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Is there a way to view hidden history URLs?

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I just discovered that there are URLs saved in Firefox’s History that are only viewable when searching (i.e. they are hidden when viewing the History window normally with an empty search box).

From what I can tell, they are mainly (if not all) redirection URLs that never show a webpage.

I have 2 related questions: Is there a way I can make all URLs always visible in the normal/unsearched History window?

Is there a way I can view a history window that only shows the hidden URLs and not the rest? (I’m hoping to see what hidden URLs I’ve built up in my history before I start having them in the normal view.)


Note: The Mac version of Firefox is the only version I currently use.

I just discovered that there are URLs saved in Firefox’s History that are only viewable when searching (i.e. they are hidden when viewing the History window normally with an empty search box). From what I can tell, they are mainly (if not all) redirection URLs that never show a webpage. I have 2 related questions: Is there a way I can make all URLs always visible in the normal/unsearched History window? Is there a way I can view a history window that only shows the hidden URLs and not the rest? (I’m hoping to see what hidden URLs I’ve built up in my history before I start having them in the normal view.) Note: The Mac version of Firefox is the only version I currently use.

All Replies (2)

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When I look at the data for a URL that redirected, I see that URL has this field set

hidden = 1

As far as I know, there is no way to force Firefox to show URLs with hidden = 1, other than the methods you discovered (address bar search, Library search, history sidebar search).

If you want to pull out a list of hidden = 1 URLs, you can use a SQLite database browser, either one that installs locally or a web-based one.

For example:

(A) Open https://sqliteonline.com/

(B) Click its File menu button, then Open DB and point the site to a backup copy of the places.sqlite file from your active profile (Profiles - Where Firefox stores your bookmarks, passwords and other user data) -- I suggest using a backup copy to avoid a possible issue with a live file

(C) Paste the following query in the numbered box (see attached screenshot):

SELECT url, count(place_id) AS visits 
FROM 'moz_historyvisits' INNER JOIN moz_places 
  ON moz_places.id = moz_historyvisits.place_id 
WHERE hidden = 1 
GROUP BY url ORDER BY visits DESC, url ASC


(D) Click the Run button to extract the results

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Note that you can create smart place:transition=X queries.
You can create a new bookmark and paste the place: query in its location field (place:transition=5&sort=4&maxResults=100) and give the bookmark a suitable name.
You need to do a Cut/Paste to another folder or close and restart Firefox to make the bookmark work as a query and give it a special cogwheel icon.


History  : TRANSITION_LINK     = 1; place:transition=1&sort=4&maxResults=100
History  : TRANSITION_TYPED    = 2; place:transition=2&sort=4&maxResults=100
Bookmarks: TRANSITION_BOOKMARK = 3; place:transition=3&sort=4&maxResults=100
Embed    : TRANSITION_EMBED    = 4; place:transition=4&sort=4&maxResults=100
Redirect : TRANSITION_REDIRECT_PERMANENT = 5; place:transition=5&sort=4&maxResults=100
Redirect : TRANSITION_REDIRECT_TEMPORARY = 6; place:transition=6&sort=4&maxResults=100
Downloads: TRANSITION_DOWNLOAD = 7; place:transition=7&sort=4&maxResults=1000
Framed   : TRANSITION_FRAMED_LINK = 8; place:transition=8&sort=4&maxResults=100
Reload   : TRANSITION_RELOAD = 9;   place:transition=9&sort=4&maxResults=100

Okulungisiwe ngu cor-el