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

Privacy mode is not working

  • 3 cavab
  • 2 have this problem
  • 6 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

I've been using private browsing for a while when firefox crashed the other day. Ever since then I keep on getting a page that is no different to the usual firefox home page instead of the maroon-coloured private-browsing page. Also, I experienced other problems like pages that are not loading at all or are loading much too slow and history that is not removed after browsing. I decided to remove mozilla firefox from my laptop and after re-startimg my laptop, I downloaded it again. However, I'm still not getting the private browsing page and getting the normal home page when I tru to switch to private browsing.

Please help.

Jani

I've been using private browsing for a while when firefox crashed the other day. Ever since then I keep on getting a page that is no different to the usual firefox home page instead of the maroon-coloured private-browsing page. Also, I experienced other problems like pages that are not loading at all or are loading much too slow and history that is not removed after browsing. I decided to remove mozilla firefox from my laptop and after re-startimg my laptop, I downloaded it again. However, I'm still not getting the private browsing page and getting the normal home page when I tru to switch to private browsing. Please help. Jani

All Replies (3)

more options

Try to go to the official page of Firefox and from there hit "Refresh Firefox" and see if this works.

more options

If you switch your entire Firefox session to private by changing the setting on the Privacy panel of the Options page, Firefox starts up in a "stealth" mode where you have no visible indication of anything unusual. However, as a quick test, you can try this:

  • launch a new window (e.g., Ctrl+n)
  • close the window (e.g., Ctrl+w)
  • check the History menu: if it shows you can restore the closed window, you're in a regular session, not a private window

If you prefer to have normal windows and (marked) private windows, you can turn off the privacy change as follows:

"3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Options

In the left column, click Privacy. Then on the right side, if you see "Firefox will: Never remember history" change that to "Firefox will: Use custom settings for history". Then you can uncheck the box for "Always use private browsing mode" and return to normal operation.

more options

Is this about starting Firefox in permanent Private Browsing mode (Always use Private Browsing mode; Never Remember History) or when you open a New Private Window?

Firefox won't show any indication about PB mode when you are in permanent Private Browsing mode. You will see that Open New Window is missing in the file menu.