[Bug]: Metamask stopped working on Firefox

[sanchopansa]

Describe the bug

I'm trying to help a friend to recover funds from a MM software wallet (he doesn't have the seed phrase...). MM stopped working on Firefox/Ubuntu 20.04 for him several days ago after working without any issues prior to that. Currently, when opening the extension, we see an error: "MetaMask had trouble starting. This error could be intermittent, so try restarting the extension." and MM doesn't load at all. We tried restarting/re-enabling the extension, but that doesn't help.

We also tried following this procedure to recover the wallet: https://metamask.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360018766351-How-to-use-the-Vault-Decryptor-with-the-MetaMask-Vault-Data, however

chrome.storage.local.get('data', result => {
 var vault = result.data.KeyringController.vault
 console.log(vault)
})

returns undefined.

I have a couple of questions: -- where can we find the vault file on Ubuntu/FF? -- any idea what might be causing the issue and how to debug it?

Thank you!

Steps to reproduce

Error messages or log output

No response

Version

10.18.1

Build type

No response

Browser

Firefox

Operating system

Linux

Hardware wallet

No response

Additional context

No response

[shmup]

Same symptom with my friend. Their computer died and now they're getting this same behavior you mention.

It's the same situation here I think: https://github.com/MetaMask/metamask-extension/issues/15390

In that case, the person reinstalled the extension and all is well.

I'm curious if this is a fine method for us to do, worrying only because they do not have the seed phrase to restore in the case of it nuking everything (on an uninstall)

[shmup]

Here's what I'm exploring:

Inspecting the contents of the unzipped .xpi and considering files most recently modified, and.. I'm not sure really. Replacing with a fresh xpi's same file. Removing outright. Really just trying anything to salvage my buddy's situation.

[shmup]

I'm not sure about this localStorage and if it's not really emblematic of anything, being undefined. Could y'all tell me a bit about it?

[PeterYinusa]

Thanks for the report @sanchopansa!

Can you open the following url about:debugging#/runtime/this-firefox in Firefox, then click the Inspect button to the right of the MetaMask extension? Please let me know if any errors appear in the Console.

[ohioaschwar]

This happened for me in Firefox for Windows 10 as well.

Continually getting this message "MetaMask had trouble starting. This error could be intermittent, so try restarting the extension. "

Tried checking the console as @PeterYinusa described and can see several errors...

notably this one: Content Security Policy: The page’s settings blocked the loading of a resource at eval (“script-src”).

[limbo0]

I'm having the same issue as mentioned above.Unable to log in .Been a few days already.I uninstalled the extension and re installed the extension still same issue.Has anyone resolved it?

[arsenische]

Same story,

[mtown-1]

@PeterYinusa and @sanchopansa

same issue, inspect element not possible. Due to not starting .

Any solution?

Ty

[jonurban]

I'm seeing this bug as well, not seeing .d.a.t.a. in the sqlite hex either

[mtown-1]

@jonurban did you remove any cache data from your computer? if not DONT! also do you use firefox or chrome or brave? or any other? do you still have your seedphrase?

[jonurban]

for this wallet i'm not sure the recovery phrase i have saved is the correct one... I have a backup of all the cache data, I was using firefox... I'm currently trying to parse all the directories I was able to recover and am going to to try to utilize this script against the recovery files : https://github.com/JesseBusman/FirefoxMetamaskWalletSeedRecovery

[jonurban]

I was able to find my secret phrase, so I abandoned this effort. I did confirm before recovering that running : chrome.storage.local.get('data', result => { var vault = result.data.KeyringController.vault console.log(vault) })

DOES NOT WORK for this issue, i also ran JesseBusman's script and that was unable to find the vault data as well. I ran both of these solutions on a working metamask out of curiousity and they worked fine to recover the vault log.

Good luck to anyone still working on this, and remember to backup your secret phrase.

[miguelmota]

Seeing same on Firefox 103.0.2 on Archlinux. Restarting firefox and computer had no effect. Can't see to recover keystore either following those instructions.

[miguelmota]

Has anyone found a solution to this problem that doesn't involve re-importing from scratch?

[gorbak25]

My metamask on firefox was also affected. The chrome version works fine.

[project-skyn]

Same story,

me too, i thinks problem is change Server RPC? i changed RPC server and got this error.

[PhiMarHal]

This showed up for me today. Firefox, Windows 10, originally on MM 10.18.1 then updated to 10.22.2 - without success.

Edit: going from weird to weirder, the MM extension uninstalled on its own the next day.

[KeenanZain]

I have the same problem

[bilogate]

same prob

[ercanhim89]

I have a solution. Telegram @ercnh

[JacquesM19]

I'm having the same issue on Firefox. My laptop died and now my web extension is showing this same error message:

"MetaMask had trouble starting. This error could be intermittent, so try restarting the extension."

I've reached out to MM support. They gave me the decryptor information but this is not working for me either.

They have passed this onto ConsenSys who I am waiting to hear from since yesterday!

I have my password but none of my seed phases and one wallet in particular has a lot of funds on it

:(

[abi207]

@PeterYinusa when I try to do this I have error messages in the console. Is there a way to fix this?

[bilogate]

Thanks @ercanhim89 . He has fixed my metamask.

[winter38]

Same problem on FF

[Hugo0]

Same problem on FF

Can we get any help on this @danfinlay ?

[jacmos3]

Same error on a mac with firefox 108.0.2 after mac died. It's been one year at least that metamask sucks after the mac powers off in a bad way, and so far the only way that worked, was by unistalling and reinstalling metamask plugin, but it is a really boring thing to do every time since I have many addressess to be imported from different seeds and I have tons of chains to add......... This time I will spend time to learn about other wallets because I cannot continue this way all the time

[JasoonS]

I have the exact same issue, I'm not sure if it was a power outage or what. But there seems to be no way to get metamask to start.

Additionally metamask EATS RAM (ie a big memory leak) like crazy unless it is disabled.

[caesarV3]

Same issue, MM stopped working on FF (everything is fine in Chrome), huge memory leakage with extension enabled.

[ThisGuyIsNotAJumpingBear]

Same issue here. After it shows that it has trouble with starting, it increasingly consumes CPU resources and memory until FF breaks. Restarting or re-installing MM doesn't work.

[BojanPi]

Same issue here, Linux Ubuntu 20.04, with memory leakage.

Did anyone managed to resolve this?

[SpoonCreator]

Guys use this solution: https://github.com/MetaMask/metamask-extension/issues/9196#issuecomment-1065822358 increase or decrease the value. Helped me. The bug has existed for several years, the developers apparently do not consider this a problem.