**Windows 7 users: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/window-on-windows/reap-the-benefits-of-windows-7s-task-manager/2576
* What may cause Firefox to hang at exit
**Windows 7 Task Manager: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/window-on-windows/reap-the-benefits-of-windows-7s-task-manager/2576
** http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Firefox+hangs
** http://kb.mozillazine.org/Firefox_hangs
** https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Firefox+is+already+running+but+is+not+responding
* You may need to try Firefox Safe Mode
** You may need to use '''Safe Mode''' to locate the problem: ***See: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Safe_Mode
***Firefox 4 users, hold the Shift key while clicking the Firefox 4 desktop icon to enter Safe Mode.
***Firefox Safe Mode is a diagnostic mode that disables Extensions and some other features of Firefox.
****In Firefox 4, Safe Mode also disables Plugins and Hardware Acceleration.
****If you are using a theme, switch to the DEFAULT theme: Tools > Add-ons > Themes '''before''' starting Safe Mode (In Firefox 4, Tools > Add-ons > Appearance). See: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using%20themes%20with%20Firefox#w_managing-themes-and-personas
****When entering Safe Mode, do not check any items on the entry window, just click "Continue in Safe Mode".
****Test to see if the problem you are experiencing is corrected.
*** If the problem does not occur in Safe-mode then disable all of your Extensions and Plug-ins and then try to find which is causing it
***#by enabling '''one at a time''' until the problem reappears.
***#You can also enable a few at a time (3-5), keeping track of what you just re-enabled to see if the problem re-occurs; this will help narrow down the possibilities if you have a large number of add-ons.
***#'''You MUST close and restart Firefox after EACH change''' via File > Restart Firefox (on Mac: Firefox > Quit).
***#You can use "Disable all add-ons" on the Safe Mode start window.
**See the following for more information
*** http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes
*** http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Troubleshooting+plugins
*** http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Basic+Troubleshooting
 
 
'''You need to update the following:'''
*Adobe Shockwave for Director Netscape plug-in, version 11.5
*Adobe PDF Plug-In For Firefox and Netscape "9.3.2"
*Shockwave Flash 10.2 r153
*Next Generation Java Plug-in 1.6.0_17 for Mozilla browsers
#'''''Check your plugin versions''''' on either of the following links':
#*http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/
#*https://www-trunk.stage.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/
#*'''Note: plugin check page does not have information on all plugin versions'''
#*There are plugin specific testing links available from this page:
#**http://kb.mozillazine.org/Testing_plugins
#'''Update Shockwave for Director'''
#*NOTE: this is not the same as Shockwave Flash; this installs the Shockwave Player.
#*Use Firefox to download and SAVE the installer to your hard drive from the link in the article below (Desktop is a good place so you can find it).
#*When the download is complete, exit Firefox (File > Exit)
#*locate and double-click in the installer you just downloaded, let the install complete.
#*Restart Firefox and check your plugins again.
#*'''Download link and more information''': http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using+the+Shockwave+plugin+with+Firefox
#'''Update Adobe Reader (PDF plugin):'''
#*From within your existing Adobe Reader ('''if you have it already installed'''):
#**Open the Adobe Reader program from your Programs list
#**Click Help > Check for Updates
#**Follow the prompts for updating
#**If this method works for you, skip the "Download complete installer" section below and proceed to "After the installation" below
#*Download complete installer ('''if you do NOT have Adobe Reader installed'''):
#**SAVE the installer to your hard drive (save to your Desktop so that you can find it after the download). Exit/Close Firefox. Run the installer you just downloaded.
#**Use either of the links below:
#***https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using+the+Adobe+Reader+plugin+with+Firefox ''(click on "Installing and updating Adobe Reader")''
#***''Also see Download link''': http://get.adobe.com/reader/otherversions/
#*After the installation, start Firefox and check your version again.
#'''Update the [[Managing the Flash plugin|Flash]] plugin''' to the latest version.
#*Download and SAVE to your Desktop so you can find the installer later
#*If you do not have the current version, click on the "Player Download Center" link on the "'''Download and information'''" or "'''Download Manual installers'''" below
#*After download is complete, exit Firefox
#*Click on the installer you just downloaded and install
#**Windows 7 and Vista: may need to right-click the installer and choose "Run as Administrator"
#*Start Firefox and check your version again or test the installation by going back to the download link below
#*'''Download and information''': http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/
#**Use Firefox to go to the above site to update the Firefox plugin (will also install plugin for most other browsers; except IE)
#**Use IE to go to the above site to update the IE ActiveX
#*'''Download Manual installers'''.
#**http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/191/tn_19166.html#main_ManualInstaller
#**Note separate links for:
#***Plugin for Firefox and most other browsers
#***ActiveX for IE
#'''Update the [[Java]] plugin''' to the latest version.
#*Download site: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html (Java Platform: Download JRE)
#**'''''Be sure to un-check the Yahoo Toolbar option during the install if you do not want it installed.
#*Also see "Manual Update" in this article to update from the Java Control Panel in Windows Control Panel: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using+the+Java+plugin+with+Firefox#Updates
#* Removing old versions (if needed): http://www.java.com/en/download/faq/remove_olderversions.xml
#* Remove multiple Java Console extensions (if needed): http://kb.mozillazine.org/Firefox_:_FAQs_:_Install_Java#Multiple_Java_Console_extensions
#*Java Test: http://www.java.com/en/download/help/testvm.xml

When I click to open firefox it says that "firefox is already running but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your system" and I've tried to shut down and restart my computer but it keeps

when i click to open firefox it says that "firefox is already running but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your system." and I've tried to shut down and restart my computer but it keeps showing the same message. I've even uninstalled Firefox and then reinstalled in the hopes that the problem would be solved but it this message is still popping up. What can I do to solve this problem?
== This happened ==
Just once or twice
== I was on facebook trying to upload pictures yesterday. ==
== User Agent ==
Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 5.1; .NET CLR 1.0.3705; .NET CLR 1.1.4322; Media Center PC 4.0; InfoPath.1)

Do you have a profile lock file in your profile folder? If so, delete it and see if TB runs properly:
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_in_use#Remove_the_profile_lock_file

Firefox is OPEN and working fine, but when I click a link in Thunderbird I get 'Firefox is already running, but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your system.'

If I click a link on my desktop or in any other program (while Firefox is open and running), I get this message: "Firefox is already running, but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your system." There's about a billion links for this if you Google it, but they all say that Firefox wasn't shut down properly. (OK, maybe not ALL of them, but if the needle is in that haystack, I haven't yet found it.) That's not the issue in my case since I haven't shut FF down at all.
== This happened ==
Every time Firefox opened
== IDK

This began to happen to me when I tried to run two separate profiles simultaneously on the same installation of firefox with -no-remote

I deleted the profile and firefox4 and then downloaded firefox4 again. But when i click firefox it says Firefox is already running, but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process,or restart your system.HELP!

somehow i couldn't get rid of one website called www.searchqu.com/405 set as my homepage... I tried all solutions given to change the homepage but whenever i restarted firefox that homepage used to come automatically.. So, I deleted the profile (even from recycle bin!!) and deleted the firefox and downloaded it again hoping to get my problems fixed (which didn't happen!) because i'm getting dialog box saying- Firefox is already running, but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your system.

You don't say which operating system you have installed?
Assuming it's Windows, right click a blank part of the Windows Taskbar and go to Task Manager. Then click the ''Processes ''tab, find '''firefox.exe''' and then right click it and choose '''End Process'''.

Firefox is taking a long time to open the first time I click on it and also a dialouge box comes up stating firefox is already running, but is not responding, you must close existing firefox process? What is going on?

After I start my computer in the morning, I go to my email, then I click on firefox, with google as my homepage, it takes a long time for firefox to show up on the computer. It says it is connecting, then when I close firefox, and go to reopen it again, a dialog box opens up that says firefox is already running and I must close existing firefox process first. I have not run into this problem before.

* The first time you start up any application after turning on your computer is called a cold start, which is why Firefox takes a while to load right away. (I've noticed that future versions of Firefox start up faster on a cold start then Firefox 5.0.1.) Also, a lower amount of RAM could be slowing its start-up down since Firefox is kind of memory hungry.
* As for the second part of your question, press ctrl,Alt, and the delete keys on your keyboard. The Windows Task Manager should start. Go to the processes tab and look for 'firefox.exe'. Right click on the firefox.exe and click 'End Process'. Hit Yes and wait for a minute.
* Then opening Firefox again.
Hopefully this helped somewhat!

Firefox browser won't start or open & keep crashing on desktop

Today I got a strange problem which is kind of strange to my, so some of the details and what happened? It was just shut down the Firefox browser and trying to open it again but i got a crash pop-up message !
Not only this, but that the crash message keep pop-up, which compelled me to send a first report, the second report, etc. a lot of reporting and the problem is still there! So I then tried to fix the Firefox browser by clicking on the re-start Firefox and even reset Firefox but this did not work \\!
So right now I use Chrome browser in order to report the problem
Firefox browser won’t start or open & keep crashing on desktop :)

We're sorry to hear that Firefox is crashing. In order to assist you better, please follow the steps below to provide us crash IDs to help us learn more about your crash.
#Enter ''about:crashes'' in the Firefox address bar and press Enter. A Submitted Crash Reports list will appear, similar to the one shown below.
#Copy the '''5''' most recent Report IDs that start with '''bp-''' and then go back to your forum question and paste that into the "Post a Reply" box. (Please don't take a screenshot of your crashes, just copy and paste the ID's. The below image is just an example of what your Firefox screen should look like)
[[Image:aboutcrashesFx29|width=520]]
 
Thank you for your help!
More information and further troubleshooting steps can be found in the [[Firefox crashes - Troubleshoot, prevent and get help fixing crashes]] article.

Firefox process won't die

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