Dev tools pop up in all browsers

Anonymous
2021-03-13T06:11:14+00:00

I have a windows 10 notebook pc and recently (about a month) any internet browser starts popping up a panel full of HTML which I think is the developer tools pop-up.

It pops up and disappears randomly.

Sometimes in a fraction of a second and other times stays for several seconds.

This happens in Chrome, Edge and Firefox browsers and it has become impossible to type anything because the cursor jumps from the browser to the dev tools panels.

No matter what I try, I cannot stop this from popping up.

I have installed all updates and pc os is uptodate.

This only happens when an internet browser is opened.

All other pc apps work normally.

I suspect it is a Windows internet access issue because it does not seem to be specific to any one internet browser.

I don't know where to go from here.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Microsoft Edge | Other | Windows 10

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments
{count} votes

7 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
  1. DaveM121 804.2K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2021-03-13T08:26:48+00:00

    Hi Luke

    I am Dave, an Independent Advisor, I will help you with this . . .

    1

    Check the F12 key on your keyboard to make sure it is not damaged

    2

    Open the Settings App

    Go to Update & Security - Troubleshoot

    Run the Keyboard troubleshooter

    3

    If that does not resolve this for you

    Open Device Manager

    Expand the Keyboards section

    Right click your keyboard and choose 'Uninstall'

    Then restart your PC

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2021-03-13T09:18:12+00:00

    Hi,

    Thank you for you suggestions.

    Tried each one but unfortunately it did not resolve the problem.

    Cheers,

    Luke

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2021-03-13T09:22:47+00:00

    Hi again Dave,

    F12 is working normally. It also has a Fn function which works as it should so the key must be ok.

    I ran the keyboard troubleshooter which completed without any errors.

    Cheers,

    Luke

    0 comments No comments
  4. DaveM121 804.2K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2021-03-13T09:28:37+00:00

    Hi Luke

    In Edge or Chrome,

    Press F12 to open Dev Tools

    Click the gear icon at the top right of Dev Tools

    Uncheck "Enable JavaScript source maps"

    Uncheck "Enable CSS source maps"

    Restart the browser

    If that does not solve this annoyance, the best option to try is to backup your favorites and reset Edge or Chrome, to see if that resolves this . . .

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  5. Anonymous
    2021-03-13T10:00:22+00:00

    Hi Dave,

    Didn't work I'm afraid.

    Interestingly F12 did not open Dev Tools. Didn't seem to do anything within the browser.

    Any other way to test the F12 key? I can't think of anything else that uses it apart from Fn F12 toggling the track pad on/off  and that works.

    I think there must be something outside the browser causing this because the three browsers I have installed on the pc all behave like this.

    I even did a clean install of the Torch browser and this did it as well.

    Running malware checkers (Windows and Malwarebytes) found nothing however CCleaner reports many trackers removed following a clean after using the browsers???

    0 comments No comments