Configuration Editor for Firefox

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The Configuration Editor (about:config page) lists Firefox settings known as preferences that are read from the prefs.js and user.js files in the Firefox profile and from application defaults. Many of these preferences are advanced settings that are not present in the Settings panel. This article describes how to use the about:config page to view, change, or reset Firefox preference settings, if you need to do so.

Warning: Changing advanced preferences can affect Firefox's stability and security. This is recommended for advanced users only.

Opening about:config

Type about:config in the address bar and press EnterReturn.
A warning page may appear. Click Accept the Risk and Continue to go to the about:config page. Fx71aboutconfig Click Show All to view all preferences currently set in the profile or use the Search preference name box to filter the list.

Searching for preferences

You can use the Search preference name box at the top of the about:config page to quickly find specific preferences. For example, if you enter ocsp in the Search box, it will bring up the security.OCSP.enabled preference.
Note: Preference names are case-sensitive. Search terms are not.

If you enter a search term and a preference does not exist, you will have the option to add a new preference (see below).

Modifying preferences

Fx71aboutconfigShowAll

To change a boolean (true-false) preference's value, double-click on the preference.

  • Alternatively, you can click the Toggle Fx71aboutconfig-ToggleButton button.

To change a string (text) or a number preference's value:

  1. Double-click on the preference.
    • Alternatively, you can click the Edit Fx71aboutconfig-EditButton button.
  2. Enter a new value.
    Fx71aboutconfig-editpref
  3. Click on the Save Fx71aboutconfig-Checkmark button to save the change.

Resetting or deleting preferences

Note: You can only reset or remove modified preferences, which are listed in bold type. To reset all preferences, see Reset Firefox preferences to troubleshoot and fix problems.

To reset a preference to its default value, click the Reset Fx71aboutconfig-ResetButton button.

To remove an added preference, click the Delete Fx71aboutconfig-DeleteButton button. If you added the preference entry yourself, it will no longer be listed after restarting Firefox.
Note: A Delete Fx71aboutconfig-DeleteButton button may be shown for some preferences that appear in bold type that you did not modify or add, such as preferences whose values are system-specific. Those preferences will be added back, as appropriate, if deleted.

Adding preferences

To add a new preference, enter its name into the Search preference name box at the top of the about:config page. At the bottom of the search results (if any), there will be the option to create a new preference. To do so, specify the type of value that preference will store:

  • Boolean is true or false.
  • Number is an integer.
  • String is any sequence of text.

Fx71aboutconfig-addnewpref

Click the Add Fx71aboutconfig-AddButton button to create the new preference and set its value. Boolean preferences are set to true by default, use the Toggle Fx71aboutconfig-ToggleButton button for them to change the value. For string or number preferences, enter a value and click the Save Fx71aboutconfig-Checkmark button.

Click the Delete Fx71aboutconfig-DeleteButton button to discard the new preference (see above).



Based on information from About:config (mozillaZine KB)

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