Avatar for Username

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

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Ok. I am in permanant private browsing mode. Do not know how I got there but how do I get out? so I can just click on private browsing I ned it?

  • 4 replies
  • 7 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by cor-el

smokenguns
smokenguns
more options

somehow I am in private browsing mode permanently. When I click on file ans go to 'new private window", I get a new window but no little mask in the upper right. I understand this means I am always in private browsing mode. How do I turn this feature off so I can open a private window only when I need one?

somehow I am in private browsing mode permanently. When I click on file ans go to 'new private window", I get a new window but no little mask in the upper right. I understand this means I am always in private browsing mode. How do I turn this feature off so I can open a private window only when I need one?

Chosen solution

Hello Smokenguns, Thank you for asking!! It looks like you are using custom settings for history, and have an option enabled locking you in permanent private browsing mode. Here's how to get out: Go to Menu>Settings>Privacy From there, uncheck the box that says "Always Use Private Browsing Mode". See the screenshot if you can't find it.

Have a great day!!

Jon

Read this answer in context 👍 6

All Replies (4)

Jon Gregory
Jon Gregory
more options

Chosen Solution

Hello Smokenguns, Thank you for asking!! It looks like you are using custom settings for history, and have an option enabled locking you in permanent private browsing mode. Here's how to get out: Go to Menu>Settings>Privacy From there, uncheck the box that says "Always Use Private Browsing Mode". See the screenshot if you can't find it.

Have a great day!!

Jon

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

See also:

Claudia
Claudia
more options

smokenguns said

somehow I am in private browsing mode permanently. When I click on file ans go to 'new private window", I get a new window but no little mask in the upper right. I understand this means I am always in private browsing mode. How do I turn this feature off so I can open a private window only when I need one?

Jon Gregory said

Hello Smokenguns, Thank you for asking!! It looks like you are using custom settings for history, and have an option enabled locking you in permanent private browsing mode. Here's how to get out: Go to Menu>Settings>Privacy From there, uncheck the box that says "Always Use Private Browsing Mode". See the screenshot if you can't find it. Have a great day!! Jon 
Well, so how is that my tabs always open in private browsing since this afternoon, and I don't have custom settings for history and there's no "Always Use Private Browsing Mode" option anywhere? There's nothing new in the options window, the tab menu doesn't say a thing about provate browsing on/off and about:config doesn't let me customize either?

I don't want private browsing!

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

To see all History and Cookie settings, choose:

  • Tools > Options > Privacy > Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history"

What is the value of the browser.privatebrowsing.autostart pref on the about:config page?

Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions (Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.

  • Switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance
  • Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe Mode start window

You can check the target line in the Firefox desktop shortcut (right-click: Properties) to make sure that nothing is appended after the path to the Firefox program.