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What does "Always use private browsing mode" specifically do?

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  • Last reply by cor-el

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According to https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/private-browsing-use-firefox-without-history#w_can-i-set-firefox-to-always-use-private-browsing to set your browser to always be using Private Browsing, you should set your settings to "Never Remember History". However, in Firefox 57+ there is now an option under "Use Custom Settings for History" called "Always use private browsing mode". What is the difference between these two options and is "Always use private browsing mode" new to Firefox Quantum (57)?

According to https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/private-browsing-use-firefox-without-history#w_can-i-set-firefox-to-always-use-private-browsing to set your browser to always be using Private Browsing, you should set your settings to "Never Remember History". However, in Firefox 57+ there is now an option under "Use Custom Settings for History" called "Always use private browsing mode". What is the difference between these two options and is "Always use private browsing mode" new to Firefox Quantum (57)?

Chosen solution

There is not much difference. "Always use Private Browsing mode" only toggles PB and doesn't affect other history and cookie settings. Selecting "(Never) Remember History" probably reset some setting to the default. You can check that yourself.

Note that PB mode only prevents Firefox from storing personal session data in the profile folder and that Tracking Protection is active by default.

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Always use is. Problem with that is a lot of sites expect more information and response from the browser and when it does not get it it will not allow the video, the music, the story to load. So essentially using it daily will do you no good. It is a useful tool to find a balance with.

Experiment is all I can suggest. Do not have to set to use always. Can just call up a Private Browser from 3 Bar Menu, 3rd from top. Can run both at the same time.

You can right click on a URL and Open with a Private Browser.

It is useful when do not know what the URL leads to. It keeps cookies and history until you shut down al Firefox Windows and the it Deletes everything that Private Browsing was used for.

If want more secure go to Firefox based Tor. Some of which is incorporated into Private Browsing . https://www.torproject.org/

Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.

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Thanks for the tips Pkshadow. I am mostly trying to understand the differences between the two so I can understand how they might interact with different sites and extensions.

For example, my assumption is that Never Remember Anything and Always use Private Browsing are essentially equivalent with a few differences. E.g. I assume that the list below are things Always use Private Browsing can do but Never Remember Anything can't:

  1. You can set exceptions to the rule
  2. You can choose whether to allow 3rd party cookies.

Aside from these, they are equivalent. Do you think my assumption is correct?

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Chosen Solution

There is not much difference. "Always use Private Browsing mode" only toggles PB and doesn't affect other history and cookie settings. Selecting "(Never) Remember History" probably reset some setting to the default. You can check that yourself.

Note that PB mode only prevents Firefox from storing personal session data in the profile folder and that Tracking Protection is active by default.

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Yesterday and earlier today I experienced extreme slowness with Firefox. I switched to Private Browsing and have not experienced the slowness after doing so. I suspect there is much more tracking from websites. I will be using PB most of the time now.

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Hi Juanaquena

You can try to clear the disk cache if clearing cookies isn't enough to see if that has effect (in PB mode the disk cache isn't used).

Clear the cache and remove the cookies from websites that cause problems via the "3-bar" Firefox menu button (Options/Preferences).

"Clear the cache:

  • Options/Preferences -> Privacy & Security -> Cached Web Content: "Clear Now"

"Remove the cookies" from websites that cause problems.

  • Options/Preferences -> Privacy & Security -> "Use custom settings for history" -> Cookies: "Show Cookies"

You can also check for issues caused by extensions.

You can check for issues caused by plugins.

  • set plugins (Flash) to "Ask to Activate" on the about:addons page ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Plugins)
  • plugins are not affected by Firefox Safe Mode