I'm experiencing this weird problem, I think it's since the update to Firefox 56. It's an intermittent problem where although tabs appear to be fully loaded (the web page looks normal and I can interact with it) I don't have a reload button in the address bar. Instead I have the X to stop a page loading button, so if I want to reload the current page I have to use the keyboard shortcut. The tabs also flicker from time to time with the reload and stop loading buttons replacing each other. I have restarted Firefox in safe mode as I thought it might be an extension causing the problem--due to the switch to WebExtensions--but that made no difference. Is anyone else experiencing this?

Well this issue seems to have resolved itself. Since the update to Firefox 57 the combined stop/reload button is working normally. Thanks to all the contributors who tried to help. Read this answer in context

Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link} by holding down the <Shift> (Mac=Options) key, and then starting Firefox.

A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh). Is the problem still there?

@Happy112 that thread doesn't really apply to me. Pages are loading in a timely fashion and working normally but when they have loaded I just don't have a reload button, just the stop loading button; and tab flicker a bit. I often use the reload button to refresh a page like a news website or a forum and recently started noticing it often wasn't there. It's just a minor irritation really I was just curious if it was a bug or just related to my installation of Firefox.

I gave you the link to that thread because of that screenshot - thought it might be possible that you (just like the OP in that thread) hadn't seen the reload button ....... When you click on the 'X' - the reload button doesn't show up  ?

No clicking 'X' does not reveal the reload button but the keyboard shortcut 'Ctrl+R' does reload the page OK so I am able to reload pages. It's just some new and unexpected behaviour and I wondered what was causing it.

I haven't changed anything on the toolbar so my toolbar looks just like the default one except I now also have the screenshot icon.

That article I gave you the link to also applies to the reload button (it's mentioned in the header of that article ) .......

In 'Customize', have you tried clicking on 'Restore Defaults'  ?

This is so weird - cause Firefox uses a combined Stop/Reload button, and you do get the 'Stop half' ......

Complete stab in the dark :

Try disabling graphics hardware acceleration in Firefox. Since this feature was added to Firefox it has gradually improved but there are still a few glitches.

You will need to restart Firefox for this to take effect so save all work first (e.g., mail you are composing, online documents you're editing, etc.,) and then perform these steps:

1. Click the menu button and select Options (Windows) or Preferences (Mac, Linux).
2. Select the General panel.
3. Under Performance , uncheck Use recommended performance settings . Additional settings will be displayed.
4. Uncheck Use hardware acceleration when available .
5. Close Firefox completely and then restart Firefox to see if the problem persists.

   Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

   If the problem is resolved, you should check for updates for your graphics driver by following the steps mentioned in these Knowledge base articles:

   • Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems
     • Upgrade your graphics drivers to use hardware acceleration and WebGL

       If the above doesn't solve the mystery :

       Let's try this : https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/refresh-firefox-reset-add-ons-and-settings

       ''BlazingReynard [[#answer-1016797|said]]'' <blockquote> OK I've now tried restoring defaults but it made no difference. </blockquote> This is so weird - cause Firefox uses a combined Stop/Reload button, and you ''do'' get the 'Stop half' ...... Complete stab in the dark : Try disabling graphics hardware acceleration in Firefox. Since this feature was added to Firefox it has gradually improved but there are still a few glitches. You will need to restart Firefox for this to take effect so save all work first (e.g., mail you are composing, online documents you're editing, etc.,) and then perform these steps: # Click the menu button [[Image:New Fx Menu]] and select ''Options'' (Windows) or ''Preferences'' (Mac, Linux). # Select the ''General'' panel. # Under '''Performance''', uncheck ''Use recommended performance settings''. Additional settings will be displayed. #;[[Image:Fx55Performance-disableHWA|width=500]] # Uncheck '''Use hardware acceleration when available'''. # Close Firefox completely and then restart Firefox to see if the problem persists. Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us! If the problem is resolved, you should check for updates for your graphics driver by following the steps mentioned in these Knowledge base articles: * [[Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems#w_turn-off-hardware-acceleration]] * [[Upgrade your graphics drivers to use hardware acceleration and WebGL]] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If the above doesn't solve the mystery : Let's try this : https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/refresh-firefox-reset-add-ons-and-settings

       Hmm, this is bizarre. I tried your suggestion of turning off hardware acceleration and started Firefox in safe mode, it made no difference. So I restarted in normal mode, still with hardware acceleration disabled, and initially all six tabs loaded and had reload buttons but they have all now changed to having a stop loading button instead?!

       I'm reluctant to refresh Firefox as this is a trivial problem—I can still reload pages using the keyboard—and I currently seem to be the only one experiencing it.

       Thanks for all your help @Happy112 but I think I'll wait and see if the problem resolves itself for now. I believe there is a major update in a couple of weeks hopefully that might solve the problem. I'll keep an eye on this page though in case more people report this issue.

       Hmm, this is bizarre. I tried your suggestion of turning off hardware acceleration and started Firefox in safe mode, it made no difference. So I restarted in normal mode, still with hardware acceleration disabled, and initially all six tabs loaded and had reload buttons but they have all now changed to having a stop loading button instead?! I'm reluctant to refresh Firefox as this is a trivial problem&mdash;I can still reload pages using the keyboard&mdash;and I currently seem to be the only one experiencing it. Thanks for all your help @Happy112 but I think I'll wait and see if the problem resolves itself for now. I believe there is a major update in a couple of weeks hopefully that might solve the problem. I'll keep an eye on this page though in case more people report this issue.

       The default is for the stop/reload to share a space on the toolbar. While the page is loading, you would see the stop. Once the loading is done, you would see the reload.

       There are add-ons that will place both icons on the bar at the same time.

       The default is for the stop/reload to share a space on the toolbar. While the page is loading, you would see the stop. Once the loading is done, you would see the reload. There are add-ons that will place both icons on the bar at the same time.

       @FredMcD if the page was genuinely still loading though would I be able to interact with it or scroll it? The pages act normally it's just that I don't have the reload button, I have the 'X', but if I click on the stop loading button nothing happens so I don't think the pages are still loading. I've just looked at a typical one—the login page for Zoho mail, a very simple page—and there is nothing in the developer tools console to suggest a problem. I'm stumped!

       Thanks for the suggestion but rather than install another extension I think I'll just use the keyboard shortcut.

       @FredMcD if the page was genuinely still loading though would I be able to interact with it or scroll it? The pages act normally it's just that I don't have the reload button, I have the 'X', but if I click on the stop loading button nothing happens so I don't think the pages are still loading. I've just looked at a typical one&mdash;the login page for Zoho mail, a very simple page&mdash;and there is nothing in the developer tools console to suggest a problem. I'm stumped! Thanks for the suggestion but rather than install another extension I think I'll just use the keyboard shortcut.

       Once the Tab changes from a red X to a grey X you can start scrolling anytime and even before. I have been to sites that never want to stop loading and stay with a red x the whole time I am there reading, scrolling clicking links so that can through you off if sites are not properly coded as per W3C.org Web Standards.

       It does seem that you would be more comfortable with both stop start buttons. If so look for the addon.

       Once the Tab changes from a red X to a grey X you can start scrolling anytime and even before. I have been to sites that never want to stop loading and stay with a red x the whole time I am there reading, scrolling clicking links so that can through you off if sites are not properly coded as per W3C.org Web Standards. It does seem that you would be more comfortable with both stop start buttons. If so look for the addon.