Closed Bug 729930 Opened 14 years ago Closed 5 months ago

Firefox opens a second taskbar icon when there is already one pinned to the taskbar

Categories

(Firefox :: General, defect)

Product:
Firefox
Component:
General
Version:
10 Branch
Platform:
x86_64
Windows 7
Type:
defect

Tracking

()

Status:
RESOLVED WORKSFORME

People

(Reporter: mkaply, Unassigned)

References

Details

I have Firefox pinned to the taskbar on Windows 7. I'm also using the profile manager. when I click on my Firefox icon, I get a second Firefox icon on the taskbar, and both icons are highlighted. Then when I select a profile and start Firefox, I end up with two taskbar icons. Only the second (new one) is highlighted. When I click on the first one, it opens a new window in Firefox.
I am having the issue on all the machines we recently upgraded from release channel Firefox 9 to Firefox 10 ESR. We're not using a profile manager, it's just a simple install. I have a Firefox icon in the taskbar. When clicking the icon, Firefox launches except creates a 2nd icon for the actual Firefox window. As Mike said, only the second one is highlighted and clicking the first icon opens a new Firefox window. The only solution at this point is to unpin the old icon and repin the new icon, however in a corporate environment the majority of users have no idea how to do that and I haven't found a way to do this via script or GPO.
Chris, see bug 644914 for some more discussion on this. https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=644914#c11 It would appear that this was a 9 to 10 upgrade problem. It's fixed with 10 and beyond.
(In reply to Michael Kaply (mkaply) from comment #2) > Chris, see bug 644914 for some more discussion on this. > > https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=644914#c11 > > It would appear that this was a 9 to 10 upgrade problem. It's fixed with 10 > and beyond. Thanks Mike, although this still doesn't help solve the current situation :(
Jim, can you offer any advice here?
(In reply to Chris from comment #1) > I am having the issue on all the machines we recently upgraded from release > channel Firefox 9 to Firefox 10 ESR. > > We're not using a profile manager, it's just a simple install. I have a > Firefox icon in the taskbar. When clicking the icon, Firefox launches > except creates a 2nd icon for the actual Firefox window. > > As Mike said, only the second one is highlighted and clicking the first icon > opens a new Firefox window. > > The only solution at this point is to unpin the old icon and repin the new > icon, however in a corporate environment the majority of users have no idea > how to do that and I haven't found a way to do this via script or GPO. The fx update process should update any pinned shortcuts. This happens shortly after firefox launches for the first time after the upgrade. Note, prior to 10, we registered using the current fx version, in 10 we switched to a hash of the install directory so that the id would not change on upgrades. Older pinned shortcuts can be removed @ C:\Users\(username)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar
I am seeing this problem with FF 13 on Win 7. Additionally, FF refused on at least 1 occasion to pin itself to either the Task Bar or the Start Menu. Currently, it's showing up as a double icon in the Task Bar.
I've had this problem on the latest Firefox (the pinned icon may have been from a much earlier build). Manually fixed by pinning the running version's icon and un-pinning the old link. Also, this bug appears to be a duplicate of #644914.
...in addition, while having the "double icon" problem (one for the shortcut, one or more for the running Firefox), this seemed to prevent shift- or middle-clicking the running tasks's icon to open a new window.
Have the same problem with Nightly 17.0.1
Use Windows 7, platform X86
This problem occurs with me when Firefox (or Thunderbird) has updated to a new version. Windows will start Firefox or Thunderbird with the pinned one, but will open a new window and show "2" icons on the taskbar. Just updated from 16.0.1 to 16.0.2.
I have noticed that shortcut name (Mozilla Firefox) is different than file name and product name (Firefox) and that opened browser window does not have any name - maybe that's the point of this problem?
I managed to fix this problem. I made a shortcut to: C:\Users\artur\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar Then I opened it and I noticed there was a few Firefox shortcuts with numbers: Firefox Firefox (2) Firefox (3) Firefox (4) Firefox (5) Then I have unpinned Firefox taskbar icon/window several times noticing that those numbered shortcuts was disappearing from "TaskBar" folder. After all of them disappeared I have pinned Firefox taskbar icon/window only once thus only one "Firefox" shortcut appeared in "TaskBar" folder.
Unfortunately it was not a solution. I haven't noticed that 'Mozilla Firefox' icon reappeared on recently used programs list in Windows Start Menu. Regarding my first post I have changed shortcut name from 'Mozilla Firefox' to 'Firefox' thus making this icon disappear from recently used programs list in Windows Start Menu. Then I have just run Firefox and pinned its' icon to the taskbar. But Mozilla you have to decide what window name and what icon name you want to use for your product and include/reflect it in window and icon title inside the program for next releases/installs.
I can confirm the same problem happening with Windows 10 Build 10158. I am not sure if It's the Windows's fault this is happening or Firefox should update something on its side. It might be only happening with multi process apps. Notepad++, Steam and HipChat does not seem to have any issue with pinning. But I can confirm it is happening with Nightly(64bit) 42.0a1 (2015-07-01) and MusicBee. Hope this helps solving the problem somehow.
It is Windows 10 Build 10159, I have misspelled in other post.
Same happens for me on a fresh Windows 10 Home x64 with FireFox 39. And there is NO combination of pin&unpin on the duplicate taskbar icons which solves the problem.
It's interesting that even tho the Windows 10 is released and used by many, Firefox team still hasn't solved or very interested with this issue. I think this issue greatly affects UX, and may result in using different browsers. I can say I have considered that option, since Pinned apps are quite important for me.
Had, same issue. These steps helped me to fix it: Run Mozilla Firefox setup program again. On first screen go to Options make sure all shortcuts options are selected and proceed with the Installation(Upgrade). After that no more duplicated icons. (FF 39.0, Windows 10 RTM)
It started working now. Not sure if FF update or Windows update fixed the problem. Have Windows 10 Pro with KB3081424 update. FF 64bit: 42.0a1 (2015-08-04)
(In reply to Mike Kaply [:mkaply] from comment #0) > I have Firefox pinned to the taskbar on Windows 7. > > I'm also using the profile manager. > > when I click on my Firefox icon, I get a second Firefox icon on the taskbar, > and both icons are highlighted. > > Then when I select a profile and start Firefox, I end up with two taskbar > icons. > > Only the second (new one) is highlighted. > > When I click on the first one, it opens a new window in Firefox. Try setting 'taskbar.grouping.useprofile' such that your browser window will group based on the profile path instead of the install path. Note the profile manager (-p) doesn't register with the taskbar because we don't have a profile loaded yet. it'll often end up being grouped on its own. Sometimes people will pin that confusing things.
This worked for me: Navigate to: C:\Users\artur\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar 1) Delete the "Firefox" entry WHILE Firefox is open on the desktop. 2) Goto TASKBAR and right click on the first instance (one farthest to the left) of Firefox on the TASKBAR and click "Unpin From Taskbar" 3) Goto 2nd "Active" Firefox entry and right click - selecting "Pin to Taskbar" ******* If this doesn't work the first time, then reverse the order, selecting the 2nd instance of Firefox to "Unpin" and then selecting the first instance of Firefox to "Pin"******* Remember to do all of the above while Firefox is open and running on the desktop.
Comment# 21 worked for me, but not comment# 24. Still needs to be fixed without doing this.
it seems like firefox has to be on desktop for this to work properly same thing happens to tunderbird btw
I believe this is an issue with Firefox. I am running Firefox x86_64 version 46.0.1 on Windows 10 Pro (Build 10240). The solution I found was to change the installation folder of Firefox to Program Files (x86) despite that it's a 64-bit program. This prevents the multiple pinned Firefox shortcuts on the taskbar. I'm assuming the problem is that Mozilla is recompiling the 32-bit version of Firefox with a 64-bit flag and only changing the installation path, when in fact there's probably a bit more to change. I don't actually know about that though, I'm just assuming.
I switched from 32-bit Firefox to 64-bit today and had the same issue. As recommended on a Mozilla support page, I first installed the 64-bit version to keep my profile. Already after doing that and starting Firefox, I had three icons in the taskbar. I then deinstalled my 32-bit version and still had two left. I now deleted the leftmost icon, but haven't restart Firefox yet. I guess it should be fixed now, but it's irritating that this five year old bug is still present.
See Also: → 1194410
Severity: normal → S3

Closing WORKSFORME.

Since this was filed, Mozilla shipped the stub installer, stabilized the per-channel AppUserModelID, and added in-place 32→64 migration that preserves pinned shortcuts. Those changes addressed the common ways users hit duplicate taskbar icons, and there's been no movement on this bug in roughly nine years.

What remains (manual install path changes, portable/copied installs, side-by-side Nightly/Release pins) is a consequence of Windows pinning the exact executable path inside the shortcut. There isn't a single fix at the Firefox layer for those cases — each would need its own targeted mitigation, driven by telemetry showing it's still common.

Happy to reopen — or file a new, scoped bug — if anyone has a concrete reproducer on a current Firefox.

Status: NEW → RESOLVED
Closed: 5 months ago
Resolution: --- → WORKSFORME
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