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Can I set up firefox to clear bookmarks, passwords and browsing history when I sign out?

  • 6 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 51 views
  • Last reply by trat73

I would love to use firefox on my shared, work computer but it keeps all my data after I sign out and have to remove it manually which takes too much time. Is there any way to overcome this?

I would love to use firefox on my shared, work computer but it keeps all my data after I sign out and have to remove it manually which takes too much time. Is there any way to overcome this?

Chosen solution

Currently, there is no built-in option to remove that data.

What method(s) are you using now? For example:

(1) Separate Profile

Create a new profile for yourself, connect the new profile to your Firefox Account, when you're finished disconnect, change the default profile to a different one, delete your profile. https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1274508#answer-1271555

This isn't something you would want to do every time you use the same computer.

(2) Removing Files

Connect the default profile to your Firefox Account, when you're finished disconnect, use Clear Recent History, then manually delete relevant files.

Open your current Firefox profile folder using either

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table on the page, on the Profile Folder row, click the "Open Folder" button. This should launch a new window listing various files and folders in Windows Explorer.

Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox and Exit, either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > Exit
  • (menu bar) File > Exit

Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup, then let the file destruction begin:

(A) Bookmarks & History: Select the places.sqlite file (single left-click it or arrow down to it) and Shift+Delete it (permanently delete it bypassing the Recycle bin)

If you see either places.sqlite-shm or places.sqlite-wal go ahead and Shift+Delete those as well.

(B) Saved Logins: Select the logins.json file and Shift+Delete it

(C) Previous Session Tabs: Select the sessionstore.jsonlz4 file and Shift+Delete it

(D) Bookmark Backups: Double-click into the bookmarkbackups folder. If there are any files here from your time on the computer, select and Shift+Delete (most may be older)

(E) Session History Backups: Double-click into the sessionstore-backups folder. If there are any files here from your time on the computer, select and Shift+Delete (clearing history would usually flush them)

Note: This does not clear pinned tabs on the new tab page or custom settings or add-ons, but probably you didn't add any.

When you start up Firefox again, it should be completely unfamiliar with you -- or anyone else who used that same profile.

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All Replies (6)

Hi wyrz.lukasz, It's easy to set Firefox to automatically clear cookie, cache, history, etc. when you close Firefox. This article should help you with everything that you need to know:

How to clear the Firefox cache https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-clear-firefox-cache

Scroll down to Automatically clear the cache.

And , of course, there is also Private Browsing Mode:

Private Browsing - Use Firefox without saving history https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/private-browsing-use-firefox-without-history

I hope this helps. And let us know if you have any questions.

Ok it clears browsing history and cache but still keeps my bookmarks and passwords.

Chosen Solution

Currently, there is no built-in option to remove that data.

What method(s) are you using now? For example:

(1) Separate Profile

Create a new profile for yourself, connect the new profile to your Firefox Account, when you're finished disconnect, change the default profile to a different one, delete your profile. https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1274508#answer-1271555

This isn't something you would want to do every time you use the same computer.

(2) Removing Files

Connect the default profile to your Firefox Account, when you're finished disconnect, use Clear Recent History, then manually delete relevant files.

Open your current Firefox profile folder using either

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table on the page, on the Profile Folder row, click the "Open Folder" button. This should launch a new window listing various files and folders in Windows Explorer.

Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox and Exit, either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > Exit
  • (menu bar) File > Exit

Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup, then let the file destruction begin:

(A) Bookmarks & History: Select the places.sqlite file (single left-click it or arrow down to it) and Shift+Delete it (permanently delete it bypassing the Recycle bin)

If you see either places.sqlite-shm or places.sqlite-wal go ahead and Shift+Delete those as well.

(B) Saved Logins: Select the logins.json file and Shift+Delete it

(C) Previous Session Tabs: Select the sessionstore.jsonlz4 file and Shift+Delete it

(D) Bookmark Backups: Double-click into the bookmarkbackups folder. If there are any files here from your time on the computer, select and Shift+Delete (most may be older)

(E) Session History Backups: Double-click into the sessionstore-backups folder. If there are any files here from your time on the computer, select and Shift+Delete (clearing history would usually flush them)

Note: This does not clear pinned tabs on the new tab page or custom settings or add-ons, but probably you didn't add any.

When you start up Firefox again, it should be completely unfamiliar with you -- or anyone else who used that same profile.

that works perfect, thank you.

Maybe use the Firefox portable version instead with a USB jump drive. That way you have the profile folder on this jump drive and wouldn't have to remove this data.

Somebody who is willing to spend some effort might still be able to use a undelete utility to recover deleted data.

"Currently, there is no built-in option to remove that data. "

There used to be. As recent as this past October when signing out of Firefox all bookmarks disappeared as well. Would love to see this feature as an option.