This article deals with the causes of the message "Could not initialize the application's security component." The most likely cause is problems with files in your application's profile directory. Please check that this directory has no read/write restrictions and your hard disk is not full or close to full. It is recommended that you exit the application and fix the problem. If you continue to use this session, you might see incorrect application behaviour when accessing security features.
For information on other messages received when attempting to load websites, see Websites don't load - troubleshoot and fix error messages.
Table of Contents
Hard drive space
Check your hard drive's free space.
- From the Windows Start menu, click "Computer" or "My Computer".
- Right click on Local Disk (C:)
- Choose . A dialog will come up.
- Go to the tab.
- Go to your Desktop.
- Press F11
- Select Macintosh HD.
- Press command+I to display the Macintosh HD info window.
- Click the menu, and select .
- Right-click on Filesystem.
- Choose . A dialog will come up.
- Go to the tab.
If it reports less than 1MB free space available, you'll need to make more room.
File permissions
Check the file permissions in your Firefox profile folder. The file named cert8.db must not be read-only.
Open your profile folder:
- Click the menu button
, click and select .From the menu, select . The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
- Under the Application Basics section next to Profile FolderProfile Directory, click . A window will open that contains your profile folder.Your profile folder will open.Your profile directory will open.
Note: If Firefox displays an error after clicking or if you are unable to open or use Firefox, follow the instructions in Finding your profile without opening Firefox.- Click the menu button
- Click the Firefox menu and select .Click the Firefox menu at the top of the screen and select .Click the Firefox menu and select .
- Right-click on the file named cert8.db.
- Choose . A dialog will come up.
- Go to the tab.
- Make sure the Read-only checkbox is not checked.
- Press .
Open your profile folder:
- Click the menu button , click and select .From the menu, select . The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
- Under the Application Basics section next to Profile FolderProfile Directory, click . A window will open that contains your profile folder.Your profile folder will open.Your profile directory will open.
Note: If Firefox displays an error after clicking or if you are unable to open or use Firefox, follow the instructions in Finding your profile without opening Firefox.- Click the menu button
- Click the Firefox menu and select .Click the Firefox menu at the top of the screen and select .Click the Firefox menu and select .
- Select the file named cert8.db.
- Press command+I to display the cert8.db info window.
- Expand the Sharing & Permissions section.
- Make sure your Mac user account is set to Read & Write.
- Close the cert8.db info window.
Open your profile folder:
- Click the menu button , click and select .From the menu, select . The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
- Under the Application Basics section next to Profile FolderProfile Directory, click . A window will open that contains your profile folder.Your profile folder will open.Your profile directory will open.
Note: If Firefox displays an error after clicking or if you are unable to open or use Firefox, follow the instructions in Finding your profile without opening Firefox.- Click the menu button
- Click the Firefox menu and select .Click the Firefox menu at the top of the screen and select .Click the Firefox menu and select .
- Right-click on the file named cert8.db.
- Choose . A dialog will come up.
- Go to the tab.
- Make sure Access is set to read and write.
- Press .
Restart Firefox and the problem may be fixed.
Corrupted file
The file cert8.db in your profile folder may have become corrupted. Delete this file while Firefox is closed.
Open your profile folder:
- Click the menu button , click and select .From the menu, select . The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
- Under the Application Basics section next to Profile FolderProfile Directory, click . A window will open that contains your profile folder.Your profile folder will open.Your profile directory will open.
Note: If Firefox displays an error after clicking or if you are unable to open or use Firefox, follow the instructions in Finding your profile without opening Firefox.- Click the menu button
- Click the Firefox menu and select .Click the Firefox menu at the top of the screen and select .Click the Firefox menu and select .
- Click on the file named cert8.db.
- Press command+Delete.
- Restart Firefox.
New profile
Your settings may have become corrupted due to changes in your system or a lack of hard drive space at one point. Create a new profile with the Profile Manager. If the problem goes away, you can then move your settings to the new profile. If the problem remains, you can go back to your original profile.
Based on information from Could not initialize the applications security component (mozillaZine KB)
