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Every time I start Firefox I have to log in to Gmail & Facebook. I didn't need to do this. How can I go back to when I didn't have to do that?

Every time I start Firefox I have to log in to Gmail & Facebook. I didn't need to do this. How can I go back to when I didn't have to do that?

Chosen solution

Hi sauerkrowd, sites recognize you as having logged in when your browser sends back the cookie they set back at the time of login. If the cookie is gone, you're a nobody to them and you need to log in again.

There are quite a few possible reasons to lose cookies between sessions. These include Firefox privacy settings, add-ons, and external cleaners. Let's check:

Options page > Privacy & Security panel

(1) Cookies and Site Data section

The checkbox here for "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed" determines whether cookies are set to expire automatically at the end of your Firefox session:

  • Unchecked => Firefox sets the expiration based on what the site requested
  • Checked => Firefox sets the expiration to "Session only" -- so cookies won't survive the shutdown/restart

The "Manage Permissions" dialog is where you would list sites that are an exception to your standard rule. For example, if you force all cookies to session but you want to stay logged in on certain sites, you could add those sites here with an "Allow" exception.

(2) History section

The main selector here has three options:

  • Firefox will: Remember history => cookies should not get cleared automatically
  • Firefox will: Never remember history => forces automatic private browsing, so cookies are stored only in memory for the duration of your session
  • Firefox will: Use custom settings for history => it depends...

If you use custom settings:

  • "Always use private browsing mode" => if checked, cookies are stored only in memory for the duration of your session
  • "Clear history when Firefox closes" => if checked, cookies may be removed depending on what is selected in the "Settings" dialog to the right of this option (this option does NOT honor exceptions)

Add-ons

Several add-ons directly edit/remove cookies. You can view, disable, and often remove unwanted or unknown extensions on the Add-ons page. Either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Command+Shift+a)
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
  • type or paste about:addons in the address bar and press Enter/Return

In the left column of the Add-ons page, click Extensions. On the right side, find the "Manage Your Extensions" heading.

If there is at least one extension before the next heading -- "Recommended Extensions" -- please continue:

Then cast a critical eye over the list below that heading. Any extensions Firefox installs for built-in features are hidden from this page, so everything listed here is your choice (and your responsibility) to manage. Anything possibly related to cookies here?

Cleaners

Programs like CCleaner and Advanced System Care may remove browser data at system startup or even between Firefox sessions without a startup.

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Chosen Solution

Hi sauerkrowd, sites recognize you as having logged in when your browser sends back the cookie they set back at the time of login. If the cookie is gone, you're a nobody to them and you need to log in again.

There are quite a few possible reasons to lose cookies between sessions. These include Firefox privacy settings, add-ons, and external cleaners. Let's check:

Options page > Privacy & Security panel

(1) Cookies and Site Data section

The checkbox here for "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed" determines whether cookies are set to expire automatically at the end of your Firefox session:

  • Unchecked => Firefox sets the expiration based on what the site requested
  • Checked => Firefox sets the expiration to "Session only" -- so cookies won't survive the shutdown/restart

The "Manage Permissions" dialog is where you would list sites that are an exception to your standard rule. For example, if you force all cookies to session but you want to stay logged in on certain sites, you could add those sites here with an "Allow" exception.

(2) History section

The main selector here has three options:

  • Firefox will: Remember history => cookies should not get cleared automatically
  • Firefox will: Never remember history => forces automatic private browsing, so cookies are stored only in memory for the duration of your session
  • Firefox will: Use custom settings for history => it depends...

If you use custom settings:

  • "Always use private browsing mode" => if checked, cookies are stored only in memory for the duration of your session
  • "Clear history when Firefox closes" => if checked, cookies may be removed depending on what is selected in the "Settings" dialog to the right of this option (this option does NOT honor exceptions)

Add-ons

Several add-ons directly edit/remove cookies. You can view, disable, and often remove unwanted or unknown extensions on the Add-ons page. Either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Command+Shift+a)
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
  • type or paste about:addons in the address bar and press Enter/Return

In the left column of the Add-ons page, click Extensions. On the right side, find the "Manage Your Extensions" heading.

If there is at least one extension before the next heading -- "Recommended Extensions" -- please continue:

Then cast a critical eye over the list below that heading. Any extensions Firefox installs for built-in features are hidden from this page, so everything listed here is your choice (and your responsibility) to manage. Anything possibly related to cookies here?

Cleaners

Programs like CCleaner and Advanced System Care may remove browser data at system startup or even between Firefox sessions without a startup.