[Software] only one tab visible when returning to firefox

[lazarus]

Hi,

I am running Debian 12 with XFCE. An old firefox problem has resurfaced. It never really went away but now it is more prevalent. I am running firefox 126.0.

I normally open firefox in the first workspace (of four). Typically there are 4+ tabs. If I leave workspace one then return, the most recent firefox tab is the only one accessible. Simply tap on the screen and all others become visible so not the end of the world. However it is annoying. Return to workspace one and CTRL-TAB does nothing until you actually click on the screen first.

As mentioned, the problem is not new but for the last day or 2 it has happened almost every time I return to firefox.

Does anyone see similar? Any suggestions?

Thanks

[fabien]

Hello,

If I leave workspace one then return, the most recent firefox tab is the only one accessible.

Do you mean the only one visible?

Does it happen if you use a new Firefox profile?

Also, please consider making the title of your topic more specific, thanks.

[lazarus]

Hello,

If I leave workspace one then return, the most recent firefox tab is the only one accessible.

Do you mean the only one visible?

Does it happen if you use a new Firefox profile?

Also, please consider making the title of your topic more specific, thanks.

Thanks, yes visible is a better word. It is difficult to describe.

Basically firefox is not active until I click the screen. I can't switch between tabs or scroll the current tab.

[sunrat]

Firefox 126 is not an official Debian version. I have not encountered this behaviour in the Debian Firefox-ESR version.
Have you checked the Mozilla support channels?

[lazarus]

Firefox 126 is not an official Debian version. I have not encountered this behaviour in the Debian Firefox-ESR version.
Have you checked the Mozilla support channels?

I didn't even think of the mozilla channels. I'll head there. Thanks

[Augie77]

I am on 12.5 and Xfce, with Firefox 126 and cannot duplicate what you are experiencing.

[PsychoHermit]

I am running firefox 126.0 on Debian testing and not having any issues with it. I can not duplicate the issue you describe.

--glenn

[sunrat]

@lazarus How did you install Firefox? Mozilla repo? Tarball? Flatpak or something?
May even be an Xfce issue rather than FF issue.
Try opening Firefox from a terminal to see if any error messages are shown. You may also find a hint in ~/.xsession-errors.

[lazarus]

Thank you @sunrat. I really can't remember how I installed firefox. This is the first time I have used debian on my PC and there were a number of things which didn't fit into my expectations. I didn't like firefox-esr (maybe I should have another look). And I didn't write down what I was doing.

I think I had to set up a specific repo for mozilla. I can see

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https://packages.mozilla.org/apt

in my list of repos.

Anyway, I am now running firefox from a terminal and this is paying dividends. When I return to the workspace I have seen

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[Parent 13308, IPC I/O Parent] WARNING: process 14010 is a zombie: file /builds/worker/checkouts/gecko/ipc/chromium/src/base/process_util_posix.cc:245

on the terminal when firefox "locks up". 13308 was the PID attached to firefox previously. At this point firefox is not now included in my list of processes until I tap the window and it kicks off again. I am not sure about this error message at present but I'll dig around. I have got

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tail -f .xsession-errors

running also to catch anything.

Thanks again

[lazarus]

A trawl around the net suggests that yes it seems to be an Xfce conflict with the F11 key. Fullsceen.I ran for a day without fullscreen and did not see this issue again.

There are 2 issues raised in the xfce forums in 2023 similar to mine.

The problem is not fixed but it is not a debian issue.

[Augie77]

Interesting...was this a full screen issue or a multiple tabs disappearing issue?

Was the original issue that when you are in full screen with multiple tabs open, the problem appears?

If F11 is causing a conflict of some sort, why not simply remap F11 to 'null'?

[lazarus]

Interesting...was this a full screen issue or a multiple tabs disappearing issue?

Was the original issue that when you are in full screen with multiple tabs open, the problem appears?

If F11 is causing a conflict of some sort, why not simply remap F11 to 'null'?

This seems to be related to a full screen with multiple tabs. On return you had to click on the screen to make all tabs visible. The issue is not seen when firefox is not in full screen.

I created this file

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.config/xfce4/terminal/accels.scm

and added this line

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gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/terminal-window/fullscreen" "")

After a reboot this does stop F11 from mapping to fullscreen but sadly the firefox issue persists.