Firefox forgets custom server certificate exceptions in certificate manager
When I add certificate exceptions, such as for my router's self-signed certificate, Firefox forgets the exception at seemingly random intervals. Often this happens in several days. In one case it was overnight. This has been going since at least early 2023, probably a year.
In noticed Firefox also forgets settings like "allow popups" set on a site (like on Gmail for example), but not necessarily at the same time as certificate exceptions are forgotten. Other settings don't seem to be changed or forgotten.
These problems occur on different Macs using the same Mozilla account. Refreshing Firefox has made no difference.
All Replies (3)
Hi jondagle,
I understand that you're experiencing issues with Firefox forgetting custom server certificate exceptions in the certificate manager. It seems that Firefox randomly forgets these exceptions, sometimes within a few days or even overnight. You've also noticed that other settings, like "allow popups" on specific sites, may be forgotten as well.
As a Firefox support volunteer, I recommend trying a few troubleshooting steps to address this issue. Please follow these suggestions:
Clear the Firefox cache: Go to the Firefox menu, select Options, then Privacy & Security. Scroll down to the Cookies and Site Data section and click on "Clear Data." Make sure to select both "Cookies and Site Data" and "Cached Web Content," then click "Clear."
Reset Firefox settings: Open the Firefox menu, select Help, then "Troubleshooting Information." In the new tab that opens, click on the "Refresh Firefox" button. This will reset Firefox to its default settings while keeping your essential information intact.
Disable extensions: Sometimes, conflicts with certain extensions can cause issues. Temporarily disable all extensions and check if the problem persists. If it doesn't occur with extensions disabled, try enabling them one by one to identify the problematic one.
Create a new Firefox profile: A corrupted Firefox profile can also cause unexpected behavior. Create a new profile by launching Firefox with the "about:profiles" address and clicking on "Create a New Profile." Follow the prompts to set up the new profile, and then test if the issue occurs in the new profile.
If none of the above steps resolve the problem, please provide additional information such as the version of Firefox you're using, the operating system, and any specific websites or scenarios where the certificate exceptions are forgotten. This will help us investigate the issue further and provide more targeted assistance.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any further questions or if the issue persists.
Already reset (which I mistakenly called "refresh") and cleared all data (which is included in a reset anyway, right?). I would love to know how extensions can access or clear certificate exceptions. That seems like it owuld be quite a flaw. Would you elaborate on this?
Regarding versions, this problem has persisted from about version 100 through the latest. macos 12.xx and 13.xx. There are no "scenarios" or where certificates are lost (along with other settings). It just happens in normal use.
Meanwhile I'll try setting up a new profile.
This continues to be a problem. All five of custom certificates and several site allow-pop up preferences were removed when I updated to Firefox 115. I know this because i had to add one that had previously been "forgotten" just yesterday. Today after the update, all gone. Firefox randomly decides my choices don't need to be saved? This is ridiculous.