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Configuration Editor for Firefox
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Learn about the Firefox about:config page and how to use the Configuration Editor to view, change, or reset advanced preference settings.
Learn about the Firefox about:config page and how to use the Configuration Editor to view, change, or reset advanced preference settings.
Content:
The Configuration Editor (''about:config'' page) lists Firefox settings known as ''preferences'' that are read from the {filepath prefs.js} and {filepath user.js} files in the [[Profiles - Where Firefox stores your bookmarks, passwords and other user data|Firefox profile]] and from application defaults. Many of these preferences are advanced settings that are not present in the {for win}Options{/for}{for mac,linux}Preferences{/for} 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}'''Warning''': Changing these advanced settings can sometimes break Firefox or cause strange behavior. You should only do this if you know what you're doing or if you are following trustworthy advice.{/warning}
__TOC__
= Opening about:config =
[[T:aboutconfig]]
;[[Image:Fx57aboutconfig]]
= Adding, changing and resetting preferences =
;[[Image:aboutconfig-contextmenu]]
To add a new preference, {for win,linux}right-click{/for}{for mac}control-click{/for} anywhere in the list of preferences. Select {menu New} from the context menu, select the type of preference you are adding (''String'', ''Integer'', or ''Boolean'') and follow the prompts to enter the preference name and value.
*'''String''' is any sequence of text
*'''Integer''' is a number
*'''Boolean''' is true or false
To change the value of an existing string or integer preference, {for win,linux}right-click{/for}{for mac}control-click{/for} on the preference and select {menu Modify} from the context menu (or double-click on the preference) and then type in the new value in the window that opens. For a boolean (true-false) preference, {for win,linux}right-click{/for}{for mac}control-click{/for} on the preference and select {menu Toggle} from the context menu (or double-click on the preference) to toggle its value between true and false.
To reset a preference to its default value or to remove an added preference, {for win,linux}right-click{/for}{for mac}control-click{/for} on the preference and select {menu Reset}. You can only use the "Reset" option for '''modified''' preferences, which are listed in bold type. If you added the preference entry yourself using ''about:config'', it will no longer be listed after restarting Firefox. (To reset all preferences, see the article [[Reset Firefox preferences to troubleshoot and fix problems]]).
= Searching for preferences =
You can use the '''Search:''' 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 {pref security.OCSP.enabled} preference. Note that preference names are case-sensitive but search terms are not.
<!-- MZ credit --> <br/> <br/>
'''''Based on information from [http://kb.mozillazine.org/About:config About:config (mozillaZine KB)]'''''
The Configuration Editor (''about:config'' page) lists Firefox settings known as ''preferences'' that are read from the {filepath prefs.js} and {filepath user.js} files in the [[Profiles - Where Firefox stores your bookmarks, passwords and other user data|Firefox profile]] and from application defaults. Many of these preferences are advanced settings that are not present in the [[T:optionsorpreferences]] 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}'''Warning''': Changing these advanced settings can sometimes break Firefox or cause strange behavior. You should only do this if you know what you're doing or if you are following trustworthy advice.{/warning}
__TOC__
= Opening about:config =
[[T:aboutconfig]]
;{for not fx71}[[Image:Fx57aboutconfig]]{/for}{for fx71}[[Image:Fx71aboutconfig]]{/for}
{for fx71}
Click {button Show All} to view all preferences currently set in the profile or use the ''Search preference name'' box to filter the list.
{/for}
= Searching for preferences =
You can use the {for not fx71}'''Search:'''{/for}{for fx71}''Search preference name''{/for} 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 {pref security.OCSP.enabled} preference. {note}'''Note:''' Preference names are case-sensitive. Search terms are not.{/note}
{for fx71}If you enter a search term and a preference does not exist, you will have the option to add a new preference ([[#w_adding-preferences|see below]]).{/for}
= Modifying preferences =
{for not fx71}
To change the value of an existing string or integer preference, {for win,linux}right-click{/for}{for mac}control-click{/for} on the preference and select {menu Modify} from the context menu (or double-click on the preference) and then type in the new value in the window that opens. For a boolean (true-false) preference, {for win,linux}right-click{/for}{for mac}control-click{/for} on the preference and select {menu Toggle} from the context menu (or double-click on the preference) to toggle its value between true and false.
{/for}
{for fx71}
;[[Image:Fx71aboutconfigShowAll]]
You can double-click on a preference to change its value or you can do the following:
For a boolean (true-false) preference, click the ''Toggle'' [[Image:Fx71aboutconfig-ToggleButton]] button.
For a string (text) or a number preference, click the ''Edit'' [[Image:Fx71aboutconfig-EditButton]] button and enter a new value.
;[[Image:Fx71aboutconfig-editpref]]
Click on the checkmark [[Image:Fx71aboutconfig-Checkmark]] to save the change.
{/for}
= Resetting or deleting preferences =
{for not fx71}
To reset a preference to its default value or to remove an added preference, {for win,linux}right-click{/for}{for mac}control-click{/for} on the preference and select {menu Reset}. If you added the preference entry yourself using ''about:config'', it will no longer be listed after restarting Firefox.
{/for}
{for fx71}
To reset a preference to its default value, click the ''Reset'' [[Image:Fx71aboutconfig-ResetButton]] button. To remove an added preference, click the ''Delete'' [[Image:Fx71aboutconfig-DeleteButton]] button. If you added the preference entry yourself, it will no longer be listed after restarting Firefox. {note}Note: A ''Delete'' [[Image: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.{/note}
{/for}
You can only reset or remove '''modified''' preferences, which are listed in bold type. (To reset all preferences, see the article [[Reset Firefox preferences to troubleshoot and fix problems]]).
= Adding preferences =
;{for not fx71}[[Image:aboutconfig-contextmenu]]{/for}
;{for fx71}[[Image:Fx71aboutconfig-addnewpref]]{/for}
{for not fx71}
To add a new preference, {for win,linux}right-click{/for}{for mac}control-click{/for} anywhere in the list of preferences. Select {menu New} from the context menu, select the type of preference you are adding (''String'', ''Integer'' or ''Boolean'') and follow the prompts to enter the preference name and value.
*'''String''' is any sequence of text
*'''Integer''' is a number
*'''Boolean''' is true or false
{/for}
{for fx71}
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:
*'''String''' is any sequence of text
*'''Number''' is an integer
*'''Boolean''' is true or false
Click the ''Add'' [[Image:Fx71aboutconfig-AddButton]] button to create the new preference and set its value. Boolean preferences are set to {pref true} by default; use the ''Toggle'' [[Image:Fx71aboutconfig-ToggleButton]] button to change the value. For String or Number preferences, click the ''Save'' [[Image:Fx71aboutconfig-Checkmark]] button. Click the ''Delete'' [[Image:Fx71aboutconfig-DeleteButton]] button to discard the new preference.
{/for}
<!-- MZ credit --> <br/> <br/>
'''''Based on information from [http://kb.mozillazine.org/About:config About:config (mozillaZine KB)]'''''