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

Why do I lose my session if I have anonymous tabs open?

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

Let's say I have a session going on with a lot of tabs that I want to eventually get to. If I open an anonymous window, then close the main browser window BEFORE I close the anonymous one, my entire session is lost forever. I can't restore session if I try to reopen the browser, regardless of if I close the anonymous window.

Why is that? Can I stop it from happening somehow? I don't want to lose my sessions whenever I forget I have an anonymous window open.

Let's say I have a session going on with a lot of tabs that I want to eventually get to. If I open an anonymous window, then close the main browser window BEFORE I close the anonymous one, my entire session is lost forever. I can't restore session if I try to reopen the browser, regardless of if I close the anonymous window. Why is that? Can I stop it from happening somehow? I don't want to lose my sessions whenever I forget I have an anonymous window open.

All Replies (2)

more options

You have a normal window open. You then open a Private Window and close the normal window. Are you saying that the session from the normal window is not saved?

Open the History Manager and check. Press the Alt or F10 key bring up the toolbar, and select History. Hot key is; <Control> (Mac=<Command>) <Shift> H.

more options

Only the last closed window will be restored and if this is a PB mode window then your main window might be lost.

Did you try History -> Recently Closed Tabs/Windows ?

Make it an habit and use one of these to close Firefox if you are currently doing that by clicking the close X on the Firefox Title bar to prevent issues with unnoticed windows open in the background.

  • "3-bar" menu button -> Exit (Power button)
  • Windows: File -> Exit
  • Mac: Firefox -> Quit Firefox
  • Linux: File -> Quit