Avatar for Username

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

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

I cannot erase the address bar search history in both Private and Non Private Browsing

  • 5 replies
  • 3 have this problem
  • 7 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

Bill
Bill
more options

I have already gone to Preferences >>Privacy >>Clear History and cleared "All Time", including Search history. Despite this all prior entries into the address bar reappear, showing all sites I have searched for using the address bar. How do you wipe that entry history? I even tried to use this method 

   In the address bar, type about:config and press Return.
   The about:config "This might void your warranty!" warning page may appear. Click I accept the risk! to continue to the about:config page. 
   In the Search field, type keyword.enabled.
   Double-click the keyword.enabled preference to set its value to false.

Any ideas?

I have already gone to Preferences >>Privacy >>Clear History and cleared "All Time", including Search history. Despite this all prior entries into the address bar reappear, showing all sites I have searched for using the address bar. How do you wipe that entry history? I even tried to use this method In the address bar, type about:config and press Return. The about:config "This might void your warranty!" warning page may appear. Click I accept the risk! to continue to the about:config page. In the Search field, type keyword.enabled. Double-click the keyword.enabled preference to set its value to false. Any ideas?

Chosen solution

See:

You can delete the places.sqlite database that stores bookmarks and history if you can't remove the location history otherwise.

If the Places Maintenance extension can't repair the places.sqlite database then remove all places.sqlite file(s) in the Firefox profile folder to make Firefox rebuild the places.sqlite database from the most recent JSON backup in the bookmarkbackups folder.

You can use the button on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page.

Read this answer in context 👍 2

All Replies (5)

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Chosen Solution

See:

You can delete the places.sqlite database that stores bookmarks and history if you can't remove the location history otherwise.

If the Places Maintenance extension can't repair the places.sqlite database then remove all places.sqlite file(s) in the Firefox profile folder to make Firefox rebuild the places.sqlite database from the most recent JSON backup in the bookmarkbackups folder.

You can use the button on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page.

FredMcD
FredMcD
more options

Type about:preferences#privacy<enter> in the address bar.

The button next to History, select Use Custom Settings.

Turn on Remember My Browsing And Download History At the bottom of the page, turn on Clear History When Firefox Closes. At the far right, press the Settings button. Turn on Cache and Form And Search History.

Bill
Bill Question owner
more options

I tried FredMcD's solution but so far no luck. I will reboot the computer to see if that helps. If not I will try Cor-el's. Thanks

Bill
Bill Question owner
more options

The issue was solved by careful reading of the explanation in the Mozilla Support links provided by Cor-el. Especially the second link. Key issue issue is recognizing it pulls up bookmarks labelled with a star to the left. 

   https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Clearing+Location+bar+history
   https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Cannot+clear+Location+bar+history

Why clearing history does not clear the Location bar

Items that appear with a star along the right edge are part of your bookmarks and not your browsing history.

Thanks for the help

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Items with a star are part of the bookmarks and become an history item when you visit a bookmarked page, so they can show as a bookmark and as a history item when both are selected to show in the drop-down list.

You can set what suggestions show when you enter an URL in the location/address bar bar via Options/Preferences -> Privacy

  • Location Bar: When using the location bar, suggest:
    History
    Bookmarks
    Open tabs