Firefox Is Crashing In Windows 10 – How To Resolve?

Firefox has remained the top contender of Chrome for quite some time. Over the years Chrome has become much more popular and used than Firefox. However, Firefox still has many customizability and privacy features that have kept its user base loyal.

Still, Firefox is not exempt from errors and bugs. Recently many users have reported that Firefox is crashing in Windows 10. If you are facing a similar issue, then don’t worry as in this article, I have discussed how to fix it.

Also, check out this article if Firefox is freezing instead of crashing.

Why Firefox Crashes In Windows 10?

Firefox crashing can be related to various issues. Here are some possible causes of this issue:

1. Corrupted Cache: Firefox browsing data can become corrupted and lead to various errors and bugs, including crashes.
2. Virus or malware: Virus and malware can infect applications and prevent them from working correctly.
3. Incompatible extensions: Extensions are useful to better the user experience, but some extensions can be harmful and cause such bugs and errors in Firefox.
4. Outdated Windows: Keeping the Windows updated is paramount in preventing bugs and errors.
5. Unnecessary applications and services: Application and services that are unnecessary may conflict with each other and cause this error.
6. Faulty Graphics Drivers: Faulty graphics drivers are known to cause plenty of errors and bugs, including this one.
7. Hardware Acceleration: Hardware acceleration uses the GPU to process the functions in Firefox better, but it is also known to cause such bugs and other errors.
8. Outdated Firefox: Outdated Firefox will not be able to patch its bugs and thus lead to such an issue.

What To Do When Firefox Is Crashing In Windows 10?      

After you have seen the possible causes of this issue, it is time to troubleshoot it. Here I have mentioned some troubleshooting methods that you need to follow until the issue is fixed. Read the instructions carefully to avoid making mistakes.

Solution 1: Open Firefox In Safe Mode

When you find that Firefox keeps crashing in Windows 10, the first thing you should do is open Firefox in Safe Mode and check if it fixes this issue. Opening Firefox in Safe Mode ensures that only the most essential settings of Firefox are active, which means all the add-ons get disabled.

To open Firefox in Safe Mode, simply hold the Shift key and open the Firefox as you normally do. A dialog will pop-up on your screen, click on yes to open Firefox in Safe Mode. Now, try using Firefox again and see if it still crashes.

Solution 2: Disable Add-Ons

Now, if Firefox is no longer crashing in safe mode, then most likely the issue was instigated by corrupted add-ons. In this scenario, disabling or removing the corrupted add-ons should fix this issue.

To disable the add-ons in Firefox, follow the steps given below:

1. Open Firefox and press Ctrl + Shift + A to open the Add-ons option.
2. Now, click on the toggle next to the extensions to disable them.

Disable the extensions one by one and check each time if the Firefox printing error arises. This way you will be able to pinpoint the corrupted extension and remove it. Click on the 3 dot button beside the extension and then select the Remove option to delete the corrupted extension.

Solution 3: Create A New Places Database Location

Some users have also reported that this issue can be caused by corrupted Places database. If this is the case, you will need to create a new Places database. Here are the steps you will need to follow to do it:

1. Open Firefox. Navigate to the menu button (Hamburger icon) located on the upper right corner and click on it. Select the Help option from the menu.
2. Click on Troubleshoot Information next. The Troubleshoot Information tab will open.
3. Find the Profile Folder, under the Application Basics section and click on the Open folder option.
4. Close down Firefox.
5. Now, in the Firefox Profile Folder that you just opened, find and rename these files:
   sqlite to places.sqlite.old
   places.sqlite-journal to places.sqlite-journal.old
6. Once you have renamed the files, open Firefox.

After Firefox opens, a new Places database location will have been created. Continue surfing on the browser to see if Firefox is crashing again.

Solution 4: Turn Off Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration has also been reported by multiple users to lead to Firefox crashing in Windows 10. Try disabling the Hardware acceleration on Firefox and see if the issue fixes. To do that, follow the steps given below:

1. Open Firefox menu again and select Options.
2. Locate the Use recommended performance settings box located under Performance section in the General tab.
3. Next, Uncheck the Use hardware acceleration when available option.
4. Finally, close down Firefox and restart it.

If still Firefox is crashing in Windows 10, try the next solution.

Solution 5: Troubleshoot Graphics Drivers

Faulty graphics drivers are known to crash applications that are GUI heavy. It can be the reason why your Firefox is crashing in Windows 10. First try updating the graphics drivers, if that doesn’t work then reinstall it. To update graphics drivers, follow the steps given below:

1. Open the Device Manager and expand the Display adapters option.
2. Right-click on the graphics driver and select the Update driver option.

3. Click on the Search for updated drivers option.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

If still Firefox keeps crashing, then try reinstalling the graphics driver. To do it, follow the steps given below:

1. Right-click on the graphics driver in the Device Manager.
2. Select the Uninstall device option.

3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
4. After the graphics drivers are uninstalled, visit the manufacturer’s website and download the latest graphics drivers.

Solution 6: Run A Virus Scan

This seems like an issue linked to viruses or malware. Viruses and malware are known to infect apps and make them open on other windows involuntarily. If this is the case, then you will need to run a virus scan. You can do that by using a powerful third-party antivirus, like Malwarebytes. If you don’t want to use a 3^rd party antivirus, you can run the Windows Defender offline scan.

The offline scan is pretty thorough and extremely useful in rooting out viruses and malware. To run the Windows Defender offline scan, follow the steps given below:

1. Type Windows Security in the Start menu and select the top result.
2. Click on the Virus and threat protection option.
3. Select the Scan options button.
4. Check the Microsoft Offline scan option.
5. Start the scan.
6. Wait for the scan to finish. It will likely take some time. Do not close the scan before it is finished. After the scan is finished, Windows will restart on its own.

Solution 7: Update Windows

Outdated operating systems are known to conflict with newer apps and games. If you are using outdated Windows, you should update it to the latest version. Windows update fixes bugs, adds security patches, and provides newer features. To update your Windows 10, follow the steps given below:

1. Type Check for updates in the Start menu and select the top result.
2. Click on the Check for updates option and wait for Windows 10 to finish checking.
3. If any update is available, Windows should start downloading it automatically. After the download is complete, install it and restart your PC.

Solution 8: Update Firefox

Try updating Firefox and see if that fixes this issue. To update Firefox, follow the steps given below:

1. Click on the menu button in Firefox and then click on Options.
2. Type Update in the search box.
3. In the Firefox Updates section, click on the Update option.
4. Firefox will update and then restart.

Solution 9: Reset The Firefox Settings

If none of the above solutions could stop Firefox crashing in Windows 10, then try resetting the Firefox settings. To reset the Firefox settings, follow the steps given below:

1. Open Firefox and click on the menu button again.
2. Click on the Help option and then select the Troubleshooting Information option.
3. On the right side, click on the Refresh Firefox option under the Give Firefox a tune-up section.
4. Follow the instructions on your screen and wait for Firefox to reset.

Solution 10: Reinstall Firefox

If resetting the printer settings also didn’t work, then try reinstalling Firefox as it has probably become corrupted. To uninstall Firefox, follow the steps given below:

1. Open the Run utility again.
2. Type appwiz.cpl and press Enter to open the Programs and Features panel.
3. Locate the Firefox and right-click on it.
4. Select the Uninstall option and then follow the instructions on your screen to complete the uninstallation process.

After Firefox is uninstalled, visit their official website and download the latest version. Install Firefox and check if the error with printing persists.

Wrapping Up

So, there you have it. Now you know what to do when Firefox is crashing in Windows 10. The above solutions should help you with this issue. Don’t forget to leave your comment below sharing your views on this article and if the solutions helped you solve this error.