"Mail is already running"?!

I keep getting a repeated error upon trying to start Mac Mail that states that it is "already running". Activity Monitor shows it is not running, CTRL + ALT + delete shows it is not running and there is not spotlight under the dock icon.
This happens when I try the Dock Icon to start or the icon in the Applications Folder.
I have tried at least two restarts.
Can anyone advise as to a proper way to troubleshoot this?
Thanks.

Hi Austin.
I probably owe you an apology here. Please accept it as I got sort of desperate over here. I actually have an instance of /Postbox/ that does this and I have been desperately trying to troubleshoot it. Originally I moved to mac about two years ago, moved to Mail from Thunderbird, quickly bought and paid for Postbox, and now I really very much want to move back to Mail.
I am pretty much fully on IMAP with Mail now, but I have "On My Mac" mail on my Laptop in POSTBOX that I cannot find a way to get to my other email client or to GMail and I /also/ have this problem in not being able to even open Postbox on my Desktop machine.
Out of desperation I posted this as if a Mail problem in the hopes that they were similar enought that there would be an easy answer such as "just reinstall the software" or something similar.
I could just delete both instances of Postbox off both machines but in one case I /know/ I have mail somewhere in the email client and in the other case (the Desktop) I don't know if I have mail in there...
Thanks and sorry...
Jon

Similar Messages

When I click on a mailto: link, Thunderbird says it's already running but there is no Thunderbird process running.

I opened Firefox on a freshly rebooted PC, went to click on a mailto: link in a webpage and get the error message that Thunderbird is already running. Thunderbird is not running, but will not open for sending email.
The cause could have something to do with Firefox not opening Thunderbird correctly, or that Thunderbird is not getting the correct permissions to run properly when called by Firefox.
When I start Thunderbird from it's icon, I get a Windows 7 prompt asking me if I want to allow this program to make changes on my computer. If Thunderbird is started by Firefox asking it to create a mail message, as is the case with a mailto: link, It never gets this permission requester.
I have tried troubleshooting information regarding Thunderbird already running error messages, however, there are no .lock files associated with Thunderbird nor is it's ability to send/receive mail when run from it's own icon affected by this problem. I therefore think it's a problem with the way in which Firefox calls Thunderbird to create an email message.
There is the additional problem that Thunderbird has to have administrative privileges to run, but doesn't automatically get them. This might require a separate bug report submission be generated to the Thunderbird developers to fix this problem, but is dependent on what they can do about that.

The reason firefox is not able to launch thunderbirds is because it cannot start thunderbird as administrator unless firefox is running as administrator, try to start firefox as administrator user then click the link.
It should work.
To start a program as '''administrator on windows''', '''RIght Click''' on the iFF con and choose '''Run as Administrator''', then press yes when the user access control box pops.
Then Let us know what happened

I am getting complaints from links that Firefox is already running and needs to be closed when it is not visibly running. But, I do find it as a process that IS running. What gives?

I click on a link in an E-mail. It complains that Firefox is already running and I must close it. Firefox is NOT visibly running. I check via Task Manager to verify. I find Firefox is running as a process. I kill the process and then can proceed. I did use Firefox earlier and closed it.

Make sure that you do not start Firefox with the -no-remote switch or have set the environment variable MOZ_NO_REMOTE=1 (Control Panel > System > Advanced > Environment variables).
If you need to have more than one profile open at the same time then start subsequent instances with the -no-remote command line switch. 
You can send links from other programs to a Firefox instance that is started with -no-remote, you need to drag links in a Firefox window in such cases.
See http://kb.mozillazine.org/Opening_a_new_instance_of_Firefox_with_another_profile

I often get this message. Firefox is already running but is not responding.To open a new window you must first close the excisting Firefox process or restart your system.Thankyou Colin.

So this message appears mainly if I were changing web sites.Can't carry on until I have cleared everything from screen,gone on to my Thunderbird e-mail then Firefox will load again.I can then just carry on till next time.

Please look at [[Firefox is already running but is not responding]]
The initial problem is solved by killing any process firefox.exe, ( & maybe also plugincontainer.exe) Make sure you always close firefox by using the option Firefox Button -> Exit
You may need to investigate further and clear some of the duplicated files that may exist.

Mavericks Mail rules broken, run wild on Update 1.0

I see lots of people have had issues with Mavericks Mail and rules no longer working. Mine worked fine until the update 1.0 fix was released. This is what I am experiening - seemingly different from everyone else's broken rules - I wonder if anyone has any ideas:
This is on a POP mail account:
- Rules re-run on already downloaded mail every time mail is checked for. So for example, a rule that sends an automatic reply resend that repy every time mail is checked (every 5 minutes) even though the mail is already downloaded. The original mail is also marked as 'unread' again, even after its been read (if relevant: Mail is set to delete server messages immediately, but it makes no difference what that setting is.)
- If I uncheck the rule in the list, close preferences, then reopen preferences and re-check the rule, it stops its rerunning.
- Rules with a 'move' command either dont move the mail, or copy instead of move, or occasionally do indeed move the mail.
- Rules with a 'run applecript' command: the applescript generates an error when trying to access the mail details eg sender, and stops running. This even happens with the sample Applescript provided by Apple for accessing mail with Applescript.
- Rules that set or remove a flag - mostly do nothing, occasionally setor remove the flag, but as soon as Mail checks for Mail, the flag reverts to its previous state.
I also note that while update 1.0 corrected the 'unread count' bug. the same bug continues to exist in the mail activity window, if you have it open - the number of outgoing or incoming mails is cumulative since approx the last time the compter was restarted (does not seem to be related to when Mail itself was restarted.)
I have repaired permissions as well as the home folder permissions using the magical resetpassword command in the recovery mode, but nothing changes.
Any ideas? I'd be so grateful, although I suspect we need to wait for 10.9.3 (in my past experience, all OS X releases break Mail, and they are fixed by .3. Great.)

In our office we use Thunderbird everywhere (OSX, Windows, Linux), and we are really happy with it.
Its gui it's not nice as Mail's, but it can do everything you ask it to do, and more.

Thunderbird already running even after restart

If I try to start Thunderbird, it tells me that it is already running. I tried a restart of my G5 but still got the same result.
Has anyone got any ideas please?
Rob Dixon

Look inside of the Library/Thunderbird/ directory for the "Profiles" directory. That's the directory that keeps all of the information about how you have Thunderbird set up it also has your mail in it and extensions. Make sure that this directory did not disappear. I would suggest backing a working version of it up to a server or backup drive before you have this problem.
As another poster suggested, I would also agree to open your Profiles.ini file in TextEdit and look at the path that the .ini folder is reading from. There should be some weird-named directory listed similar (but not necessarily) "zybe45.default". It's in that folder where your "stuff" is. Make sure that the name of the folder on your hard drive AND the typed path name inside of the "profile.ini" file are the same. This will bring Thunderbird back up. I hope that this helps.

Frequently when I open Firefox it says Firefox is already running but is not responding. I have to go to the task manager, find Firefox and close the process before I can get firefox to load.

Those are all the details I have

There is an article about this problem see:
* [[Firefox is already running but is not responding]]

"Firefox is already running" error while opening a Firefox Document

I am a web developer, so I decided to have different versions of Firefox in order to test my web pages.
Thus I decided to install Firefox 3.6 in "C:\Archivos de programa\Mozilla Firefox\Firefox 3.6", Firefox 4 in "C:\Archivos de programa\Mozilla Firefox\Firefox 4" and Firefox 5 in "C:\Archivos de programa\Mozilla Firefox\Firefox 5".
Moreover, each version has its own profile. In 'profiles.ini' I moved the line 'Default=1' from 'default' profile to 'Firefox 5' profile.
Since then, if Firefox has started, when I try to open a Firefox Document (like .htm or .xml) from a folder, I get "Firefox is already running, but is not responding" error. But the fact is that Firefox is responding correctly. If I write the file's location in Firefox's location bar it works properly.
In the registry, the FirefoxHTML's open command is "C:\Archivos de programa\Mozilla Firefox\Firefox 5\firefox.exe" -requestPending -osint -url "%1". Is it rigth?

I don't have much difficulty with this problem. It's more of an annoyance.
A ''frequent'' annoyance.
What I'll do is log in to a page that requires a secure connection, and when I'm finished, to complete the security, I always close the browser. Then, of course, I start the browser up again.
The problem is, ''Firefox is still shutting down'', and issues this error. Most of the time, I can wait 10 seconds, then start up fine.
'''So my question is,''' why the heck can't the process that detects that Firefox is still running do the waiting for me? Instead of popping up a message, "Firefox is still running", pop up a message, ''"Firefox is cleaning up from the last shut-down, one moment please"'', then start up again.
I hate to mention it, but none of Firefox's competitors have any problem with starting up too soon after a shut-down.

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

When I try to sign in to the support community using one of my email addresses it asks for my apple support community user name and when I type in what I think it might be I get one of several messeges Ie. An account using this e-mail address already exis

When I try to sign in to the support community using one of my e-mail addresses and I put in nothing or what I thought was my apple support community user name I can get one of several messages
Ie.1. Please specify a user name
2.An account using this e-mail address already exists; only one account per e-mail address is allowed on Apple Support Communities
How do I find out what my Apple Support Communities user name is

Good luck with this!!!
EVEN USING what WAS my Username, this is the exact problem I am having having entered my correct ID and Password.
Rgds
Rod

When I open Firefox I get the message "Firefox is already running but not responding . . .

I am using Firefox 3.6.9 with Windows XP SP3. Almost every time I try to open Firefox 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."
I then must open Task Manager and find Firefox and stop the process.
I run Firefox on 4 Windows machines and this is the only machine that I have this problem on.
I have looked at the Mozilla Firefox KB and have tried to check on the items that could be causing the problem. I have update my Java in Firefox. I have un-installed Firefox leaving the Bookmark preferences, etc. on my machine, ran CCleaner to clean the Registry of remaining Firefox items and then re-installed Firefox - I still have the problem.
I have installed Google Chrome to fix this problem but now I find that several of the websites and companies I do business with are not compatible with Chrome.
How can I fix this problem? Why am I only having this issue on 1 of my 4 Windows machines?
Thanks!
Bill Artman

For possible causes see [[Firefox is already running but is not responding]].

I have an issue that I cannot open Firefox, and I get the message "Firefox is already running..." and it says I need to close it or restart my computer.

There is a page on the support site that attempts to adress the issue...but it never says how to fix it. https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Firefox+is+already+running+but+is+not+responding
Apparently there is a problem with the "profile", and on this support page, it has a link about working with the profile...if you go to that page, is tells you where the profile is, and the many things it does...but it does NOT say actually how to fix this problem. It tells you to go the the Help tab at the top of the browser, then select "Troubleshooting", and then under Profile, select "Open Containing folder"...which brings up the folder with all the files...but from there...it doesn't say what to do. I also have gone to the Start tab at the bottom of Windows (Windows XP--I've got Firefox 3.6.9) then Run and opened the profile box...but there are no instructions on what to do to fix the problem. I can open Firefox only by going to Crtl-Alt Delete and opening the process tab and ending the Firefox process...but this is not a fix. Help! thanks...

You need "sysinternal's process explorer", it is free and can replace the Microsoft process explorer, that you get by "CTRL+ALT+DELETE". Either program will allow you to kill the instances of FF that didn't die as they should have, when you closed them. Sysinternal is easier to use, it is a graphic display with many options. Do not push "CTRL+ALT+DELETE" twice unless you want to reboot, that is its default behaviour under Microsoft.

If Firefox is set as the default browser, and any application attempts to open a new window, this fails and I get the error "Firefox is already running..."

Here is what I am running:
Microsoft Windows 7, Service Pack 1, Fully updated to 4/10/2012
Fresh Install of Firefox 11. No add-ons enabled as a result of troubleshooting.
I am a user with administrator rights
UAS is disabled.
To begin, this has been going on Since Firefox 10 or so. A few months now.
I am able to open Firefox. My add-ons worked (ABP, Flashblock, ABP Element Hiding Helper, IETAB2, Downthemall, Greasemonkey, 4chan extension) had no problems. Firefox is set and has been set for the last two years as my default web browser.
However Since approximately Firefox 10 or so, maybe before that, If I have a Firefox session open, and any other application attempts to open a session in a new window, I get the Firefox is already running, but not responding error."
I attempted to follow troubleshooting advice already posted (look for parent.lock files left behind [none present], multiple sessionstore.js files [none present], create a new user profile, attempted to clear out the "read-only" permission in windows 7, however as soon as it is cleared, the read only permission returns.)
As a last resort, I deleted the Firefox folder, the %APPDATA%/Mozilla directory in its entirety, then utilized CCleaner to remove any and all references to Firefox in the windows registry, then did a full re-install, no extensions installed right now.
I checked preferences and have the option "open new windows in a new tab" checked off. The problem persists regardless if this option is checked on or off. This problem persists in or out of safe mode, even with the brand new install.
Test Cases:
All cases:
Firefox is selected as the default browser for windows 7
Case 1: Open a firefox session. Utilize any other program that attempts to open a link to their website in a new browser window or new browser session. Experience "Firefox is already running" error
Case 2: Open a firefox session. Right click on Firefox on the task bar. Select "open in new window". Experience "Firefox is already running" error
Case 3: Open a firefox session. Select the Firefox Menu > New tab > New Window. A new window will actually open.
This is the only method of opening a new window in the same browser session or profile that actually works on my system. Attempting to open a browser session from the task bar "open new window dialog" or opening a new window while a current window/session is running will not open firefox in a new window or a new tab in the current session. The "Firefox is already running, but is not responding" error will occur every time.

Cor-el's suggestion resolved my problem. Apparently the MOZ_NO_REMOTE variable was set to 1 on my system variables. I never made it, and really have no idea how it got there, but deleting this variable and restarting firefox has resolved the issue. Thanks Cor-el!
Marking case: Solved
Solution: Verify the MOZ_NO_REMOTE variable is NOT set to 1. This can be achieved by simply deleting this variable.

How can I stop from getting the "Firefox is already running" error message when trying to open links and FF has already been opened through a symbolic link?

I use symbolic links and program shortcuts as a way to easily open different Firefox profiles ie. one for casual/personal use and another for work. This works well, but I get the "Firefox is already running, but is not responding" error message if I try to open external links with FF as my default browser. FF is actually open and running fine, but I guess it doesn't acknowledge this fact because of how I'm originally starting the process.
I wasn't able to add the symbolically linked executables to the default program pane. Is there a way to bypass this error or other way to fix this?
The solution to the question linked below is what I'm using to open the different FF profiles.
http://superuser.com/questions/255312/pin-same-app-multiple-times-in-windows-7

hello, this is probably happening when you run the default profile with the -no-remote switch.
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_in_use

"Mail is already running"?!

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for