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Firefox Allows for Easy Draganddrop Modifications to Its

Drag and drop from firefox to Windows desktop stopped working after updating to Firefox Quantum 68.0 (64-bit)

After updating to v68 (x64) earlier today, drag and drop of pictures from Firefox to Windows desktop, stopped working

What I tried so far

Tried turning it off and on again didn't work

Started firefox in safemode with no add-ons didn't work

Started windows in safe mode and then started firefox in safemode with no add-ons didn't work

Drag n Drop + holding Ctrl key didn't work Drag n Drop + holding Alt key didn't work

Created a new profile didn't work

Re-installed v68 didn't work

uninstalled and erased ALL firefox files, then installed v68 didn't work

Installed v68 on a fresh install of Windows didn't work

Installed a fresh copy of Windows on a freshly assembled computer and made a fresh installation of v68 Firefox didn't work

Is there something else I can do, in order to fix this problem, besides using Google Chrome

After '''updating to v68 (x64) '''earlier today, drag and drop of pictures from Firefox to Windows desktop, stopped working '''What I tried so far''' Tried turning it off and on again ''didn't work'' Started firefox in safemode with no add-ons ''didn't work'' Started windows in safe mode and then started firefox in safemode with no add-ons ''didn't work'' Drag n Drop + holding Ctrl key ''didn't work'' Drag n Drop + holding Alt key ''didn't work'' Created a new profile ''didn't work'' Re-installed v68 ''didn't work'' uninstalled and erased ALL firefox files, then installed v68 ''didn't work'' Installed v68 on a fresh install of Windows ''didn't work'' Installed a fresh copy of Windows on a freshly assembled computer and made a fresh installation of v68 Firefox ''didn't work'' Is there something else I can do, in order to fix this problem, besides using '''Google Chrome'''

An gyara daga Wag669

Mafitar da aka zaɓa

I'm not sure how to react right now.... Earlier today, dragging and dropping to desktop didn't work, I tried to drag and drop a url on desktop, in order to check if creating a shortcut on desktop would work. It worked So, naturally, I tried to drag a picture and it worked....

I just called a priest, I think my PC is in need of an exorcism

Karanta wannan amsa a matsayinta 👍 0

All Replies (20)

Well, I have no intention to set the browser to false after every update, so I installed an old version 66.0.5 and I disabled the updates and already I have no absolutely any problems!

Well, I have no intention to set the browser to false after every update, so I installed an old version 66.0.5 and I disabled the updates and already I have no absolutely any problems!

that is ok I was not telling you what to do I was just telling you what i did. and there there is a solution. Whatever works for you that is great. Hope Firefox will address this so if you choose you can get back to the updates if you chose. Have a nice day

that is ok I was not telling you what to do I was just telling you what i did. and there there is a solution. Whatever works for you that is great. Hope Firefox will address this so if you choose you can get back to the updates if you chose. Have a nice day

All the answers are here:

https://wiki.mozilla.org/Platform/Integration/InjectEject/Launcher_Process/ https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/windows-administrator-launcher-process-error-fix

We are more and more living in a world full of phishing attacks, breaches of privacy, stealing of data and/or money and other criminal activity on the internet. Browsers are becoming more and more like a operating system nowadays, with people doing all their important stuff in a browser, like banking, communications with their government etc. etc. People complaining about a browser trying to be more secure don't understand that, I'm afraid. You can't say that a browser should stay like it was ten years ago, and nothing needs to be changed. That's nonsense.

All the answers are here: https://wiki.mozilla.org/Platform/Integration/InjectEject/Launcher_Process/ https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/windows-administrator-launcher-process-error-fix We are more and more living in a world full of phishing attacks, breaches of privacy, stealing of data and/or money and other criminal activity on the internet. Browsers are becoming more and more like a operating system nowadays, with people doing all their important stuff in a browser, like banking, communications with their government etc. etc. People complaining about a browser trying to be more secure don't understand that, I'm afraid. You can't say that a browser should stay like it was ten years ago, and nothing needs to be changed. That's nonsense.

An gyara daga joopbraak

If this doesn't get resolved soon, I'm afraid I'll end up losing my favourite browser as many users will simply stop using Firefox for one of the other browsers.  :-(

All browsers have been faced with the same security issues and yet their drag 'n drop shortcuts still works.

If this doesn't get resolved soon, I'm afraid I'll end up losing my favourite browser as many users will simply stop using Firefox for one of the other browsers. :-( All browsers have been faced with the same security issues and yet their drag 'n drop shortcuts still works.

An gyara daga Trish

Hi Trish, this thread has 84 replies, so you might not have found all the workarounds! This article is the starting point:

Drag and Drop errors with Firefox Launcher Process enabled and Windows UAC disabled - How to Fix

Some users are disabling the launcher process completely.

Hi Trish, this thread has 84 replies, so you might not have found all the workarounds! This article is the starting point: [[Running Windows as Administrator with Launcher Process Enabled Causes Drag and Drop Errors - How to Fix]] Some users are disabling the launcher process completely.

Astonished to read this thread... I found the same problem a couple of days ago, now on FF 68.0.1. I thought it's a new "safety" feature, but being not able to drag and drop any objects (downloads, links, pictures, etc.) out of an FF container makes it very hard to work fluently. More astonishing that there is no "official" fix, only work arounds. I'm not going to introduce switches, disable process or whatever. Please fix it.

Astonished to read this thread... I found the same problem a couple of days ago, now on FF 68.0.1. I thought it's a new "safety" feature, but being not able to drag and drop any objects (downloads, links, pictures, etc.) out of an FF container makes it very hard to work fluently. More astonishing that there is no "official" fix, only work arounds. I'm not going to introduce switches, disable process or whatever. Please fix it.

An gyara daga Andy & Siby

Hi Andy & Siby, drag and drop works normally with the Windows UAC feature set to its default level. If you modified that setting, you need to use a workaround.

See: Drag and Drop errors with Firefox Launcher Process enabled and Windows UAC disabled - How to Fix

Hi Andy & Siby, drag and drop works normally with the '''Windows UAC feature set to its default level'''. If you modified that setting, you need to use a workaround. See: [[Running Windows as Administrator with Launcher Process Enabled Causes Drag and Drop Errors - How to Fix]]

I keep seeing suggestions that the user should just turn UAC back on, as if the only reason it would be off is because a user disabled it for some temporary purpose.

That's not the only reason it can be off. Consider corporate environments where the company's standard is to run Windows 7 with all users as Administrators, and no UAC. In that situation the user can't turn UAC on, because a) it would incur the wrath of the company's IT department, and b) it would break the (presumably corporate) applications that necessitated UAC to be off in the first place.

Now, I know what you're thinking. Why would a company want to run with all users as Administrator and UAC off?

Windows, especially earlier versions, has a vicious circle:

  • Everyone runs as Administrator
  • Because everyone runs as administrator, applications assume that's the operating environment
  • Because applications assume that's the operating environment, the (poorly designed) application doesn't work when the user isn't an administrator and/or UAC is in effect
  • Because applications don't work when the user isn't an administrator, the users need to be administrators for the applications to work
  • Because users need to be administrators for the applications to work...
  • Everyone runs as Administrator

This is especially true in corporate environments where for whatever reason they require employees to run ancient poorly supported applications.

I'm not saying that every corporate environment works this way, just that this is a use case to be considered.

I keep seeing suggestions that the user should just turn UAC back on, as if the only reason it would be off is because a user disabled it for some temporary purpose. That's not the only reason it can be off. Consider corporate environments where the company's standard is to run Windows 7 with all users as Administrators, and no UAC. In that situation the user can't turn UAC on, because a) it would incur the wrath of the company's IT department, and b) it would break the (presumably corporate) applications that necessitated UAC to be off in the first place. Now, I know what you're thinking. Why would a company want to run with all users as Administrator and UAC off? Windows, especially earlier versions, has a vicious circle: * Everyone runs as Administrator * Because everyone runs as administrator, applications assume that's the operating environment * Because applications assume that's the operating environment, the (poorly designed) application doesn't work when the user isn't an administrator and/or UAC is in effect * Because applications don't work when the user isn't an administrator, the users need to be administrators for the applications to work * Because users need to be administrators for the applications to work... * Everyone runs as Administrator This is especially true in corporate environments where for whatever reason they require employees to run ancient poorly supported applications. I'm not saying that ''every'' corporate environment works this way, just that this is a use case to be considered.

Wag669 said

Mary said
I am having the same problem with drag and drop

Please try this:

  1. Open Firefox and go to the "about:config" page
  2. click on the "i take the risk" button
  3. search for "launcher" it should return browser.launcherProcess.enabled
  4. double click on it to set is default value to false
  5. Restart Firefox

Thanks, disabling the launcher process works for me, for now. But seriously, this option should be offered on the settings!!!

''Wag669 [[#answer-1237476|said]]'' <blockquote> ''Mary [[#answer-1237418|said]]'' <blockquote> I am having the same problem with drag and drop </blockquote> '''Please try this: ''' # Open Firefox and go to the "about:config" page # click on the "i take the risk" button # search for "launcher" it should return ''browser.launcherProcess.enabled'' # double click on it to set is default value to '''false''' # Restart Firefox </blockquote> Thanks, disabling the launcher process works for me, for now. But seriously, this option should be offered on the settings!!!

I'm having this problem too, drag and drop works for everything else except from other programs or windows into firefox. I can drag out of firefox so creating shortcuts or pulling images is fine it's just draging into firefox that doesn't seem to work anymore. i've tried all the suggestions including the last one about the about:config -> launcher suggestion and nothing works. It was fine not even a month ago then all of a sudden stopped working. I'm using developer 69.0b13 (64 bit). Another thing that happened is firefox would refuse to launch unless i start as admin.

I'm having this problem too, drag and drop works for everything else except from other programs or windows into firefox. I can drag out of firefox so creating shortcuts or pulling images is fine it's just draging into firefox that doesn't seem to work anymore. i've tried all the suggestions including the last one about the about:config -> launcher suggestion and nothing works. It was fine not even a month ago then all of a sudden stopped working. I'm using developer 69.0b13 (64 bit). Another thing that happened is firefox would refuse to launch unless i start as admin.

Hi viking, do you get the red circle with the slash indicating you cannot drop where the mouse pointer currently is? Assuming it's not because the page is preventing it, that usually is a problem dragging from a lower-privileged application into a higher-privileged one. So running Firefox as administrator might be preventing drag and drop, or maybe it's something else.

Since your issue appears to be the flip side of the one discussed in this extremely long thread, in order to get relevant comments, could you start a new question. Keep scrolling down past article/thread suggestions to continue with the form:

https://support.mozilla.org/questions/new/desktop/fix-problems

Hi viking, do you get the red circle with the slash indicating you cannot drop where the mouse pointer currently is? Assuming it's not because the page is preventing it, that usually is a problem dragging from a lower-privileged application into a higher-privileged one. So running Firefox as administrator ''might'' be preventing drag and drop, or maybe it's something else. Since your issue appears to be the flip side of the one discussed in this extremely long thread, in order to get relevant comments, could you start a new question. Keep scrolling down past article/thread suggestions to continue with the form: https://support.mozilla.org/questions/new/desktop/fix-problems

It's not a red but black icon. i'm getting this when dragging into a page or the tab bar. I would test but firefox will not launch unless i use the admin option.

It's not a red but black icon. i'm getting this when dragging into a page or the tab bar. I would test but firefox will not launch unless i use the admin option.

I have the same problem as many in this thread, including the last one posted by Viking. When v68 was released, I had the problems of:

  • Not being able to drag an URL to the desktop or Windows Explorer (black 'forbidden' icon) to create a shortcut.
  • Opening URLs from shortcuts on desktop or from other applications did not work.

I was able to fix it after lots of fiddling with the suggestions in this thread. Some combination I wouldn't be able to reproduce fixed the problem.

Now that v68.0.2 has been released, I'm back at the same problems, with the following differences:

  • Nothing I do seems to fix the problem with creating shortcuts on desktop or anywhere.
  • Opening URLs from shortcuts or other applications works if Firefox is not open, and will work until that particular instance of Firefox is closed. If I open Firefox normally, URLs are never opened.

UAC is ok, I'm not running Firefox as admin, don't know what else to check.

It really feels as if it's not a bug but a feature that they want us to stick with, or rather, something they don't want us to use. I've rarely had problems with Firefox, and I've been a defender of it against the use of other options. But I'm changing my mind after repeatedly pushing 'features' that are not optional and only give problems since they aren't fixed. If something doesn't work well for all users, either it should be optional, or removed until it works for *all users.

It's sad that Firefox is becoming a bad option in the browser world - and other options seem as bad. (Sorry for venting out... this problem is driving me nuts!)

I have the same problem as many in this thread, including the last one posted by Viking. When v68 was released, I had the problems of: * Not being able to drag an URL to the desktop or Windows Explorer (black 'forbidden' icon) to create a shortcut. * Opening URLs from shortcuts on desktop or from other applications did not work. I was able to fix it after lots of fiddling with the suggestions in this thread. Some combination I wouldn't be able to reproduce fixed the problem. Now that v68.0.2 has been released, I'm back at the same problems, with the following differences: * Nothing I do seems to fix the problem with creating shortcuts on desktop or anywhere. * Opening URLs from shortcuts or other applications works if Firefox is not open, and will work until that particular instance of Firefox is closed. If I open Firefox normally, URLs are never opened. UAC is ok, I'm not running Firefox as admin, don't know what else to check. It really feels as if it's not a bug but a feature that they want us to stick with, or rather, something they don't want us to use. I've rarely had problems with Firefox, and I've been a defender of it against the use of other options. But I'm changing my mind after repeatedly pushing 'features' that are not optional and only give problems since they aren't fixed. If something doesn't work well for all users, either it should be optional, or removed until it works for *all users. It's sad that Firefox is becoming a bad option in the browser world - and other options seem as bad. (Sorry for venting out... this problem is driving me nuts!)

Hi sub2015, Windows blocks drag-and-drop from lower integrity (less privileged) processes to higher integrity ones. When UAC is enabled, the integrity level between the desktop (Windows Explorer) and Firefox should match because Firefox uses Windows Explorer to launch the browser. When UAC is disabled, then there may be a mismatch. Usually the mismatch is addressed using -no-deelevate because Firefox is running with reduced privileges. So if you enabled UAC or you modified your Firefox shortcut with -no-deelevate, then drag-and-drop to the desktop should work.

One way to debug integrity level issues is to install a Microsoft utility named Process Explorer. It's similar to the Task Manager, but you can add an Integrity Level column to see whether there is a mismatch. Steps here: https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1264413?page=2#answer-1243449

  • Opening URLs from shortcuts or other applications works if Firefox is not open, and will work until that particular instance of Firefox is closed. If I open Firefox normally, URLs are never opened.

Do you mean:

  • a blank tab opens
  • a new window opens with your home page
  • an error message appears
  • absolutely nothing happens

One possible difference is that external links and shortcuts are launched using the command line listed in the Windows Registry under FirefoxURL-variant (when Firefox is the default browser). For example:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FirefoxURL-308046B0AF4A39CB\shell\open\command =>

"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -osint -url "%1"

The -url "%1" passes the URL of the link or shortcut to Firefox to open, so that part wouldn't be in your normal shortcut. (I don't know if -osint is important.)

What is your normal shortcut's command line? At installation it would not have any extra parameters:

"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"

Could there be some kind of conflict??

Hi sub2015, Windows blocks drag-and-drop from lower integrity (less privileged) processes to higher integrity ones. When UAC is enabled, the integrity level between the desktop (Windows Explorer) and Firefox should match because Firefox uses Windows Explorer to launch the browser. When UAC is disabled, then there may be a mismatch. Usually the mismatch is addressed using -no-deelevate because Firefox is running with reduced privileges. So if you enabled UAC or you modified your Firefox shortcut with -no-deelevate, then drag-and-drop to the desktop should work. One way to debug integrity level issues is to install a Microsoft utility named Process Explorer. It's similar to the Task Manager, but you can add an Integrity Level column to see whether there is a mismatch. Steps here: https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1264413?page=2#answer-1243449 <blockquote> * Opening URLs from shortcuts or other applications works if Firefox is not open, and will work until that particular instance of Firefox is closed. '''If I open Firefox normally, URLs are never opened.''' </blockquote> Do you mean: * a blank tab opens * a new window opens with your home page * an error message appears * absolutely nothing happens One possible difference is that external links and shortcuts are launched using the command line listed in the Windows Registry under FirefoxURL-''variant'' (when Firefox is the default browser). For example: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FirefoxURL-308046B0AF4A39CB\shell\open\command => "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -osint -url "%1" The <code>-url "%1"</code> passes the URL of the link or shortcut to Firefox to open, so that part wouldn't be in your normal shortcut. (I don't know if -osint is important.) What is your normal shortcut's command line? At installation it would not have any extra parameters: "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" Could there be some kind of conflict??

Thanks Jscher2000 for your detailed reply. I had tried already that, as it was relatively fresh from past month. A few oogles over this thread refreshed what I tried - with one exception: browser.launcherProcess.enabled = false (in about:config) I don't remember what value I had, maybe it was true and the update changed the behaviour, maybe it was false, and the update turned it true again. UAC was OK, launch command and privileges were OK, turning that to false made things work again. That single thing changes to true without changing anything else, and the symptoms happen again.

As of note, when opening urls externally (from shortcut or another app) and that didn't work - it did absolutely nothing.

So for me, the following works:

  • UAC enabled at default.
  • No parameters for launching Firefox.
  • Don't launch firefox as administrator.
  • browser.launcherProcess.enabled set to false.

I hope that helps others with the same problem.

Thanks Jscher2000 for your detailed reply. I had tried already that, as it was relatively fresh from past month. A few oogles over this thread refreshed what I tried - with one exception: browser.launcherProcess.enabled = false (in about:config) I don't remember what value I had, maybe it was true and the update changed the behaviour, maybe it was false, and the update turned it true again. UAC was OK, launch command and privileges were OK, turning that to false made things work again. That single thing changes to true without changing anything else, and the symptoms happen again. As of note, when opening urls externally (from shortcut or another app) and that didn't work - it did absolutely nothing. So for me, the following works: * UAC enabled at default. * No parameters for launching Firefox. * Don't launch firefox as administrator. * browser.launcherProcess.enabled set to false. I hope that helps others with the same problem.

this will fix the drag and drop issues for ff68 on win7Pro x64II.

1. Try to run Firefox with -no-deelevate command-line option.

For that, right-click on Firefox shortcut on the desktop and select Properties,

2. In the Target field after Firefox.exe" give space and add -no-deelevate command, click Apply.

link text jd

this will fix the drag and drop issues for ff68 on win7Pro x64'''II. 1. Try to run Firefox with -no-deelevate command-line option. For that, right-click on Firefox shortcut on the desktop and select Properties, 2. In the Target field after Firefox.exe" give space and add -no-deelevate command, click Apply. [https://techdows.com/2019/07/fix-firefox-68s-file-drag-and-drop-issues-on-windows.html''' link text] jd

An gyara daga phoenix22

Wag669 said

Mary said
I am having the same problem with drag and drop

Please try this:

  1. Open Firefox and go to the "about:config" page
  2. click on the "i take the risk" button
  3. search for "launcher" it should return browser.launcherProcess.enabled
  4. double click on it to set is default value to false
  5. Restart Firefox

Thanks! The above method works like a magic. I have been facing drag and drop issue after updating Firefox to the latest version. I was drag-dropping Google searched Images to Photoshop. Now it's easy and fast. No need to rollback old firefox version anymore :D

''Wag669 [[#answer-1237476|said]]'' <blockquote> ''Mary [[#answer-1237418|said]]'' <blockquote> I am having the same problem with drag and drop </blockquote> '''Please try this: ''' # Open Firefox and go to the "about:config" page # click on the "i take the risk" button # search for "launcher" it should return ''browser.launcherProcess.enabled'' # double click on it to set is default value to '''false''' # Restart Firefox </blockquote> Thanks! The above method works like a magic. I have been facing drag and drop issue after updating Firefox to the latest version. I was drag-dropping Google searched Images to Photoshop. Now it's easy and fast. No need to rollback old firefox version anymore :D

Typically when this happens, it's actually the Explorer.exe process not accepting the Drag/Drop operation.

Typically when this happens, it's actually the Explorer.exe process not accepting the Drag/Drop operation.

santosh18190 said

Wag669 said
Mary said
I am having the same problem with drag and drop

Please try this:

  1. Open Firefox and go to the "about:config" page
  2. click on the "i take the risk" button
  3. search for "launcher" it should return browser.launcherProcess.enabled
  4. double click on it to set is default value to false
  5. Restart Firefox

Thanks! The above method works like a magic. I have been facing drag and drop issue after updating Firefox to the latest version. I was drag-dropping Google searched Images to Photoshop. Now it's easy and fast. No need to rollback old firefox version anymore :D

This method does work, but so far I had to redo it 3 times, since "browser.launcherProcess.enabled" reverts back to "true" every time Firefox updates itself. What the hell?

''santosh18190 [[#answer-1250628|said]]'' <blockquote> ''Wag669 [[#answer-1237476|said]]'' <blockquote> ''Mary [[#answer-1237418|said]]'' <blockquote> I am having the same problem with drag and drop </blockquote> '''Please try this: ''' # Open Firefox and go to the "about:config" page # click on the "i take the risk" button # search for "launcher" it should return ''browser.launcherProcess.enabled'' # double click on it to set is default value to '''false''' # Restart Firefox </blockquote> Thanks! The above method works like a magic. I have been facing drag and drop issue after updating Firefox to the latest version. I was drag-dropping Google searched Images to Photoshop. Now it's easy and fast. No need to rollback old firefox version anymore :D </blockquote> This method does work, but so far I had to redo it 3 times, since "browser.launcherProcess.enabled" reverts back to "true" every time Firefox updates itself. What the hell?

philipp said

hi, please try resetting the windows user account control settings to their default and restart the system once to see if this helps with the drag and drop issue: https://support.microsoft.com/help/975787/

I don't want to change to setting for my "other" 3000 programs.. If Firefox can't fix this simple issue thats been going on for the last several upgrades, then maybe it's time to DUMP Firefox

''philipp [[#answer-1236208|said]]'' <blockquote> hi, please try resetting the windows user account control settings to their default and restart the system once to see if this helps with the drag and drop issue: https://support.microsoft.com/help/975787/ </blockquote> I don't want to change to setting for my "other" 3000 programs.. If Firefox can't fix this simple issue thats been going on for the last several upgrades, then maybe it's time to DUMP Firefox

voigttherk1945.blogspot.com

Source: https://support.mozilla.org/ha/questions/1264292?page=5