Many users complain that the repeatedly upgrading the Firefox web browser, leads to broken and non working incompatible firefox extensions.
So how do you fix this. Recently the Firefox 1.5.0.1 stability and security update was released and more extensions stopped working. Here are a few tips that work.
- The best and first way is to look for new extension updates. Go to Tools>Extensions>Find Updates and let firefox check if new extension updates are available and then update them
- If this does not work, then maybe the database is not updated yet. Visit the incompatible extension developers homepage. Right click on the incompatible extension and “Visit Home Page”, probably they have the new updated version on their site.
- Mozillazine probably give the official way of changing the compatibility information manually. “Extract (unzip) the .xpi file…Open the “install.rdf” file with a text editor such as Notepad. Find a tagline like this showing the “maxVersion” number (in this case 1.0, but it may differ depending on the extension): 1.0 and Change the “1.0” to “1.5” or whatever you need.”. Read their full article.
- Nightly Tester Tools Firefox Extension – allows you to install incompatible extensions (experimental) and force the application to believe an extension is compatible with the current version and enable it. It also adds a few extras useful to those that regularly test nightly builds of Firefox, Thunderbird and the Application Suite.
Other stategies which have been suggested by other websites which involve tweaking settings in the Firefox profiles and configuration menus.
- Download Squad has suggested another tweak – “In the address bar type about:config. Use the Filter field to find app.extensions.version (if it’s not present, create it by right-clicking and choosing New > String). Double-click on it and in the pop-up box enter 1.5 (or the previous version of your choice..”. Read their full article.
- Evilsoft.org suggests another strategy to “open the file extensions.rdf from your profile directory…in a text editor….Search for every instance of 1.5 in the file. Those cases where the line says NS1:maxVersion=”1.5″ need to be changed” and changing the parameter here will also make it work. Read their full article.
The bottomline is firefox version upgrades are essential for fixing bugs and enhancing your browser security and browsing experience and you have to keep doing them. And whenever you upgrade, some firefox extensions will stop working. Probably these tips should fix your incompatible firefox extensions and make them working again. If nothing works and you cannot work without your favourite extensions, then you can always uninstall and downgrade to the previous version (just see if you have the previous version’s installation file).