Why has "Show cookies" been buried in the FF interface?
Quite frequently, one has to delete cookies to resolve issues with a particular Web site.
In earlier versions of Firefox, "Show cookies" was more accessible. Now it's buried -- you have to choose the faux "Use custom settings for history" option from the Privacy>History drop-down. (I call it "faux" because settings are not retained, the drop-down reverts to Remember History.)
After choosing "Use custom settings for history", the "Show cookies" button appears, then you can go about your business deleting cookies.
I cannot understand why Mozilla has made such a commonly used feature so hard to find. Why the additional clicks to see the "Show Cookies" button? It doesn't seem to be part of the so-called custom settings either -- I've selected "Use custom settings for history" dozens if not hundreds of times and I still have to dig to see "Show cookies."
This is looking like bad usability to me -- or am I missing some rationale that justifies this decrease in utility from earlier FF versions?
PS I need to delete cookies so often, if I had my druthers, I'd put "Show cookies" in the History or Tools menu.
All Replies (10)
Right-click > View Page Info -> Security = View Cookies
Where was the Cookies dialog before that was more convenient?
In addition to Options, you can access the Cookies dialog in the following ways:
(1) For the current site's cookies you can use the Security panel of the Page Info dialog. Either:
- right-click/Ctrl+click a blank area of the page and choose View Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"
- (menu bar) Tools > Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"
- click the padlock or globe icon in the address bar > More Information > "View Cookies"
In the dialog that opens, the site is already pre-filled in the box at the top so you can remove that site's cookies individually.
To see cookies for all sites, clear the filter box at the top.
(2) You can open the classic bookmarks dialog in a tab by pasting the following internal address into the address bar and pressing Enter/Return:
chrome://browser/content/preferences/cookies.xul
If you keep that open in a tab or separate window at all times, you could more easily switch to it when needed. You can bookmark it for future ease of access.
(3) For a global perspective, you could try the Permissions Manager. In a new tab, type or paste about:permissions in the address bar. Again, you can keep this open for quick access.
The left column will start filling with a list of sites for which Firefox has stored cookies, history, custom permissions, etc. You can type part of the site name in the search box above the left column to filter the list. Then click any site and on the right side you'll see how many cookies, the current cookie permission setting, and you can clear cookies if you like.
(4) If you have a wide display, you could put the classic cookie dialog in the sidebar. To set that up, start with #2 above, and bookmark the page. After you create the bookmark, right-click/Ctrl+click it, choose Properties, and check the box in the lower left corner to open it in the sidebar.
That way when you use the bookmark, it will appear next to the page for quick access and you can either keep it open as you browse or close it when you're done. But it is a little cramped if you don't have a wide display.
Do any those fit with your way of working?
the-edmeister said
Right-click > View Page Info -> Security = View Cookies
This does not address my question. I don't want info for a particular page. I want to clear cookies from a particular site -- a process I'm sure you've done frequently, too.
(And I'm on a Mac.)
You can inspect the cookies for the domain in the currently selected tab:
- click the "Site Identity Button" (globe/padlock) on the location/address bar
- click "More Information" to open "Tools > Page Info" with the Security tab selected
You can click "View Cookies" to inspect the cookies for the domain in the currently selected tab.
jscher2000 said
Where was the Cookies dialog before that was more convenient? In addition to Options, you can access the Cookies dialog in the following ways: (1) For the current site's cookies you can use the Security panel of the Page Info dialog. Either:In the dialog that opens, the site is already pre-filled in the box at the top so you can remove that site's cookies individually. To see cookies for all sites, clear the filter box at the top. (2) You can open the classic bookmarks dialog in a tab by pasting the following internal address into the address bar and pressing Enter/Return: chrome://browser/content/preferences/cookies.xul If you keep that open in a tab or separate window at all times, you could more easily switch to it when needed. You can bookmark it for future ease of access. (3) For a global perspective, you could try the Permissions Manager. In a new tab, type or paste about:permissions in the address bar. Again, you can keep this open for quick access. The left column will start filling with a list of sites for which Firefox has stored cookies, history, custom permissions, etc. You can type part of the site name in the search box above the left column to filter the list. Then click any site and on the right side you'll see how many cookies, the current cookie permission setting, and you can clear cookies if you like. (4) If you have a wide display, you could put the classic cookie dialog in the sidebar. To set that up, start with #2 above, and bookmark the page. After you create the bookmark, right-click/Ctrl+click it, choose Properties, and check the box in the lower left corner to open it in the sidebar. That way when you use the bookmark, it will appear next to the page for quick access and you can either keep it open as you browse or close it when you're done. But it is a little cramped if you don't have a wide display. Do any those fit with your way of working?
- right-click/Ctrl+click a blank area of the page and choose View Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"
- (menu bar) Tools > Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"
- click the padlock or globe icon in the address bar > More Information > "View Cookies"
Thanks for the time and care you put into this.
Please note that I am asking about why the interface is designed in a way that makes a common activity a multi-click operation when it could be a one-click operation.
You can also look at this extension
- Page Info Button: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/page-info-button/
crabpaws said
Please note that I am asking about why the interface is designed in a way that makes a common activity a multi-click operation when it could be a one-click operation.
I often do not know the answer to "why" questions, and this is one of those cases. If you feel faster access to the cookie dialog is important, you can submit a feature suggestion here:
crabpaws said
... you have to choose the faux "Use custom settings for history" option from the Privacy>History drop-down. (I call it "faux" because settings are not retained, the drop-down reverts to Remember History.)
If you make a change to one of the settings in that section, it should continue to show Use custom settings for history. For example, I don't use Form & search history, and I default cookies to "until I close Firefox". So I always see "Use custom settings for history".
the-edmeister said
Right-click > View Page Info -> Security = View Cookies
- Searches "View" menu*
If it requires a right click, it's a hidden feature.
It doesn't work with error-message pages either.
You can inspect the cookies and passwords for the domain in the currently selected tab:
- click the "Site Identity Button" (globe/padlock) on the location/address bar
- click the arrow at the right end
- click "More Information" to open "Tools > Page Info"
- Go to the Security tab
You can click "View Cookies" to inspect the cookies for the domain in the currently selected tab. You can click "View Saved Passwords" to inspect the passwords for the domain in the currently selected tab.