That is the consequence of this bug.

• bug 865826 - Remove the browser.tabs.closeButtons pref (Fx31+)

Because we are removing this pref, we will effectively be migrating users back to the default value of 1.

You would have to use code in userChrome.css to override this.

Add code to the userChrome.css file below the default @namespace line.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/userChrome.css

@namespace url("http://www.mozilla.org/keymaster/gatekeeper/there.is.only.xul"); /* only needed once */

#tabbrowser-tabs tab:not([selected="true"]) .tab-close-button { display: none !important; }

The customization files userChrome.css (user interface) and userContent.css (websites) are located in the chrome folder in the Firefox profile folder.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Editing_configuration

Why the HELL would you remove functionality?

I simply do not understand the logic. If you want to make changes to how you think the default settings should be then go ahead. But why would you deliberately restrict users' ability to customise their browser how they want?

For your information, closebuttons=3 is THE reason I use Firefox over Internet Explorer. I want my close button on the right. I do not want separate buttons on individual tabs.

I will revert to the previous version of Firefox until this is fixed.

Poor show.

The userChrome.css code posted does not work.

Can someone please post code that will restore a single close tab button on the right-hand side of the tab toolbar?

I must say that I'm losing patience with the routine of having to waste hours trying to find solutions to problems that arise with every new FF version these days.

OK. I have managed to restore my close tab button by following the instructions on this page:

http://cat-in-136.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/note-do-same-without.html

Alternatively, Classic Theme Restorer extension is able to do the same thing, although I have not tested it (overkill for my purposes).

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/classicthemerestorer/

Devs must obviously be bored since they now focus on removing alot of useful features and making us use a freakin' third party addon to restore something so essential to the power user base of Firefox.

Geez, this is getting on my nerves ! I've had this preference on 3 since I first discovered it.

I hate the "addon" mentality that is now forced upon people. Firefox people still like to tinker, and it's still the most advanced and most extensible browser.

Please let it be that way and then screw UI/Usability brain farts (like ever ugly Australis for example - fancy a melted birthday cake tab anyone?) !!

Oh btw, I wanna be able to remove the fancy three strikes menu with the hideous HTML5/JS UI from Australis. Compared to the title menu bar this is one unholy mess.

I had the same problem. First, I immediately restored the old version of firefox and didn't do any updates anymore. Since this is no long-term solution, I looked again and found the tiny FF extension "tabs closebutton restored" (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/tabs-closebutton-restored/) which solves exactly (and only) this problem.

However, it's a shame FF removes this feature without replacement. Plugins always have more Overhead than an integrated feature, and they will also need updates to keep up with newer browser versions.

There are so many undocumented options in the FF configuration, shall all these be removed (at least this was the official reason for removing closeButtons==3)?