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clear recent history grayed out

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I noticed under my hitory tab that "clear recent history" is greyed out. I thought this was normal because I am using private browsing but I noticed that several websites are listed under history.

Is it proper for "clear recent history" to be greyed out?

I noticed under my hitory tab that "clear recent history" is greyed out. I thought this was normal because I am using private browsing but I noticed that several websites are listed under history. Is it proper for "clear recent history" to be greyed out?

All Replies (10)

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Make sure you do not run Firefox in permanent Private Browsing mode (Always use Private Browsing mode; Never Remember History).

  • Options/Preferences -> Privacy & Security
    Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history"
  • remove checkmark: [ ] "Always use Private Browsing mode"
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I am running in private mode. why should the history be displayed and I am not able to clear the values?

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If you access the History menu while you're in a private window, you'll see history entries from regular windows. (For your convenience? Because it's hard to hide them in different windows?) Private window history will not be added to the menu, and it's a "read only" view from there. To remove regular window history, use a regular window.

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jscher2000 What is the reason I can't "clear recent history" while in private mode? It should be removal able since its a convients.

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Hi, he explained that in his post. Please note Firefox update to version 62.0 tomorrow. Help --> ABout to start it or : https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/62.0/mac/

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Version 62 no longer shows history.

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mace2 said

Version 62 no longer shows history.

Does that mean this problem is solved, or is it a new problem?

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Version 62 does not show any history when in private browsing mode.

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The problem with the "history will not clear", "history not showing" etc is because when one clicks on 'HISTORY' in the menu then clicks on 'Clear Recent History' the box for "CLEAR NOW" is not there more often than being there. The 'Clear All History' box will appear more narrow than a normal box should. If you do it a second time the "CLEAR NOW" box will appear. This has been going on for about 3 months now on each version of Firefox that comes out. Currently I'm on 65.0b12 (64 bit) and it happens about 3 out of 5 times during a day. It is more of a 'nag' but it needs to be fixed. I thought Mozilla would have fixed this by now because it has been going on for some time. I'm not using "privacy" mode either.

wahoospa trɔe

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Hi wahoospa, it sounds as though you are using the classic pop-up "Clear Recent History" dialog rather than the in-page dialog on the Options/Preferences page.

Does it seem to be a problem with Firefox intermittently drawing the dialog too small, so the bottom buttons are cut off? Or are they grayed out (disabled)? Or is that lower area blank?