Join the AMA (Ask Me Anything) with the Firefox leadership team to celebrate Firefox 20th anniversary and discuss Firefox’s future on Mozilla Connect. Mark your calendar on Thursday, November 14, 18:00 - 20:00 UTC!

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

When I close FF4 I'm not given the option to save multiple tabs to open on my next session

  • 2 replies
  • 14 have this problem
  • 18 views
  • Last reply by bucannen85

more options

When I updated to FF4 I was sad to see one of my favorite features was no longer there. Along with a mile long address bar and home button that's almost off the screen. I've also noticed that there's no history button next to the forward and back buttons why is this. I like FF4 but what can I do about these features that I would have liked to seen carried over.

When I updated to FF4 I was sad to see one of my favorite features was no longer there. Along with a mile long address bar and home button that's almost off the screen. I've also noticed that there's no history button next to the forward and back buttons why is this. I like FF4 but what can I do about these features that I would have liked to seen carried over.

Chosen solution

One of the changes in Firefox 4: by default Firefox 4 does not display the "Save Tabs and Exit" warning message when closing multiple tabs, but it can be turned back on by changing some preferences.

  • Saving tabs was not removed from Firefox 4, but it works a bit differently.
  • By default, Firefox 4 will not ask to save tabs, but instead it will always save your tabs on exit unless you are in Private Browsing mode. You can restore them next time by:
    1. clicking Firefox button > History >"Restore Previous Session", or
    2. type about:home in the URL bar and press the Enter key, then press the "Restore Previous Session" button
  • Note: This was a decision by the developers. On this forum, we are all uncompensated volunteers here to help other users. The developes/employees of Mozilla/Firefox rarely, if ever visit here.

To display the "Save Tabs and Exit" message when closing multiple tabs, you can do the following:

  1. Type about:config in the URL/Location/Address bar and press the Enter key
  2. Accept the warning message (promise to be careful)
  3. The preferences page/list will open
  4. Filter = browser.tabs.warnOnClose
  5. If its value is set to false, double-click on it (in the lower panel) to toggle its value to true
  6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for these following 3 preferences also:
    • browser.warnOnQuit
    • browser.warnOnRestart
    • browser.showQuitWarning
  7. See:

Some things to check if tabs are not being saved:

  1. Browsing history must be saved
    • Firefox button: Firefox button > Options > Options > Privacy > [X] Remember my browsing history
    • Menu Bar: Tools > Options > Privacy > [X] Remember my browsing history
  2. Also make sure you do not clear "Browsing History" when using Clear Recent History or when closing Firefox
    • Using Clear Recent History
      • Firefox button: Firefox button > History >Clear Recent History
      • Menu Bar: Tools > Clear Recent History
    • When closing Firefox
  3. Make sure you are not in Private Browsing mode or in permanent Private Browsing mode:
  4. If you have theTab Mix Plusextension, then disable the built-in session restore.




You need to update the following. The Plugin version(s) shown below was/were submitted with your question and is/are out of date. You should update to avoid known security issues with the version(s) you have installed. Click on "More system info..." to the right of your question to see what was included with your question.

  • Adobe PDF Plug-In For Firefox and Netscape "9.3.3"
  • Shockwave Flash 10.2 r152
  • Next Generation Java Plug-in 1.6.0_22 for Mozilla browsers
  1. Check your plugin versions on either of the following links':
  2. Update Adobe Reader (PDF plugin):
    • From within your existing Adobe Reader (if you have it already installed):
      • Open the Adobe Reader program from your Programs list
      • Click Help > Check for Updates
      • Follow the prompts for updating
      • If this method works for you, skip the "Download complete installer" section below and proceed to "After the installation" below
    • Download complete installer (if you do NOT have Adobe Reader installed):
    • After the installation, start Firefox and check your version again.
  3. Update the Flash plugin to the latest version.
    • Download and SAVE to your Desktop so you can find the installer later
    • If you do not have the current version, click on the "Player Download Center" link on the "Download and information" or "Download Manual installers" below
    • After download is complete, exit Firefox
    • Click on the installer you just downloaded and install
      • Windows 7 and Vista: may need to right-click the installer and choose "Run as Administrator"
    • Start Firefox and check your version again or test the installation by going back to the download link below
    • Download and information: http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/
      • Use Firefox to go to the above site to update the Firefox plugin (will also install plugin for most other browsers; except IE)
      • Use IE to go to the above site to update the IE ActiveX
    • Download Manual installers.
  4. Update the Java plugin to the latest version.
Read this answer in context 👍 2

All Replies (2)

more options

Chosen Solution

One of the changes in Firefox 4: by default Firefox 4 does not display the "Save Tabs and Exit" warning message when closing multiple tabs, but it can be turned back on by changing some preferences.

  • Saving tabs was not removed from Firefox 4, but it works a bit differently.
  • By default, Firefox 4 will not ask to save tabs, but instead it will always save your tabs on exit unless you are in Private Browsing mode. You can restore them next time by:
    1. clicking Firefox button > History >"Restore Previous Session", or
    2. type about:home in the URL bar and press the Enter key, then press the "Restore Previous Session" button
  • Note: This was a decision by the developers. On this forum, we are all uncompensated volunteers here to help other users. The developes/employees of Mozilla/Firefox rarely, if ever visit here.

To display the "Save Tabs and Exit" message when closing multiple tabs, you can do the following:

  1. Type about:config in the URL/Location/Address bar and press the Enter key
  2. Accept the warning message (promise to be careful)
  3. The preferences page/list will open
  4. Filter = browser.tabs.warnOnClose
  5. If its value is set to false, double-click on it (in the lower panel) to toggle its value to true
  6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for these following 3 preferences also:
    • browser.warnOnQuit
    • browser.warnOnRestart
    • browser.showQuitWarning
  7. See:

Some things to check if tabs are not being saved:

  1. Browsing history must be saved
    • Firefox button: Firefox button > Options > Options > Privacy > [X] Remember my browsing history
    • Menu Bar: Tools > Options > Privacy > [X] Remember my browsing history
  2. Also make sure you do not clear "Browsing History" when using Clear Recent History or when closing Firefox
    • Using Clear Recent History
      • Firefox button: Firefox button > History >Clear Recent History
      • Menu Bar: Tools > Clear Recent History
    • When closing Firefox
  3. Make sure you are not in Private Browsing mode or in permanent Private Browsing mode:
  4. If you have theTab Mix Plusextension, then disable the built-in session restore.




You need to update the following. The Plugin version(s) shown below was/were submitted with your question and is/are out of date. You should update to avoid known security issues with the version(s) you have installed. Click on "More system info..." to the right of your question to see what was included with your question.

  • Adobe PDF Plug-In For Firefox and Netscape "9.3.3"
  • Shockwave Flash 10.2 r152
  • Next Generation Java Plug-in 1.6.0_22 for Mozilla browsers
  1. Check your plugin versions on either of the following links':
  2. Update Adobe Reader (PDF plugin):
    • From within your existing Adobe Reader (if you have it already installed):
      • Open the Adobe Reader program from your Programs list
      • Click Help > Check for Updates
      • Follow the prompts for updating
      • If this method works for you, skip the "Download complete installer" section below and proceed to "After the installation" below
    • Download complete installer (if you do NOT have Adobe Reader installed):
    • After the installation, start Firefox and check your version again.
  3. Update the Flash plugin to the latest version.
    • Download and SAVE to your Desktop so you can find the installer later
    • If you do not have the current version, click on the "Player Download Center" link on the "Download and information" or "Download Manual installers" below
    • After download is complete, exit Firefox
    • Click on the installer you just downloaded and install
      • Windows 7 and Vista: may need to right-click the installer and choose "Run as Administrator"
    • Start Firefox and check your version again or test the installation by going back to the download link below
    • Download and information: http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/
      • Use Firefox to go to the above site to update the Firefox plugin (will also install plugin for most other browsers; except IE)
      • Use IE to go to the above site to update the IE ActiveX
    • Download Manual installers.
  4. Update the Java plugin to the latest version.
more options

Thanks for the help that did the trick for the saving tabs an close now if I could get the home button back on the left side.

When I was typing this reply I found how to get the home button back on the left or where ever you want it. Right click the to bar in an empty spot and you should see a sub menu click on Customize then grab and drop where you want it.

http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/how-do-i-customize-toolbars#w_how-do-i-customize-or-rearrange-toolbar-items

Modified by bucannen85