Firefox stopped loading websites for some users

Users are reporting that Firefox on Mac and Windows now hangs indefinitely when trying to access any websites. Fortunately, there is a work-around.

The issue first appeared to have been triggered by an overnight update to Firefox version 96. However, some users of older versions have subsequently reporting the same severe problem.

It appears to be related to a Firefox company data analytics server, rather than the browser itself. The server is said to have been recently updated to HTTP3, and the Firefox browser is failing to connect to it. According to the company's Bugzilla page, it's then creating an infinite loop bug.

The company has yet to fix the issue, but multiple users have found a workaround that appears to be temporarily solving the problem. It involves disabling Firefox's HTTP3 implementation until a proper solution is issued.

How to get Firefox to load webpages again

Launch Firefox and a new, empty window
In the address bar, type about:config and press Return
On the configuration screen that appears, search for network.http.http3.enabled
Change the setting to false
Quit and restart Firefox

The official Firefox Twitter account has said that a cloud provider was the source of the problem. A browser restart should fix the issue.

7 Comments

beowulfschmidt 2349 comments · 12 Years

About 2 years ago

AppleInsider said:

A more straightforward workaround, though, is to switch to Safari, Chrome, or Microsoft Edge.

Read on AppleInsider

It might be more straightforward, but for Windows users, one of those isn't available, and the other two suck donkey farts.

Workaround it is.

macxpress 5910 comments · 16 Years

beowulfschmidt said:

AppleInsider said:

A more straightforward workaround, though, is to switch to Safari, Chrome, or Microsoft Edge.

Read on AppleInsider

It might be more straightforward, but for Windows users, one of those isn't available, and the other two suck donkey farts.

Workaround it is.

Then the proper workaround is to switch to a Mac and then use Safari. ;)

macxpress said:

beowulfschmidt said:

AppleInsider said:

A more straightforward workaround, though, is to switch to Safari, Chrome, or Microsoft Edge.

Read on AppleInsider

It might be more straightforward, but for Windows users, one of those isn't available, and the other two suck donkey farts.

Workaround it is.

Then the proper workaround is to switch to a Mac and then use Safari. ;)

When a Mac will run Elite Dangerous VR and Skyrim VR without a lot of pain and expense, I'll consider it.

mygig 40 comments · 10 Years

This happened to me yesterday. I was so mad at my router! Only after a while I realized all my other devices worked fine 😅

maciekskontakt 1168 comments · 15 Years

macxpress said:

beowulfschmidt said:

AppleInsider said:

A more straightforward workaround, though, is to switch to Safari, Chrome, or Microsoft Edge.

Read on AppleInsider

It might be more straightforward, but for Windows users, one of those isn't available, and the other two suck donkey farts.

Workaround it is.

Then the proper workaround is to switch to a Mac and then use Safari. ;)

I tried that workaround 15 years ago. It was temporary for 14 years. Now I use Linux Mint desktop (one of them is old MacBook Air converted, but not supported by Apple) and occasionally Windows 11 Pro in VirtualBox. The workaround you suggested was good... when Steve Jobs was alive and Apple did not lack discipline or engineers would be slapped by Jobs. Nowadays, it is not the same under Cook. Apple is old Microsoft and even Microsoft is becoming what Apple used to be under Jobs. Time to make better research and stop telling people outdated stories. i did mine.