Firefox not updating sessionstore-backups files; restores outdated session
Whenever I restart Firefox (or it crashes), the restored tabs are out of date, sometimes by several days. As far as I can tell, FF is only updating the files in [myprofile]\sessionstore-backups when I restart the browser. At this moment (about 22:00 local time) recovery.js and recovery.bak haven't been updated since yesterday at 11:51 (over 34 hours). That's when I restarted FF to allow an extension to update.
In about:config, all the browser.sessionstore.* values except upgradeBackup.latestBuildID are set to default. In particular, browser.sessionstore.interval = 15000.
I recently updated to 46.0, but this problem existed before the update and has continued.
Chosen solution
Try to rename or delete the sessionstore-backups folder and the sessionstore.js files and let Firefox create new files to see if that has effect.
Boot the computer in Windows Safe Mode with network support (press F8 on the boot screen or hold down the Shift key) to see if that has effect.
- http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/how-to-start-windows-in-safe-mode/
- http://www.7tutorials.com/4-ways-boot-safe-mode-windows-10
Create a new profile to test if your current profile is causing the problem.
See "Creating a profile":
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues
If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.
Read this answer in context 👍 2All Replies (3)
You may have corrupt sessionstore file(s).
Type about:support in the address bar and press enter.
Under the page logo on the left side, you will see Application Basics. Under this find Profile Folder. To its right press the button Show Folder. This will open your file browser to the current Firefox profile. Now Close Firefox.
Locate the sessionstore file(s). Then rename or delete it. Restart Firefox.
Chosen Solution
Try to rename or delete the sessionstore-backups folder and the sessionstore.js files and let Firefox create new files to see if that has effect.
Boot the computer in Windows Safe Mode with network support (press F8 on the boot screen or hold down the Shift key) to see if that has effect.
- http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/how-to-start-windows-in-safe-mode/
- http://www.7tutorials.com/4-ways-boot-safe-mode-windows-10
Create a new profile to test if your current profile is causing the problem.
See "Creating a profile":
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues
If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.
cor-el said
Try to rename or delete the sessionstore-backups folder and the sessionstore.js files and let Firefox create new files to see if that has effect.
I renamed sessionstore-backups and closed Firefox. It crashed the first time, but after I closed it and reopened it on a mostly empty session a couple of times, it stopped crashing and started to update recovery.js. After that I was able to replace sessionstore.js with a recent recovery file and get back the majority of my tabs.
I've closed and restarted several times now without issue. recovery.js is updating regularly. It may be my imagination, but Firefox seems to be starting somewhat faster as well.
I had tried renaming sessionstore-backups before, but without the several restarts of Firefox; I was always trying to recover my tabs. Letting Firefox restart with a blank session seems to have been the missing step.
Thanks!