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I want to Firefox resume previous session when it crashes, but I can't make it to do it when I set it to forget my personal data when closing.

  • 8 replies
  • 9 have this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by gaf.arq

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Until the most recent versions of Firefox (let's say FF 10 or 11), when the software crashed I had the option to resume the last session when reopening it. I could do this even when I made it clear all my personal data when closing it in normal ways (i.e., when I quit the program without crashing, Firefox would not keep any personal information).

Now, however, Firefox will only restore the previous session after crashing if I don't make it clear personal data after normal quitting.

How can I fix this? I want it to restore previous session only after crashing, not after a normal exit.

Until the most recent versions of Firefox (let's say FF 10 or 11), when the software crashed I had the option to resume the last session when reopening it. I could do this even when I made it clear all my personal data when closing it in normal ways (i.e., when I quit the program without crashing, Firefox would not keep any personal information). Now, however, Firefox will only restore the previous session after crashing if I don't make it clear personal data after normal quitting. How can I fix this? I want it to restore previous session only after crashing, not after a normal exit.

All Replies (8)

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If you want only to restore previous session after crashing and not after a normal exit try to modify in about:config :

Browser.sessionstore.max windows undo

Browser.sessionstore.max tabs undo

type in the address bar about:config

then press the button i'll be careful i promise

then type in the bar browser.sessionstore.max_tabs_undo

then right-click on it, select modify, type 0 , click OK,

exit firefox and restart-it.


do the same with browser.sessionstore.max_windows_undo

see also : Session Restore


thank you

Please mark "Solved" the answer that really solve the problem, to help others with a similar problem.

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it doesn't work: after crashing, no tabs are restored (all I get is a blank page). Even if I use about:sessionrestore, nothing happens (no page is recorded)

nevertheless, thanks for the answer

Modified by gaf.arq

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see if this is helpful : Session Manager add-on

thanks again

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That can happen if the crash occurs after the history was already cleared but before that session was saved to disk.

Are you using "Show my windows and tabs from last time"?

  • Tools > Options > General > Startup: "When Firefox Starts": "Show my windows and tabs from last time"

Is session restore otherwise working properly?

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It doesn't work either.

If I turn off the cleaning settings (i.e, if I let FF record all my data from each session), the Session Restore works properly. If I ask it to clear all the personal data when normally exiting the program, however, the session restore after the crash doesn't work and all I get is a blank page.

Firefox is acting really weird, however: I ask it not to store any personal data and it keeps showing me user ID hints in forms.

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Use these steps to remove saved (form) data from a drop down list:

  1. Click the (empty) input field on the web page to open the drop down list
  2. Highlight an entry in the drop down list
  3. Press the Delete key (on Mac: Shift+Delete) to remove it.

See also:


Did you disable to remember form data if you do not want Firefox to remember it?
Be aware that you still have to remove already saved form data in that case via Clear Recent History.

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Thanks, that really helped me. However, the problem with the session restore after the crash persists.

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interesting enough, the session restore works properly after updating an extension, but keeps refusing to work the right way after a crash