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Firefox History Set to "Always Use Private Browsing Mode" but "Recently Closed Tabs" Still Appear in History

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I have my Firefox Firefox Privacy & Security History settings set to 'Always Use Private Browsing Mode.' Yet every time I open Firefox and visit the History tab, 'Recently Closed Tabs' shows a history of the websites I've visited. How do I disable this feature?

I have my Firefox Firefox Privacy & Security History settings set to 'Always Use Private Browsing Mode.' Yet every time I open Firefox and visit the History tab, 'Recently Closed Tabs' shows a history of the websites I've visited. How do I disable this feature?
Sarin'efijery napaingotra

Vahaolana nofidina

Recently closed tabs are only cleared after you close all private windows. You can disable it by going to about:config in the address bar and changing browser.sessionstore.max_tabs_undo to 0.

Hamaky an'ity valiny ity @ sehatra 👍 2

All Replies (10)

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Can I set Firefox to always use Private Browsing? In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and select Preferences. ... Select the Privacy & Security panel and go to the History section. Choose Use custom settings for history from the drop-down menu and check the Always use private browsing mode setting.

Regards, Jimmy

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Thanks Jimmy but that wasn’t my question. I’m already using private browsing. Please reread my question.

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Are you sure you closed every single Firefox window? The session persists as long as one window remains.

See if it still happens with all your extensions disabled.

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The problem persists after shutting down Firefox. I have no extensions so nothing to disable.

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Does it still happen in a new profile? An easy way to test a new profile is to install Developer Edition and see if it happens there or refresh your existing profile.

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Refreshed existing profile. Then went into Settings and reset 'Always Use Private Browsing Mode.' 'Recently Closed Tabs' still appearing in History. There must be a way to disable this. Private Browsing isn’t private if it remembers your ‘Recently Closed Tabs?’

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Vahaolana Nofidina

Recently closed tabs are only cleared after you close all private windows. You can disable it by going to about:config in the address bar and changing browser.sessionstore.max_tabs_undo to 0.

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To terminate your Firefox session on Mac, make sure to use Quit, either:

  • menu button > Quit
  • (menu bar) Firefox > Quit

(As a Windows person, I don't know the exact wording, sorry.)

If you still have previous session browsing history or open/closed tabs after using Quit, maybe automatic private browsing isn't actually taking effect?

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I am using windows. Firefox deletes history in private mode after 1 hour. I cannot get history deleted on closing the browser. When I reopen Firefox, it auto completes my Url entry. Sometimes the history is retained after 5 hours.

My dilemma is I want history in non-private mode, but not in private mode.

It is a concern. I may have to go back to Edge browser.

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@spinvst

Do you notice leftover/orphaned Firefox processes in the Windows task manager after you close Firefox? Do you use the close X or Exit in the menu ? Using Exit/quit is the recommended way to ensure that Firefox closes properly.