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Firefox can automatically restore windows and tabs that were open the last time you used it. Learn how to set up options for controlling it.

Firefox can restore all windows and tabs that were open when it was last closed or terminated unexpectedly. This article describes the circumstances under which Firefox will restore your previous session and how you can configure it. {note}'''Note:''' Session Restore may keep you logged in to sites that you were logged in to before you closed Firefox. For more information, see [[#w_privacy-issues|Privacy issues]].{/note} __TOC__ = When session restore occurs = <!--Need an edit to make the "default home page" section {for not fx57} if it's confirmed that Firefox version 57 uses the Firefox Activity Stream "New Tab" page as the default home page, with no more "Restore previous session" or other buttons. See discussion. --> ==When you select Restore Previous Session from the default home page== If you had tabs and windows open when you last closed Firefox, the default Firefox home page will have a {button Restore Previous Session} button on it. To get your tabs and windows back, just click it. ;{for win}[[Image:Restore1 29 - Win]]{/for}{for mac}[[Image:Restore1 29 - Mac]]{/for}{for linux}[[Image:Restore1 29 - Lin]]{/for} {note}'''Note:''' If you've set your home page to something other than the default Firefox home page, you can [[How to set the home page#w_restore-the-default-home-page|restore the default home page]].{/note} == When you select Restore Previous Session from the History menu== Here's how to get your tabs and windows from a previous session back using the Firefox History menu: *Click on the menu button [[Image:new fx menu]] on the right side of your toolbar. Select {menu History} to expand the drop-down list and choose {menu Restore Previous Session}. *;{for win}[[Image:Restore2 29 - Win]]{/for}{for mac}[[Image:Restore2 29 - Mac]]{/for}{for linux}[[Image:Restore2 29 - Lin]]{/for} == After installing an add-on == When a new extension or theme is installed, you must restart Firefox to enable the new add-on. To restart, click {button Restart Now}. All windows and tabs are re-opened when Firefox restarts and installs the new add-on. ;{for win}[[Image:Session1 29 - Win]]{/for}{for mac}[[Image:Session1 29 - Mac]]{/for}{for linux}[[Image:Session1 29 - Lin]]{/for} == After a software update == To apply any updates to the Firefox application that have been downloaded, you must restart Firefox. To restart, click {for not fx55}{button Restart Firefox to Update}{/for}{for fx55}{button Restart to update Firefox}{/for}. ;{for not fx55}[[Image:Update Win2 Fx34]]{/for}{for fx55}[[Image:Fx55AboutFirefox-restartWin]]{/for} == After restarting with add-ons disabled == When you [[Troubleshoot Firefox issues using Safe Mode|restart with add-ons disabled to troubleshoot Firefox problems]], your tabs and windows will be reopened. == After a crash == Due to unexpected issues such as problems with a website, software errors, or an accidental loss of power, Firefox may unexpectedly close. In these situations, Firefox can restore the pages that you were visiting when it is restarted. Firefox will automatically restore your previous session, the first time you launch it after a crash. If Firefox crashes a second time, the Restore Session (i.e. "''Well, this is embarrassing''") page will appear when you next launch Firefox. ;[[Image:RestoreSession-fx45]] * To restore your previous session, select the windows or tabs you want to restore and click {button Restore}. * If Firefox continues to experience errors when windows and tabs are re-opened, you can launch Firefox without restoring these items. To start a new session, click {button Close}. ==When you've set Firefox to show your windows and tabs from last time== You can set Firefox to always show your windows and tabs from your previous session each time you start Firefox. To change your Firefox startup settings, see [[#w_configuring-session-restore|Configuring session restore]], below. =Configuring session restore= By default, when Firefox starts, a single window is opened, displaying your specified home page. If you wish, you can configure Firefox to open all windows and tabs from your previous session: ;{for not fx56}[[Image:General - Show my windows and tabs from last time - 38]]{/for}{for fx56}[[Image:Fx56General-WhenFirefoxStarts-Show-windows-and-tabs]]{/for} # [[T:optionspreferences]] # Select the {menu General} panel. # In the '''When Firefox starts''' drop-down menu, select {for not fx56}{menu Show my windows and tabs from last time}{/for}{for fx56}{menu Show your windows and tabs from last time}{/for}. # [[T:closeOptionsPreferences]] = Privacy issues = Session Restore may keep you logged in to sites that you were logged in to before you closed Firefox. If someone else used your computer after you, they could access your account on these sites. If this is a concern then you should not configure Firefox to open all windows and tabs from your previous session. You may also wish to disable the Session Restore crash recovery feature which is enabled by default. This will prevent restoring a previous session when Firefox is opened after an unexpected close or software crash: # [[T:aboutconfig]] # In the Search box at the top, type '''browser.sessionstore.resume_from_crash'''. # In the resulting grid, double-click on {pref browser.sessionstore.resume_from_crash} to set it to {pref '''false'''}. = Troubleshooting = == Previous session not correctly closed == To get your tabs and windows back from a previous session, you should close Firefox from the menu: [[T:closeFirefox]] If you close each window or tab, only the tabs in the final window that you close are available when you restart Firefox. == Settings may be incorrect == For other session restore problems, you may need to make corrections to your Firefox settings: # [[T:optionspreferences]] # Select the {for not fx56}{menu Privacy}{/for}{for fx56}{menu Privacy & Security}{/for} panel. # In the '''History''' section, make sure that the '''Firefox will''' drop-down menu is set to either {menu Remember history} or {menu Use custom settings for history}. #* If '''Firefox will''' is set to {menu Use custom settings for history} then make sure that '''Always use Private Browsing mode''' is not selected. #* If '''Firefox will''' is set to {menu Use custom settings for history} and '''Clear history when Firefox closes''' is selected, then click the {button Settings} button and make sure that '''Browsing & Download History''' is not selected. # [[T:closeOptionsPreferences]] <!-- MZ credit --> <br/> <br/> '''''Based on information from [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Session_Restore Session Restore (mozillaZine KB)]'''''