Firefox for Android Community Forum

Before the update that just dropped, whenever I would open the app, it would open in private browsing by default. After the update it opens a regular non private tab. Any way to fix this?

I launched Firefox the usual way with a private browsing shortcut today and it opened a regular, non-private window. I checked the settings to select again "Add private browsing shortcut" and went in the app drawer to make sure I was tapping the right one. Still, a regular, non-private window. Rebooting the phone did nothing. App is in the latest release version.

Opening a private window is still possible by tapping the mask icon in the initial non-private window or by long pressing the shortcut and choosing New private tab, but that in no way replaces actually launching the browser in private mode as default like the app itself promises and used to do. According to Reddit, I'm not the only one experiencing this.

How software gets updates with such a glaring flaw is beyond me and I can't decide whether it is worse if this is an accident or intentional.

I've noticed in browsing history that a lot of tabs are private. I don't use or want private browsing, can I disable it?

I'm not sure but I think that the private tabs were opened by Google Assistant and/or Gemini (if that makes a difference).

A collection item on Android Firefox already has an X, so why allow deletion by swiping left or right? It is WAY TOO EASY to accidentally delete an item by nudging it left or right while clicking it. And there is no warning pop-up. How about an option to disable left/right swipe delete? Or just remove the gestures entirely. Thanks.

Recently whenever I access a internet site, Firefox on my android always opens up in desktop mode. It used to always open up in mobile mode. I can't find a switch to set that. How can this be done?

I used to use firefox private tab daily by just open the app, Now whenever i open firefox on android it's just open in normal browsing, now i have to manually switch to private browsing everytime. Which is inconvenient. Also u guys removed share button from search bar that was handy, pls add customizable button menu. Pls fix Firefox by default open in private tab on android

I was told to post this here after leaving a review on the Play Store. The sensitivity of pull down to refresh is too sensitive. When I go to search for something on a website and I try to click the suggested search, it refreshes the page almost every time. eBay and IMDb are the most problematic pages, but it happens on other sites as well. Also, some times just regular scrolling down to read triggers a refresh no matter how soft and slow I try to do it. And that's actually going the opposite direction because I'm moving up to scroll down and it still triggers it. I like having pull down to refresh, it's just too sensitive. I'm using a Samsung S25 and everything (app and system software etc) is fully updated if that info is needed.

I have installed web apps to firefox on my phone by using menu -> Add to Home Screen Now that they are installed, though, I cannot get rid of them. Even if I delete the icons from my home screen, they show up in the menu when I long tap on the firefox app icon and still act as apps there. I have looked for a way to remove them and have not found one. Is there no other option than wiping firefox's data?

It's not a big deal but kinda annoing. It's working alright on any other app ie the contex menu appers near selected text but in firefox it appears only on the right side. How can it be fixed?

Description:

A bug-shaped icon appeared on my screen after accidentally enabling a debug setting. I can’t find an option to disable it.

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Unknown (enabled by mistake). 2. Icon persists despite restarting.

Browser Version:

- Firefox Nightly 142.0a1 (Build #2016101983) - GV: 142.0a1-20250711091324 - OS: Android

Tried:

- Toggling "Remote Debugging" in Settings → Developer Tools. - Restarting the browser.