Hello,

We disabled Personas in private browsing windows to make it easier to tell between a private window, and a regular window. I'm sorry but I don't think that there is a workaround for this yet :(

that's really uncool, i thought a purple firefox button with a mask like icon was sufficient to tell me that i am in private browsing mode, i request the dev team to fix this in 20.0.1 update, please bring back the personas in private browsing...

Ok, I'll make sure that someone takes a look at this :)

[update] According to bug 852295, Persona support in private windows is being re-added in Firefox 22.

Edit _{~ J99}
Also note

• Bug 860803 - When using Private Browsing windows, personas should remain enabled.

is open but as yet unallocated.

Please do not comment in other persons bug reports, unless you are:
a programmer, providing a solution, or posting new information https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/page.cgi?id=etiquette.html

Hi ff4evr,

that's really uncool, i thought a purple firefox button with a mask like icon was sufficient to tell me that i am in private browsing mode, i request the dev team to fix this in 20.0.1 update, please bring back the personas in private browsing... 

Sorry but I do not think there is any chance of any quick change on this. if you wish to make your feelings known I suggest you use

• https://input.mozilla.org/en-US/feedback
  • edit - another link added
    or look through the listing of forums etc

This forum is not the place to discuss enhancement requests or development policy. It is unlikely that developers will look at this forum so your comments will not receive developer attention here.

By way of partial explanation, I need to mention that Firefox now has to be designed not only to be cross platform with regards to Windows Mac & Lynux but also design considerations must take into account use on Android Mobile and FirefoxOS.

The mask icon is not supported on all platforms.
Compromises are sometimes necessary, and the OS & browser world is changing with more users now on tablets and smart phones etc.

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger, people. The very same thing has happened to me. After this marvelous "update" my persona/appearance has gone DEFAULT. I suggest all who encounter this dilemma to send in your "feedback" so...hopefully, the powers-that-be can rectify this faulty situation. Meanwhile...FOX ON!!!

This is a problem, I'm tired of staring at a white colored browser. I did nothing but that with IE as a kid till I discovered FF.

Most "themes" won't work either outside of personas.

Also while we're at it, win XP doesn't show this "purple mask button" during said mode. Users of the OS have to actually pay attention to the settings so this move was stupid.

Give us back our themes & personas for all modes of the browser.

For now I consider it a broken feature.

@ iNerd - not good enough, we want it back now. They took it away "now" an we want it back "now".

2 versions later is a long way off. Not gonna settle for 6 months or w/e to get it back.

Edit Further Update see now my post (under) of 13th April

I have not yet looked into testing this.*

Helpful Reply

[update] According to bug 852295, Persona support in private windows is being re-added in Firefox 22. 

I am not too sure what that will relate to.
Bug 852295 - LW Themes do not display in Permanent Private Browsing mode post Per-Window PB
I do note the bug refers to Permanent Private Browsing It may be

• pseudo private browsing, where History is not saved
• it may even be proper permanent private browsing (a rarely used undocumented feature - _{as far as our current KB is concerned})
• it possibly will NOT be in ordinary (temporary) Private Browsing Windows

* update

Did not actually see Bug 852295 in the recent changelog, and trying the current Fx23 that still does not display personas in per-Window PB.

If it aint broke don't fix it, you would have to be a bit of a *** not to realize your in Private browsing mode, should I turn off my Security while I'm at it ¿

I have always used In-Private & have no intentions of changing it now but I will consider changing browsers even though I prefer FF over all other browsers.

If you don't give the people what they want they leave, wait till version 22? Doubt it!!!

Edited by a moderator due to language. See the Rules & Guidelines .

I agree... stop fixing things that are not broke...!!

If the developers insist on making changes... ALWAYS give the user the ability to revert back to the way it was. Everything should be optional. That is how you keep people happy...!!

Sorry Dave,
No point at all in expressing such opinions here.

On this forum we try to help users with problems. Inevitably changes to Firefox may sometimes be mentioned, but developers do not use or read this Forum. Please see my comment above for a link to use.

UPDATE

It appears now that for any Firefox version newer than 20.x that there has now been a change.

• Private Browsing Window
  That still displays a mask and still disables personas.
• Do Not save History (Pseudo Permenant Private Browsing)
  That now does display your persona.

Currently I believe this change is is on the Beta, Aurora & Nightly channels. (I have tested on Aurora)

P.S.
It does not yet seem to have made beta, only Aurora so far.
http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/channel/#aurora

"Do Not save History (Pseudo Permenant Private Browsing) "

So this means it's going to make it pretend to enter PB-Mode? We enjoyed using PB-Mode with our themes, a false mode is no different than having to disable the mode as previously suggested.

If such is to be true, an a false/pretend mode option is being made don't bother, work on the real issue an make it like it was!

Don't be another microsoft (changes interfaces an moves around stuff when no one wants them to) you had a good thing going guys, put it back! No one asked you to touch this in the first place (to what I am aware of, an if they did I'm not alone to disagree with this).

Private Browsing Mode + Themes & Personas = WE WANT IT BACK!! NO FAKE MODES!! This isn't up for compromise.

PS: Has submitted this "opinion" already.

Hi again Waterdust,

 "Do Not save History (Pseudo Permenant Private Browsing) 
 So this means it's going to make it pretend to enter PB-Mode? We enjoyed using PB-Mode with our themes, a false mode is no different than having to disable the mode as previously suggested. 

Do not save History is not and never has been a full implementation of Private Browsing.

• It is an option to not save History.
• The specific Private Browsing mode is a more recent and more capable option.
• The main, most recent change, is that you may now PB in a separate Window, whilst continuing with other none PB (with or without History being saved) in other windows.

I can understand you are feeling frustrated, but you are merely preaching to the converted by posting here.

Private Browsing Mode + Themes & Personas = WE WANT IT BACK!! NO FAKE MODES!! This isn't up for compromise.

As I mentioned to Dave (/questions/955230#answer-422988 &] previously) no point in asking here on this forum for: feature requests, enhancements or for anything that developers are already aware of
(and if they are not aware; posting so other users see the information, does nothing to alert developers).

The other users need to see it to be reminded that they too need to go speak up to the dev team.

The "Converted"? uh no. When we choose no history & PB-mode its to cover all bases. No trace to the best of the browsers ability. Example: Some kids are very keen on looking thru an finding out where we shop for their gifts.

The way you go to explain what is being attempted here is like a secret window with no privacy options is going to be loaded while one that pretends to be will be in "use" that's not what we want or asked for or even had previously.

It feels shady, like there's a back door to this usage. I'm not comfortable with this.

"The main, most recent change, is that you may now PB in a separate Window [why would we want this?], whilst continuing with other none PB (with or without History being saved) in other windows. [Theres no logic if we wanted to always be in full privacy mode, some of us don't have time to be cleaning our cookies an w/e per each open/close, we want simplicity click an go, no hassle, all this does is create hassle & concern.]"

PS: If your going to go on the notion that PB-mode covers "no history" then it shouldn't even exist as an option while using PB-mode. All that does is create concern that the mode isn't doing everything it should be doing to begin with.

You can use "Always use private browsing mode" or create a shortcut with the -private-window command line switch appended if you want to open a session in Private Browsing mode.

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Private+Browsing
• https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Command_Line_Options

Toggling the "Always use private browsing mode" choice in Firefox will require a browser restart.

The mask on the purple tab is cute. I don't care about the personna stuff because I don't use it. But, now private browsing opens in a new window. Don't understand why this was necessary.

Future Firefox versions will also support Private Browsing per tab, this is already available in an extension.

• Private Tab: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/private-tab/

Further Update

True Permanent Private Browsing now in Beta.

The option to easily use true Private Browsing, permanently on, selected from the privacy options, should soon be available to all. This is in fact already available to those on or switching to the Beta channel.

I would again remind all posting in this thread; that it is not an appropriate place to discuss proposed changes or enhancements to Firefox, and such messages will not be seen by developers.