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Safe Mode - MozillaZine Knowledge BaseSafe ModeFrom MozillaZine Knowledge BaseThis article applies to Firefox and Thunderbird.Note: SeaMonkey 2.0 (currently in Alpha testing) can also be started inSafe Mode.Safe Mode is a debugging startup mode where all added extensions aredisabled and the default theme and toolbar settings are used. Note,however, that all available plugins are used and any changes made tooptions and preferences remain in effect. In Firefox, Safe Mode includestroubleshooting options such as the ability to reset toolbars, bookmarksand preferences. [1]Contents [hide]1 Starting Safe Mode1.1 Windows1.2 Linux1.3 Mac OS X2 How to know you're in Safe Mode2.1 Thunderbird2.2 Firefox3 Safe Mode options in Firefox3.1 Buttons4 See also5 External links[edit]Starting Safe ModeTo enter Safe Mode you must first make sure Firefox or Thunderbird is notrunning in the background. This includes all windows like the DownloadManager and Extensions that open in a separate window.[edit]WindowsThis should not be confused with restarting the computer in Windows SafeMode!Use the "Mozilla Firefox (Safe Mode)", "Mozilla Thunderbird (Safe Mode)",or "Mozilla Thunderbird (No Extensions)" shortcut in the Mozilla Firefoxor Mozilla Thunderbird program folder on the Windows Start Menu. If thisshortcut is missing, you can start in Safe Mode by selecting "Start ->Run" (on Windows Vista, use "Start Search" or enable the Run box, asdescribed here) and entering,For Firefox, one of these:firefox -safe-mode"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -safe-modeFor Thunderbird, one of these:thunderbird -safe-mode"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -safe-modeAdjust the path accordingly, if you installed your Mozilla program in adifferent location than shown above.[edit]LinuxOn Linux, you can go to your Terminal and run (for Firefox):/path/to/firefox/firefox -safe-mode[edit]Mac OS XOn Mac OS X, go to Utilities (in the Applications folder) and openTerminal, then run (for Firefox):/Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/MacOS/firefox -safe-modeAnd for Thunderbird, this is the line to run in Terminal:/Applications/Thunderbird.app/Contents/MacOS/thunderbird-bin-safe-modeIf you have installed the application to another location, modify the pathas such. It's the "-safe-mode" command line parameter that's crucial here.

[edit]How to know you're in Safe Mode[edit]ThunderbirdAll extensions will be disabled. You will still be able to select themin the Add-ons/Extensions list but only for the purpose of upgrading oruninstalling (the options button will be disabled).Default toolbar settings and controls will be used.Thunderbird will be using the default theme.[edit]FirefoxA window called Firefox Safe Mode with some troubleshooting optionsappears.At that point, you can either continue to Safe Mode or select sometroubleshooting options and restart Firefox in normal mode to apply thechanges.If you choose to continue in Safe Mode:All extensions will be disabled (but this will not reset any Firefoxpreferences that some extensions may modify).Firefox will be using the default theme.Default toolbar settings and controls will be used [2].If you choose any of the troubleshooting options, the changes are onlyapplied if you choose Make Changes and Restart.[edit]Safe Mode options in FirefoxWhen you select any of these options and choose the "Make changes andrestart" button, Firefox will restart in normal mode and the selectedchanges will be made.Disable all add-ons - Disables all added themes and extensions. You canuse the "Add-ons" tool to selectively re-enable them when you restartFirefox (details here).Reset toolbars and controls - Removes any toolbar customizations you mayhave made via the "Customize Toolbar" dialog. Also restores defaultwindow size/position and tree sort order and resolves various localstorecorruption issues.Reset bookmarks to Firefox defaults - Replaces your bookmarks withFirefox defaults (your browsing history is left intact). Caution: If youselect this option and want to undo the change you will need to restoreyour bookmarks from backup.Reset all user preferences to Firefox defaults: - Resets any user-setpreferences to the default values (except for those set in the optionaluser.js file) and restores the default theme. Does not affect anyuserChrome.css or userContent.css changes.Restore default search engines - Adds back all of the default searchengines (currently Google, Yahoo, Amazon.com, Answers.com, CreativeCommons, eBay, and in Firefox 3, Wikipedia) if some are missing. It doesnot remove any added search engines.[edit]ButtonsMake Changes and Restart - This restarts Firefox in normal mode andapplies the changes in any of the options selected above.Continue in Safe Mode - Starts Firefox in Safe Mode (this will not applyany of the options selected above).Exit[edit]See alsoStandard diagnostic - FirefoxStandard diagnostic - Thunderbird[edit]External linksSafe Mode (Firefox Support)Retrieved from "http://kb.mozillazine.org/Safe_Mode"Categories: Extensions (Firefox) | Extensions (Thunderbird) | Issues(Firefox) | Startup - Firefox | SeaMonkey