Firefox won't uninstall like a normal program, and leftover files can cause problems if you reinstall it later

When you uninstall Firefox through your computer's normal uninstall process, it leaves behind your bookmarks, passwords, and settings in a hidden folder. If you want a completely clean removal — so Firefox starts fresh if you install it again, or so nothing remains on your drive — you need to delete that folder manually after uninstalling the program itself.

This guide walks you through both steps: removing Firefox from your system, then finding and deleting the hidden data folder that the standard uninstall leaves behind. The process is different on Windows, Mac, and Linux, so pick your operating system below.

Key Takeaways

  • The standard uninstall process removes the Firefox program but leaves your profile folder (bookmarks, passwords, history) behind on your drive.
  • On Windows, you must manually delete the profile folder from C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox after uninstalling.
  • On Mac, the profile folder is in ~/Library/Application Support/Firefox and must be deleted separately.
  • On Linux, remove the program through your package manager, then delete ~/.mozilla/firefox to remove all traces.
  • Back up your bookmarks first if you want to keep them — export them to an HTML file before you delete anything.

Uninstall Firefox on Windows

Start by removing the Firefox program itself through Windows Settings. Open Settings, go to Apps, then Apps & features. Scroll down until you find Firefox, click it, and select Uninstall. A dialog will appear asking if you want to keep your profile data — click Don't Keep to skip saving it (you'll delete it manually in the next step anyway).

After the uninstall finishes, you need to delete the profile folder that Windows hides by default. Open File Explorer and click the address bar at the top. Type this path exactly:

C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox

Replace [Your Username] with your actual Windows username. Press Enter. You'll see a folder called Profiles — right-click it and select Delete. If you see a Crash Reports folder, delete that too. Empty your Recycle Bin when you're done, and Firefox is completely removed.

Uninstall Firefox on Mac

On Mac, drag Firefox from your Applications folder to the Trash. Then open Finder and press Command + Shift + G to open the "Go to Folder" dialog. Type this path:

~/Library/Application Support/Firefox

Press Enter. You'll see a folder — drag it to the Trash. Also check ~/Library/Caches for a folder called Firefox and delete that if it exists. Empty the Trash, and Firefox is gone completely.

If you're on macOS Monterey or newer and the Library folder doesn't appear, you may need to show hidden files first. In Finder, press Command + Shift + . (period) to toggle hidden files on, then try the path again.

Uninstall Firefox on Linux

The command to remove Firefox depends on which package manager your Linux distribution uses. On Ubuntu or Debian-based systems, open a terminal and type:

sudo apt remove firefox

On Fedora or Red Hat-based systems, use:

sudo dnf remove firefox

On Arch Linux, use:

sudo pacman -R firefox

After the program is removed, delete the profile folder by typing:

rm -rf ~/.mozilla/firefox

This removes all Firefox data from your home directory. If you want to be cautious and see what's in the folder before deleting, type ls ~/.mozilla/firefox first to list the contents.

Back up your bookmarks before you delete anything

If you want to keep your bookmarks but remove everything else, export them to a file before you start uninstalling. Open Firefox, press Ctrl + Shift + B (Windows and Linux) or Command + Shift + B (Mac) to open the Bookmarks sidebar. Click the gear icon at the top of the sidebar and select Export Bookmarks. Save the file somewhere you'll remember — your Desktop or Documents folder works well.

When you reinstall Firefox later, open the Bookmarks sidebar again, click the gear icon, and select Import Bookmarks from HTML. Choose the file you saved, and your bookmarks will be restored. Your passwords and other settings won't come back, but your bookmarks will.

What to do if Firefox won't uninstall

If the uninstall process gets stuck or Firefox is still running in the background, force-close it first. On Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, find any Firefox process, right-click it, and select End Task. On Mac, open Activity Monitor (in Applications > Utilities), find Firefox, and click the X button in the top left. On Linux, open a terminal and type killall firefox.

After Firefox is closed, try uninstalling again. If you still get an error, restart your computer and try once more — sometimes Windows or Mac locks files that are in use, and a restart releases them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling Firefox delete my passwords?

The standard uninstall keeps your passwords in the profile folder. If you follow this guide and delete the profile folder manually, your passwords will be gone. If you want to keep them, don't delete the profile folder — just uninstall the program itself.

Can I reinstall Firefox after completely removing it?

Yes. Download Firefox from mozilla.org and install it normally. Since you deleted the profile folder, it will start as a fresh installation with no bookmarks, passwords, or history. You can restore bookmarks from the HTML file you exported if you saved one.

What if I only want to remove my browsing history, not the whole program?

You don't need to uninstall Firefox for that. Open Firefox, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows and Linux) or Command + Shift + Delete (Mac) to open the Clear Recent History window. Choose what to delete and the time range, then click Clear Now.

Will deleting the profile folder affect other programs?

No. The Firefox profile folder only contains Firefox data. Deleting it won't affect any other programs on your computer.

Do I need to restart my computer after uninstalling?

No, but it doesn't hurt. Most of the time you can uninstall and reinstall Firefox without restarting. If you run into problems, a restart usually fixes them.