The Reset Firefox feature can fix many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information. Consider using it before going through a lengthy troubleshooting process.

The Refresh Firefox feature can fix many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information. Consider using it before going through a lengthy troubleshooting process.

Table of Contents

Change the home page

Problems with a website can cause Firefox to take a long time to start. Try changing your Firefox home page to the default home page or a blank page. See How to set the home page for instructions.

Change how windows and tabs are loaded

If you set Firefox to use the Session Restore feature to show your windows and tabs from last time, Firefox can take a long time to start if you had lots of websites open the last time you used Firefox. Check Don't load tabs until selected in the General panel of the OptionsPreferences window so that only the last selected tab is loaded at startup.

If you set Firefox to use the Session Restore feature to show your windows and tabs from last time, Firefox can take a long time to start if you had lots of websites open the last time you used Firefox. Check Don't load tabs until selected in the General panel of the OptionsPreferences window so that only the last selected tab is loaded at startup (This should be the default setting).

If you set Firefox to use the Session Restore feature to show your windows and tabs from last time, Firefox can take a long time to start if you had lots of websites open the last time you used Firefox. Check Don't load tabs until selected in the Tabs panel of the OptionsPreferences window so that only the last selected tab is loaded at startup (this should be the default setting).

Check your antivirus software

Firefox reads a number of files normally during startup. Some antivirus software may do intensive scans of each of these files during startup and block access until those scans complete. If the problem began after installing, updating, or reconfiguring your antivirus software, contact the software provider for assistance.