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

private browsing turns on automatically and blocks content, but not immediately when i open the browser, and i want this to stop.

  • 5 replies
  • 3 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by vasistha

more options

In order to access some content, I have to close the browser and then re-start it. When it starts up, I have access to websites that I visit. this is basic stuff, news videos, cable TV sites, youtube, and even airbnb. But then after about 5 minutes (or less) content is blocked. I can't visit airbnb, or other common sites, and for some sites I get a message that I have to turn off private browsing to access the content. If I shut down the browser and then re-start, I can access these sites, for about 5 minutes, and then it is blocked again. this is basic content and nothing extreme or unusual. I've searched how to turn off private browsing, and it get advice to allow the browser to save history, or adjust some settings in the options. but that is done. and i'm still having the private browsing turn on automatically and block content. what is going on? i have the ad block, is that the issue? do i have a virus?

In order to access some content, I have to close the browser and then re-start it. When it starts up, I have access to websites that I visit. this is basic stuff, news videos, cable TV sites, youtube, and even airbnb. But then after about 5 minutes (or less) content is blocked. I can't visit airbnb, or other common sites, and for some sites I get a message that I have to turn off private browsing to access the content. If I shut down the browser and then re-start, I can access these sites, for about 5 minutes, and then it is blocked again. this is basic content and nothing extreme or unusual. I've searched how to turn off private browsing, and it get advice to allow the browser to save history, or adjust some settings in the options. but that is done. and i'm still having the private browsing turn on automatically and block content. what is going on? i have the ad block, is that the issue? do i have a virus?

All Replies (5)

more options

Go to about:preferences#privacy in the address bar. If you've selected Firefox to "Never remember history", you'll have to choose another option. If you've selected "Use custom settings for history", please confirm that "Always use private browsing mode" is unchecked.

Also see: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/tracking-protection-pbm

more options

Did the browser close or crash?

In the address bar, type about:crashes<enter>. Note: If any reports do not have BP- in front of the numbers/letters, click it to submit them.

The crash report is several pages of data. We need the report numbers to see the whole report.

Using your mouse, mark the most recent 7 - 10 crash reports, and copy them. Press the Reply button. Now go to the reply box and paste them in.

aboutcrashesFx29

For more help on crash reports, see; https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-crashes-asking-support

more options

the browser does sometimes crash, but that is not the issue. the problem is that it stalls indefinitely when i want to access content, and for some sites it tells me to turn off private browsing to access content. so it is more like it locks. but not for every page. I can still access email, but sometimes I can't upload or download attachments. I have to shut the browser and restart to be able to turn off the private browsing and then it will work again. other pages, like youtube, will just be stalled. i haven't turned on private browsing, and under preferences#privacy remember history is checked and has been since this started.

more options

What makes you think that private browsing mode is turned on apart from the message that the website displays? Are there any settings changed in Firefox?


You can check the Web Console (Tools -> Web Developer) for error messages about blocked and unsafe and mixed content.

You can check the Network Monitor to see if content is blocked or otherwise fails to load.

Use "Command+Shift+R" to reload the page and bypass the cache to generate a fresh log.

more options

no settings are changed in firefox. I opened the network monitor and did the page reset for democracynow.org, which is blocked for me right now, and it doesn't look like it is blocked, based on the log. but the video won't play. I know that if i restart the browser the video will play and if i open chrome it will play.