Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Firefox doesn't show tabs from last time

  • 4 replies
  • 9 have this problem
  • 8 views
  • Last reply by nonkreon

nonkreon
nonkreon
more options

I have returned to use the efficient workhorse, after a 2 year gap or so. I chose to show my tabs and windows from last time but every time firefox starts I'm instead welcomed by a New tab. I've checked other people's solutions in this support database but all preferences regarding dom.indexeddb and browser.sessionstore are at their defaults. I also have not checked clear history or anything, Firefox stores all information through the centuries, and even has Sync turned on and signed in. Thank you very much :)

I have returned to use the efficient workhorse, after a 2 year gap or so. I chose to show my tabs and windows from last time but every time firefox starts I'm instead welcomed by a New tab. I've checked other people's solutions in this support database but all preferences regarding dom.indexeddb and browser.sessionstore are at their defaults. I also have not checked clear history or anything, Firefox stores all information through the centuries, and even has Sync turned on and signed in. Thank you very much :)

Modified by nonkreon

All Replies (4)

FredMcD
FredMcD
more options

Have you checked the settings? Are you talking of about:newtab?

Type about:preferences#general<enter> in the address bar.

There are two settings;

  • When Firefox Starts

When the browser is started, what do you want to display. Many of us choose Show My Home Page.

  • Home Page

When a new page is opened, what do you want displayed.

  1. Use Current Page. Use what ever page(s) are open at that time.
  2. Use Bookmark
  3. Restore To Default. about:home shows a Mozilla home page with tools.

You can use any of these that you wish;

about:home (Firefox default home page), about:newtab (shows the sites most visited), about:blank (a blank page),

or you can enter any web page or about: page you want.

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Don't you see any tabs from the previous session?

Does Firefox update the backups (recovery.js and previous.js) in the sessionstore-backups folder?

Does Firefox create a sessionstore.js file when you close Firefox?

You can use this button to go to the currently used Firefox profile folder:

Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions (Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.

  • Switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance
  • Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe Mode start window
nonkreon
nonkreon Question owner
more options

FredMcD said

Have you checked the settings? Are you talking of about:newtab? Type about:preferences#general<enter> in the address bar. There are two settings;
  • When Firefox Starts
When the browser is started, what do you want to display. Many of us choose Show My Home Page.
  • Home Page
When a new page is opened, what do you want displayed.
  1. Use Current Page. Use what ever page(s) are open at that time.
  2. Use Bookmark
  3. Restore To Default. about:home shows a Mozilla home page with tools.
You can use any of these that you wish; about:home (Firefox default home page), about:newtab (shows the sites most visited), about:blank (a blank page), or you can enter any web page or about: page you want.

Unfortunately I think you misunderstood my problem. I want firefox to show my windows and tabs from the last time when it starts, which I chose in the preferences page you mentioned, but instead of the tabs I left open I am greeted with the newtab, which is configured in the line below as you mentioned. I can change that to about:home or any other page and it works, but this is not what I was trying to achieve :) Thank you very much for your time :)

nonkreon
nonkreon Question owner
more options

When I close Firefox, the sessionstore-backups folder gets a new recovery.js file but there is no previous.js file. There is also a recovery.bak file which I think is also updated. There is also no sign of a sessionstore.js file in the main profile folder or the sessionstore-backups folder. And no, starting firefox in safe mode, closing in safe mode and reopening in safe mode also did not create a solution :( Thank you very much for your time and efforts.

FredMcD said

Have you checked the settings? Are you talking of about:newtab? Type about:preferences#general<enter> in the address bar. There are two settings;
  • When Firefox Starts
When the browser is started, what do you want to display. Many of us choose Show My Home Page.
  • Home Page
When a new page is opened, what do you want displayed.
  1. Use Current Page. Use what ever page(s) are open at that time.
  2. Use Bookmark
  3. Restore To Default. about:home shows a Mozilla home page with tools.
You can use any of these that you wish; about:home (Firefox default home page), about:newtab (shows the sites most visited), about:blank (a blank page), or you can enter any web page or about: page you want.