Firefox profiles are undoubtedly a convenient tool that allows you to customize your browser for different situations. This feature has become indispensable for most active Internet users. Moreover, the browser itself is designed in such a way that it cannot work without at least one profile.
True, there are negative aspects to all this. So, for example, the error “Firefox profile is missing or inaccessible” managed to spoil the nerves of more than a dozen users. It occurs without seemingly any reason and simply does not allow the browser to start. Fortunately, you can solve the problem, and how to do this will be discussed later.
Why do I need profiles?
First you need to figure out why Firefox profiles are needed at all. This information will not only help to correct the error, but will also be very useful to users who have just recently begun their acquaintance with the "Fox".
So, suppose you use a browser both for visiting entertainment sites and for work. Naturally, for each of these tasks different plugins, bookmarks, display settings and other tools are used. Of course, you can not bother and use it all together, but it’s much more convenient to create two separate profiles, one of which will be designed for work, and the second - exclusively for relaxation.
For example, you can transfer to the “working” profile all the plugins that slow down the browser, bookmarks leading to profile sites, your colleagues ’contacts and so on. At the same time, there will be only a few links to entertainment portals in the “leisure account”, which will allow not to load Firefox and thus significantly accelerate it.
Causes of error
Now it’s time to find out the causes of errors associated with the incorrect operation of profiles. Most often, the following leads to them:
- Your Firefox profile has been deleted. This is one of the most common problems causing browser problems. At the same time, the data could be deleted both by accident and as a result of exposure to malware.
- The profile has been moved from the folder in which it was stored by default. Again, you could have done it unconsciously or out of inexperience.
- Too many temporary files. They can not only slow down the browser, but also lead to problems in the work of profiles.
Be that as it may, for each of the above cases there is a separate solution. The information below will be devoted to them.
Verify profile path
If your Firefox profile is not available, then the first thing to do is check the path to it. The fact is that each browser creates a special folder that stores all the data about bookmarks, settings and visited sites. Firefox is no exception to this rule. Moreover, this browser separately saves profile information and cannot function normally without it.
In order to check the availability of files necessary for the functioning of Firefox, you need to find the Profiles folder. This can be done by opening the command prompt and typing% APPDATA% \ Mozilla \ Firefox \ Profiles in it. If you cannot follow this path, it means that the folder with browser profiles has been deleted or moved to another location.
Returning the profile to its original place
If your Firefox profile is missing and you yourself moved it to some other place, the problem is solved quite simply. You only need to do this:
- Return the folder containing the profile files to their original location.
- If you renamed the profile, then you need to restore its original name. Without this, the browser will not be able to work with files, even if they are in the default folder.
- Launch the “Profile Manager”. This is done through the command line using the firefox.exe - ProfileManager command.
- Now create a new profile using the "Manager". It is important to give it a name that you can easily remember.
- After that, click the "Select Folder" button and specify the path to the folder that you previously moved.
Next, it is desirable to restart the computer, and then start the browser, thereby checking its operability.
If you cannot find the profile
It is possible that you yourself could delete the Firefox profile folder by mistaking it for garbage. In addition, files could be corrupted by malware, deleted by one of the applications to optimize the operating system, and so on. Be that as it may, you will not be able to restore such a profile, and you just have to create a new one. This is done as follows:
- Run the command prompt. It is advisable to do this with administrator rights.
- Type firefox.exe - ProfileManager and press Enter.
- Wait for the "Profile Manager" to load. Click on the “Create Profile” button in the main window of the program (sometimes this option is called “New Profile”).
- Next, you need to name the account, and also specify the path to the folder in which it will be stored. It is important here not to choose the directory containing the files of one of your old profiles as the storage location. Otherwise, the browser may experience problems.
- Click the Finish button.
Now launch the browser and make sure that it works correctly. Note that all your old settings will be reset and you will have to install them again.
Deleting a profile (through the built-in "Manager")
If Firefox could not load your profile, but all the necessary folders are in place, then the reason most likely lies in file corruption. Unfortunately, you cannot restore them. The only thing you can do is delete the old profile and create a new one in return. For this:
- Launch the “Profile Manager” (how to do this, as mentioned earlier).
- A list of all your profiles will open. Select the one that is experiencing problems, and then click Delete.
- The program will prompt you to choose one of the options: “Do not delete files” or “Delete files”. In the first case, you can transfer your settings to the new profile, and in the second, you will lose them permanently.
- Having decided, check one of the options and confirm the operation.
After that, launch the browser. If you did everything correctly, the error should disappear.
Delete profile (without manager)
It happens that the "Manager" does not start, or you simply do not want to use it for any of your reasons. For such cases, there is an alternative option to delete a profile. It consists in the following:
- Use the built-in Windows search to find the% appdata% folder.
- Open it, and then go to the Roaming directory.
- Next, go to the Mozilla folder, and then Firefox.
- Locate the profiles.ini file that is responsible for the operation of all profiles created in the browser.
- Highlight profiles.ini and click Delete.
Now restart your PC and launch the browser. In this case, the profiles file will be automatically created anew, and all the information contained in it will be reset. Simply put, you get a “clean” browser.
Browser Cleanup
And finally, the “Firefox profile is missing” error can occur due to the large number of “junk” files that have accumulated in the browser cache. Fortunately, the developers have built into Fox a special cleaning tool that will help you solve the problem. To use it, do the following:
- Launch your browser and type about: support in the address bar.
- Find the “Clear Firefox” button in the upper right corner of the screen and click on it.
- After that, the browser will automatically close. Do not run it until the operation is completed, otherwise it can lead to various problems. Wait until the cleaning is completed and only then check if the error related to the profiles remains.
By the way, in the same way it is possible (and even necessary) to periodically clear Firefox from garbage. This will not only prevent the appearance of all kinds of errors, but will also speed up the browser.