If I close Firefox, I cannot re-open it. It appears to remain on in background.

I I close Firefox, I cannot re-open it without first shutting down and restarting the computer.

Seems to be a semi-common problem but I doubt you need to restart your system (although) that will do it. I have the same issue at this point.
Option 1: Use Task Manager (ctrl+shift+esc) and look to see if Firefox is still listed after you have closed it and cannot restart it. Right click and choose end process. Be careful to only shutdown firefox.exe unless you know what you are looking for!
Option 2: Simply Logoff your computer and log back on. This would be quicker than a restart.
Also see more info at this link...
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/946190?esab=a&s=firefox+will+not+shut+down&r=0&as=s
Hope it helps!

Similar Messages

Sometimes when I close Firefox and try to open it in few moments it shows me 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." However, I haven't o

Sometimes when I close Firefox and try to open it in few moments it shows me 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." However, I haven't opened any additional Firefox related programs, and previous Firefox is closed. First I though it is because of my computer, but then I discovered that other people have the same problem as well
== This happened ==
A few times a week
== some 2 month ago ==
== User Agent ==
Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 6.0; SLCC1; .NET CLR 2.0.50727; Media Center PC 5.0; .NET CLR 3.5.30729; InfoPath.2; .NET CLR 3.0.30729)

Hi Andis.
First of all, this is completely normal behavior, although it's a bit irritating, I know. What happens is that when you close Firefox, despite the window disappearing right there and then, Firefox keeps running for a little bit until the whole closing procedure is completed. This can take a fraction of a second on fast computers, or can take a few seconds on slow computers or when Firefox is storing a large session (if you save your tabs). All you have to do is wait a bit until Firefox closes, and then open it again.
To see if it's still running, you can press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC and then, under the Processes tab, you can see if firefox.exe is still there. If it's taking an unusual amount of time to close (which happens very rarely, and only if the browser freezes on exit), you can force the application to terminate from this application (task manager).
Firefox 4.0 will reduce by 97% the time it takes firefox.exe to close, so this problem will be basically erased for Firefox's next version.
Until then, I can recommend you this extension, which helps you restart your browser more easily and without bothering about closing times:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3559/
Hopefully this will help.

When I close firefox window and later open firefox window it opens with blank page and nosidebar bookmarks

when I close firefox window and later open firefox window it opens with blank page and nosidebar bookmarks

Sounds like Firefox is "hanging at exit". That problem is frequently caused by an Extension or a Plugin. Read all of the following articles. 
#Stop the Firefox process:
#*[http://kb.mozillazine.org/Kill_application Mozillazine - Kill application]
#*Windows 7 users click [http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/window-on-windows/reap-the-benefits-of-windows-7s-task-manager/2576 here]
#*Mac users: http://techheavy.com/2011/02/the-mac-task-manager/
#Why Firefox may hang:
#*[http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Firefox+hangs Firefox hangs] (see Hang at exit)
#*[http://kb.mozillazine.org/Firefox_hangs Firefox hangs (Mozillazine)] (see Hang at exit and Closing Firefox properly)
#*[https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Firefox+is+already+running+but+is+not+responding Firefox is already running but is not responding]
#Use Firefox Safe Mode to find a problem with an Extension or Plugin:
#*Don't check anything when entering Safe Mode, just continue
#*If the problem does not occur in Safe Mode it is probably and Extension or Plugin causing the problem
#*See:
#**[[Safe Mode]] and [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Safe_Mode Safe Mode (Mozillazine)]
#**[http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes Troubleshooting extensions and themes]
#**[http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Troubleshooting+plugins Troubleshooting plugins]
#**[http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Basic+Troubleshooting Basic Troubleshooting]
'''If this reply solves your problem, please click "Solved It" next to this reply when signed-in to the forum.'''

After I close Firefox, it will not open again unless I restart my computer.

When I close Firefox normally, I cannot open it again unless I restart my computer. Why?

Yes, that is a strong indication that Firefox didn't close completely.
You can check that in the Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Del). 
If you see Firefox and plugin-container processes then you can close (kill) those processes and you should be able to start Firefox after having done that.
There are other things that need your attention.
Your system details list shows that you still have a very old Flash 9.0 r45 plugin installed that you should remove.
*Shockwave Flash 11.7 r700
*Shockwave Flash 9.0 r45
This plugin might be installed in the plugins folder in the Firefox program folder.
*(32 bit Windows) C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\
You can set the plugin.expose_full_path pref to true on the about:config page to see the full path of enabled installed plugins on the about:plugins page.
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/about:plugins
See:
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Issues_related_to_plugins#Identifying_installed_plugins
You can open about:xxxx pages via the location bar like you open a website.
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/about:config
It is best not to leave that pref set to true as it exposes that full path to web servers via the navigator.plugins object, so reset that pref to its default value false after you are done with the about:plugins page and have located the old Flash plugin.
See "Manually uninstalling a plugin":
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Troubleshooting+plugins

When I close firefox I cannot launch again without restarting PC. I deinstalled and reinstalled without succes

Only since a few weeks, when I close Firefox and after a wile want to use it again I get the notice that there is still a version running. I do not find this version and so I cannot close it. The notice advises to restart the computer. then the Firefox starts again. I uninstalled Firefox en reinstalled but without any change.

Hello fredakis, go for a '''clean re-install''', This means you remove Firefox program files and then reinstall Firefox. Please follow these steps:
'''Note:''' You might want to print these steps or view them in another browser.
#Download the latest Desktop version of Firefox from https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/ (full installer) and save the setup file to your computer.
#After the download finishes, close all Firefox windows (or open the Firefox menu [[Image:New Fx Menu]] and click the close button [[Image:Close 29]]).
#Delete the Firefox installation folder, which is located in one of these locations, by default in '''Windows:'''
* C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox
*C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox
Now, go ahead and reinstall Firefox:
#Double-click the downloaded installation file and go through the steps of the installation wizard.
#Once the wizard is finished, choose to directly open Firefox after clicking the Finish button.
More information about reinstalling Firefox can be found [[Troubleshoot and diagnose Firefox problems#w_5-reinstall-firefox|here]].
WARNING: Do not use a third party uninstaller as part of this process. Doing so could permanently delete your [[Profiles|Firefox profile]] data, including but not limited to, extensions, cache, cookies, bookmarks, personal settings and saved passwords. These cannot be easily recovered unless they have been backed up to an external device! See [[Back up and restore information in Firefox profiles]]. 
Please report back to say if this helped you!
Thank you.

Cannot close Firefox. Cannot shut down computer because Firefox is running.

Nothing is active on this page. Cannot click on anything. Cannot quit program.

'''UPDATE: Saturday 16 May 2015
Same problems as below now exist on THREE machines -- one Windows 7 64bit desktop, and two laptops Windows 7 64bit, all Win 7 SP1, updated with latest MS Updates.'''
'''Updated to Firefox 38.0.1 Windows 7 64bit...previous version of FF was working fine and was meticulously crafted by experienced tech user.
'''Now, we have two major troubles immediately happened with update to 38.0.1:'''
1. Will NOT close Firefox (have to use Task manager). Nothing we do within FF closes it
2. Firefox will NOT open New Private Window, only after we located a New Private Window toolbar icon will item #2 work.'''
Again, this is the fifth straight time after Updating FF that it suddenly creates new and not-seen-before problems.
'''This is NOT due to Add-Ons, it's not due to Plug-In's... it's due to a sudden new problem(s) introduced by the Updated FF 38.0.1, now on three different machines.'''
Starting FF in Safe Mode is tacitly useless and time-consuming, and proves nothing, allows nothing to be checked or changed, the problems remain.
When having to use Task Manager to close FF 38.0.1, restarting FF again calls in the Crashed Session Manager and we have to recover from what FF insists is a crashed session.
Why oh why are these new problems suddenly introduced each time we users update ?
'''Now what's been changed or altered, all without our knowledge, and not mention in ANY of the new FF notes, etc.'''
'''EVERY time we update''', it's essentially introducing inferior performance and problems in an otherwise finely tuned previously working FF.
Joe

I am uanble to open or close firefox. when I try to run new download it states close firefox. it is not open on my computer. I am unable to open it. Last time change was made was July 5, 2011.

I am uanble to open or close firefox. I usually use firefox. When I updated or download something it disable firefox. Last change July 5, 2011. I have tried downloading it a gain but it states I have existing program that is open and won't let me run it. Help. I love and trust firefox

Try holding control, alt and delete down in succession and then a dialogue box will appear with windows task manager. Once open click on the Processes Tab and look for firefox.exe. Highlight this and then click end process. It should come up with a warning but just click Yes. This should then close firefox and allow you to reopen it from your desktop without shutting down your computer. Hope this helps.

If I close Firefox, I can't open it again without rebooting. It says that Firefox is still running.

I have Firefox 6.0.1. I am running it on a desktop with Windows XP. I have always loved it and need it for one program I use a lot. Lately, if I close Firefox for any reason, I can't open it back up without rebooting. It says Firefox is still running. I have deleted Firefox and reinstalled it several times with the same result.

See "Hang at exit":
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Firefox_hangs
*https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Firefox+hangs

Some of my firefox windows cannot be open up

I have 4 firefox windows that i alway save each with different websites, but suddenly 1 day when i open my firefox and the 4 windows load up, 2 of them cannot be opened. i click on the firefox window tab in my taskbar menu but the window just won't open up into full screen for me to see, it just remain as a tab in the taskbar menu

It would, perhaps, be more helpful if you explained how to decrease the value of the pref network.http.max-connections from 256 to 30 in steps that this novice can easily follow. I have looked at the link above and found it far too confusing and no mention anywhere of this network.http.max-connections. Any chance someone could do this for me, please? At the moment I am having to use a different browser to play games on King.com is this what Mozilla want? I feel quite let down and wish I not made the upgrade from the 3 version to the 9.

When close firefox and reopen, it open all the last webs and popups visited today

I use firefox to work. I'm web developer and in the firefox have instlalled 3 complements and 8 plugs.
When use Firefox, and in different tabs open: GMAIL, web normaly, other web, google, conection with my server plesk, ...
Normaly use 6 to 8 tabs in differents sites, some moments firefox run very slow, at the moment, in one web, it stop, dont run and response.
Than, I close firefox, pause 10 seconds to firefox service stop and reopen, it open all the last webs and popups visited today.
Sometimes, it even opens popups that had been closed for some time ago, sometimes it crashes.
In the same day, it success two or three times.

It is possible that there is a problem with the files sessionstore.js and sessionstore.bak in the Firefox Profile Folder.
Delete the files sessionstore.js [2] and sessionstore.bak in the Firefox Profile Folder.
* Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Open Containing Folder
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
If you see files sessionstore-##.js with a number in the left part of the name like sessionstore-1.js then delete those as well. 
Deleting sessionstore.js will cause App Tabs and Tab Groups and open and closed (undo) tabs to get lost, so you will have to create them again (make a note or bookmark them).
See also:
* [1] http://kb.mozillazine.org/Session_Restore
* [2] http://kb.mozillazine.org/sessionstore.js
See also:
*Tools > Options > General > Startup: "When Firefox Starts"

Re-installer Kaspersky and now my Firebox will not open and tried a reload of Firefox but says close Firefox but is not open

Re-installed Kaspersky when reactivated account and now my Firefox will not open not even a message to allow or anything. Went to Mozilla to reload went ok till the install standard tellsme to close Firefox but it is not open, remember I could not open it ths the re-install and does not show in task manager or anything. Might be Ok if a valid message but nothing that makes sense.

hello, this crash is related to your graphics hardware & a recent windows update. please start firefox in safemode (by pressing the shift-key while it is launching) & go to ''firefox > options > advanced > general'' & disable hardware acceleration.
for some background on that issue you can also refer to [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=812683 bug #812683]

When I close Firefox then try to open it again, it informs me it is already running and continues to do so regardless of how many times I restart the computer.

I bought a new computer. I installed Firefox 7.0 then updated to 8.0. When I was finished with Firefox, I closed it. Later when I attempted to open it I was greeted with the message Firefox is already running. It suggested I restart the computer. I did so and continued to receive the same message. Surely, shutting the computer off should close Firefox. I have to use Internet Explorer to contact you.

Sounds like Firefox is "hanging at exit". That problem is frequently caused by an Extension or a Plugin. Read all of the following articles. 
#Stop the Firefox process:
#*[http://kb.mozillazine.org/Kill_application Mozillazine - Kill application]
#*Windows 7 users click [http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/window-on-windows/reap-the-benefits-of-windows-7s-task-manager/2576 here]
#*Mac users: http://techheavy.com/2011/02/the-mac-task-manager/
#Why Firefox may hang:
#*[http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Firefox+hangs Firefox hangs] (see Hang at exit)
#*[http://kb.mozillazine.org/Firefox_hangs Firefox hangs (Mozillazine)] (see Hang at exit and Closing Firefox properly)
#*[https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Firefox+is+already+running+but+is+not+responding Firefox is already running but is not responding]
#Use Firefox Safe Mode to find a problem with an Extension or Plugin:
#*Don't check anything when entering Safe Mode, just continue
#*If the problem does not occur in Safe Mode it is probably and Extension or Plugin causing the problem
#*See:
#**[[Safe Mode]] and [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Safe_Mode Safe Mode (Mozillazine)]
#**[http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes Troubleshooting extensions and themes]
#**[http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Troubleshooting+plugins Troubleshooting plugins]
#**[http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Basic+Troubleshooting Basic Troubleshooting]
'''If this reply solves your problem, please click "Solved It" next to this reply when signed-in to the forum.'''

When I close Firefox I cannot reopen it without restarting my computer.

If I try to re-open Firefox I get the message already open close or restart your computer.

Try to Wait a bit longer before reopening Firefox to give Firefox more time to close completely.
Use "Firefox/File > Exit" (Mac: "Firefox > Quit"; Linux: "File > Quit") to close Firefox if you are currently doing that by clicking the close X on the title bar.
See "Hang at exit":
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Firefox_hangs
See "Firefox hangs when you quit it":
*https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Firefox+hangs

Mac 10.7, when I close firefox window and later open firefox window it opens with blank page in English

After closing a window with sidebar bookmarks open and later returning to firefox I have to open a new window and re-add my sidebar bookmarks

Hi Andis.
First of all, this is completely normal behavior, although it's a bit irritating, I know. What happens is that when you close Firefox, despite the window disappearing right there and then, Firefox keeps running for a little bit until the whole closing procedure is completed. This can take a fraction of a second on fast computers, or can take a few seconds on slow computers or when Firefox is storing a large session (if you save your tabs). All you have to do is wait a bit until Firefox closes, and then open it again.
To see if it's still running, you can press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC and then, under the Processes tab, you can see if firefox.exe is still there. If it's taking an unusual amount of time to close (which happens very rarely, and only if the browser freezes on exit), you can force the application to terminate from this application (task manager).
Firefox 4.0 will reduce by 97% the time it takes firefox.exe to close, so this problem will be basically erased for Firefox's next version.
Until then, I can recommend you this extension, which helps you restart your browser more easily and without bothering about closing times:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3559/
Hopefully this will help.

When I close firefox I can't open a window again. It tells me that firefox is still running and I have to restart my system. This is a recurring problem on a brand new system and very irritating.

I don't know what other details I can give you. I am not very computer wise. Just an every day web browser and emailer. This is a catch 22 problem. For example when I am installing a program; adobe flash player for example, it tells me to close firefox to continue and when I do I get the firefox is still running message even though there is no window. And so the installation isn't completed. I like firefox but this is a bit of a dealbreaker. hope you can help.

* Try this.
* Type in the address bar about:config.
* Accept the warning.
* In the page that appears, in the Filter box, type network.http.max-connections.
* Change the value to 32 (which is probably set to 256 in your case).
* Close the about:config page.
* Restart the browser.

If I close Firefox, I cannot re-open it. It appears to remain on in background.

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