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Browsing history - how much could it become "big" and affect Firefox performance?

  • 2 replies
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  • Last reply by eli dunkel

eli dunkel
eli dunkel
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Hi everybody, I never cleared my browsing history so far, because I often need to know which websites I already visited when I perform a research on Google. Having the previously visited URLs shown in a different colour is useful for my work.

However, I am wondering whether this huge amount of data could affect the browser speed and memory usage. More specifically, I have a few questions:

1) Out of curiosity, in which file of Firefox installation folder the history is saved, and where can I find it? 2) Do you think it is possible to clear ALL the browsing history, except for one specific URL? 3) Could a cluttered browsing history file affect negatively my browser performance?

Many thanks in advance for your help, Elisa

Hi everybody, I never cleared my browsing history so far, because I often need to know which websites I already visited when I perform a research on Google. Having the previously visited URLs shown in a different colour is useful for my work. However, I am wondering whether this huge amount of data could affect the browser speed and memory usage. More specifically, I have a few questions: 1) Out of curiosity, in which file of Firefox installation folder the history is saved, and where can I find it? 2) Do you think it is possible to clear ALL the browsing history, except for one specific URL? 3) Could a cluttered browsing history file affect negatively my browser performance? Many thanks in advance for your help, Elisa

Modified by eli dunkel

All Replies (2)

tanujasri17
tanujasri17
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1. Firefox stores your history and bookmarks together in a database file named places.sqlite which is in your profile folder . 2.Go to Options window > Privacy panel > in History session click Use custom setting for History > Clear history when Firefox closes then Settings button is active click it and then click everything except Download history or other things you want to keep it > click OK to save it, exit firefox and restart it. 3.it is not proven but clearing your history could improve browsing speed because your computer and/or internet isn't busy saving your history.

eli dunkel
eli dunkel Question owner
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I see, thanks for your reply.

1) My places.sqlite file size is 15 MB. Is it very big or still "acceptable"? 2) This does not address exactly my question, I am afraid - in fact, I would need to delete only partially my history, except the pages I visited on certain domains. 3) Thanks.