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How can I switch or change containers within the same tab?

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  • 2 have this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by saboxerman

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I had a similar question going before the thread was removed. This new Firefox takes away an add-on I desperately need again. I'd not not to say its name for fear my question may be taken down again, but, it rhymes with Multi-Socks.

Is there anyway to change containers without opening a new tab? I have 3 eBay accounts I was able to stay logged in and switch through within the same tab with the now defunct extension.

Now, I can't figure out how to accomplish this.

OR, is there a way for me to set up tabs to open in different containers on opening Firefox?

Please help!

I had a similar question going before the thread was removed. This new Firefox takes away an add-on I desperately need again. I'd not not to say its name for fear my question may be taken down again, but, it rhymes with Multi-Socks. Is there anyway to change containers without opening a new tab? I have 3 eBay accounts I was able to stay logged in and switch through within the same tab with the now defunct extension. Now, I can't figure out how to accomplish this. OR, is there a way for me to set up tabs to open in different containers on opening Firefox? Please help!

Chosen solution

Hi saboxerman, someone added a similar request to the wish list (open issues list) for Containers:

https://github.com/mozilla/testpilot-containers/issues/311

You may want to join that discussion.

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All Replies (17)

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Your thread wasn't removed on purpose. Due to various unfixable bugs, last week the old forum was rebooted temporarily and the intervening months of questions were not copied over.

Here's a PDF of your other thread for reference: https://www.jeffersonscher.com/temp/Using-Containers-Multifox-Lithium.pdf

So you're saying the trick that worked in Firefox 52 (disabling multiprocess) doesn't work in Firefox 53?

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Thank you for that reference. I am not on here enough to catch all of that. I thought it was removed because there was a download link to MultiFox in it.

How do I disable multiprocess? I did a quick good on it and did not find a quick answer. I am willing to try it.

I'd prefer to use FireFox in the manner they intend, but, until I can change the container within the same tab without opening a new tab, I need MultiFox.

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I haven't used Containers. From what I can see, tabs belong to a container from their moment of inception. I don't think the concept supports using multiple containers in a single tab. But it's easiest for you to see how it works since you have TestPilot running.

Anyway, if tab bar real estate permits, it seems simpler to use three tabs than to use three identities within a single tab.

Regarding startup, were you restoring your previous session tabs? I would think tabs need to stay in their containers in that scenario. Otherwise, I think you have to use the UI to assign the container.

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saboxerman said

How do I disable multiprocess? I did a quick good on it and did not find a quick answer. I am willing to try it.

I'm pretty sure that is all covered in the previous thread.

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The previous thread I had going didn't cover disabling multiprocess.

I've already tried to get MultiFox to function on FF 53. No-go.

However, the functionality I was looking for was this: I could have my eBay tab open, click on a different profile with MultiFox, and the same tab would be a different eBay account.

This may sound simple to others, but, it's crucial for how I work. My work is very computer reliant. I have three screens open, multiple programs, etc. The rig has 16 GB of RAM just to run normally. It's just what I do. So, when I am able to reduce three of my multiple online stores to one tab, it's a bit of a big one for me.

I do appreciate all help.

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Maybe it wasn't clear what those two preferences you changed were about:

Multiprocess. Recent versions of Firefox are migrating more users to a "multiprocess" architecture where the user interface and the web content are in separate processes to improve stability. Could you investigate:

Are you using Multiprocess (e10s)?

Multiprocess creates a second firefox.exe or plugin-container.exe process to isolate the web content from the browser UI. You can check whether you have this feature turned on as follows. Either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
  • (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter/Return

In the first table on the page, check the row for "Multiprocess Windows" and see whether the number on the left side of the fraction is greater than zero. If so, you are using e10s.

If you are using e10s:

To help evaluate whether that feature is causing problems, you could turn it off as follows:

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button promising to be careful.

(2) In the search box above the list, type or paste autos and pause while the list is filtered

(3) Double-click the browser.tabs.remote.autostart.2 preference to switch the value from true to false

Note: the exact name of the preference may vary, but it will start with browser.tabs.remote.autostart

At your next Firefox startup, it should run in the traditional way. Any difference?

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Maybe try a Private Browsing mode tab. Then at least you can have two identities (cookie jars).

You can use an extension to get Private Browsing mode support per tab.

Private Browsing mode tabs get a dashed underline You can toggle Private Browsing mode on/off via the right-click context menu of a tab

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jscher2000 said

Maybe it wasn't clear what those two preferences you changed were about:

Multiprocess. Recent versions of Firefox are migrating more users to a "multiprocess" architecture where the user interface and the web content are in separate processes to improve stability. Could you investigate:

Are you using Multiprocess (e10s)?

Multiprocess creates a second firefox.exe or plugin-container.exe process to isolate the web content from the browser UI. You can check whether you have this feature turned on as follows. Either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
  • (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter/Return

In the first table on the page, check the row for "Multiprocess Windows" and see whether the number on the left side of the fraction is greater than zero. If so, you are using e10s.

If you are using e10s:

To help evaluate whether that feature is causing problems, you could turn it off as follows:

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button promising to be careful.

(2) In the search box above the list, type or paste autos and pause while the list is filtered

(3) Double-click the browser.tabs.remote.autostart.2 preference to switch the value from true to false

Note: the exact name of the preference may vary, but it will start with browser.tabs.remote.autostart

At your next Firefox startup, it should run in the traditional way. Any difference?

Thank you for those instructions. However, no change in behavior after disabling it.

Was this to try to be able to switch containers within the same tab. That's mainly what I am after. MultiFox allowed me to do this. Now, when I want to switch to a different container it forces a new, blank tab to be open.

An acceptable alternative would be if I can have certain tabs open in certain containers on startup. Meaning, the web pages I need opened on startup automatically are in the containers I need them to open up in. I.E. tab 1 for eBay opens in the default container, tab 2 for Amazon opens in the Personal container. tab 3 for PayPal opens up in the Shopping container.

On another note, the private tab option is a good idea, but, won't resolve what is needed. MultiFox was an awesome tool and I've held off updating my main work computer as this new FF multiprocess is a step back from what I utilize during my work day.

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saboxerman said

Thank you for those instructions. However, no change in behavior after disabling it.

Was this to try to be able to switch containers within the same tab. That's mainly what I am after. MultiFox allowed me to do this. Now, when I want to switch to a different container it forces a new, blank tab to be open.

No, I thought that was the change needed to allow Multifox to work. As mentioned before, Container tabs do not appear to work the way you want them to.

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Multifox website is down. Seems like they withdrew their program completely. When will Firefox create a similar feature WITHIN Firefox, so one can have different tabs with unique cookie sets? This is a critical add-on for me, because otherwise I have to waste countless hours logging off, then logging on to separate accounts.

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csmi said

Multifox website is down. Seems like they withdrew their program completely.

This was the latest install location (the .xpi file): https://github.com/hultmann/multifox/releases

When will Firefox create a similar feature WITHIN Firefox, so one can have different tabs with unique cookie sets? This is a critical add-on for me, because otherwise I have to waste countless hours logging off, then logging on to separate accounts.

The Containers feature the original poster was asking about will let you open tabs in different "containers" that have different cookies. Right now, I think the only way to get this feature into a standard release of Firefox (rather than a frequently changing test version) is the use the Test Pilot add-on. More info on this page:

https://testpilot.firefox.com/experiments/containers

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jscher2000 said

saboxerman said
Thank you for those instructions. However, no change in behavior after disabling it.

Was this to try to be able to switch containers within the same tab. That's mainly what I am after. MultiFox allowed me to do this. Now, when I want to switch to a different container it forces a new, blank tab to be open.

No, I thought that was the change needed to allow Multifox to work. As mentioned before, Container tabs do not appear to work the way you want them to.

I believe your are correct. These container tabs will not work in the manner needed. This is most frustrating.

It seems a simple request to be able to change containers from within the same tab without it opening a new, empty tab. Or, to have multiple tabs open in different designated containers. I could work with the latter, even though it's not desirable.

All help has been appreciated. Hopefully something will change or an add-on developed to allow for such capabilities.

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Chosen Solution

Hi saboxerman, someone added a similar request to the wish list (open issues list) for Containers:

https://github.com/mozilla/testpilot-containers/issues/311

You may want to join that discussion.

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jscher2000 said

Hi saboxerman, someone added a similar request to the wish list (open issues list) for Containers: https://github.com/mozilla/testpilot-containers/issues/311 You may want to join that discussion.

Hit the nail on the head! This is what I am looking for! I'll hop there and greatly appreciate the help!

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Containers can be used on the current Fx53 Release and possibly even the previous one. Flip the pref

privacy.userContext.enabled

To true using about:config

  1. See Mozillazine: http://kb.mozillazine.org/About:config
  2. Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars

Then drag its icon somewhere accessible such as the navigation bar using the customise option.

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John99 said

Containers can be used on the current Fx53 Release and possibly even the previous one. Flip the pref privacy.userContext.enabled To true using about:config
  1. See Mozillazine: http://kb.mozillazine.org/About:config
  2. Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars
Then drag its icon somewhere accessible such as the navigation bar using the customise option.

Thank you for this info, however, the discussion over at Github hit the nail on the head for what I a looking for: opening a container from within the same tab, not opening a container in a new tab.