How to set Default home page (with top sites, etc) instead of that annoying purple page in a new PRIVATE TAB?
When I open new private tab I always see that purple page instead of my home page with top sites, bookmarks and other useful stuff. It works perfectly in normal browsing but private tabs always open with that purple page. It is really inconvenient.
All Replies (4)
June 19 this happens to me also. Have read the FAQs Cannot find a way to remove the annoying solid purple page. I miss my Firefox page. Verified all the settings. Didn't change anything from yesterday, but today the purple page dominates. Please make it stop (give me the procedure to fix it. Nothing in Options seems to take away the purple page.
Modified by MoniqueDC
That is how Private Browsing mode works. When you open a new window then you get the about:privatebrowsing page. You only do not get the about:privatebrowsing page when you open a new window in permanent Private Browsing mode (Always use Private Browsing mode; Never Remember History)
You can hide the content of this page with code in userContent.css in the chrome folder in the profile folder.
/* about:privatebrowsing */
@-moz-document url(about:privatebrowsing){html,body{display:none !important}}
It is not that difficult to create userContent.css if you have never used it.
The first step is to open the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" page and find the button to access the profile folder.
You can find this button under the "Application Basics" section as "Profile Folder -> Open Folder". If you click this button then you open the profile folder in the Windows File Explorer. You need to create a folder with the name chrome in this folder (name is all lowercase). In the chrome folder you need to create a text file with the name userContent.css (name is case sensitive). In this userContent.css text file you paste the text posted.
In Windows saving the file is usually the only time things get more complicated because Windows can silently add a .txt file extension and you end up with a file named userContent.css.txt. To avoid this you need to make sure to select "All files" in the dialog to save the file in the text editor using "Save File as".
You need to close (Quit/Exit) and restart Firefox when you create or modify the userContent.css file.
You can use this extension to get a blank window (haven't tested in what way this works).
- Blank Private Browsing Page https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/blank-private-browsing-page/
Respectfully, I know how private browsing works. Nonetheless, without any changes created by myself, the browser functions differently today. I have read the FAQs and cruised through commentary. Nothing explains why the browser displays the homepage (defaulted to Firefox home page) differently. I get that you are a very experienced user and believe that the procedure you listed is simple. I am not so sure. And a little intimidated to "You can hide the content of this page with code in userContent.css in the chrome folder in the profile folder."
I am left with struggling to return my valued browser to the same functionality and appearance it had yesterday. (again, no changes by user - so apparently something changed with FireFox in the last update.).
Just a user, not a coder.
I will continue to wrestle the issue to see if I have any other possibilities before I result to trying your .css strategy.
You can give the extension I posted above a try, but you may see the purple page shortly before the extension can hide it.