We're calling on all EU-based Mozillians with iOS or iPadOS devices to help us monitor Apple’s new browser choice screens. Join the effort to hold Big Tech to account!

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.

"Never remember history" changes to "Use custom..." and "...private mode"

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 8 views
  • Last reply by hank.leeps

hank.leeps
hank.leeps
more options

Version 94.0.2 (64-bit) Windows 10

Hi.

A few times in Settings I selected History->Never remember history, yet upon reopening the browser the setting was changed to "Use custom settings for history" and "Always use private mode." Why is this happening?

The larger issue is Cached Web Content (CWC), which doesn't completely delete like everything else. No matter the settings to delete everything upon closing or never remember, every time I reopen FF and click Clear Data there is some data in CWC (albeit in kb). I've read many pages and posts here and it's still not clear: A) Why isn't it 0 bytes and B) If a previously visited site can access the CWC, then isn't that a strike against privacy?

Sincerley,

Hank

Version 94.0.2 (64-bit) Windows 10 Hi. A few times in Settings I selected History->Never remember history, yet upon reopening the browser the setting was changed to "Use custom settings for history" and "Always use private mode." Why is this happening? The larger issue is Cached Web Content (CWC), which doesn't completely delete like everything else. No matter the settings to delete everything upon closing or never remember, every time I reopen FF and click Clear Data there is some data in CWC (albeit in kb). I've read many pages and posts here and it's still not clear: A) Why isn't it 0 bytes and B) If a previously visited site can access the CWC, then isn't that a strike against privacy? Sincerley, Hank

All Replies (4)

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

See my reply here:

hank.leeps
hank.leeps Question owner
more options

Thanks. The many options are confusing and I don't get why there is more than one way of saying or enabling Private Mode. Not really a question, just venting.

The CWC is still a concern. How come it doesn't fully empty after closing the browser when it's set to delete everything?

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

The easy way to switch on PB mode is choosing "Never remember history" and to turn it off choosing "Remember history" as in PB mode no session data is stored in the profile folder. Like I wrote, choosing "Use custom settings for history" is meant for inspecting and possibly modifying individual history settings and choosing this setting doesn't make any changes as such. "Use custom settings for history" always stays selected if you have made changes from the default history settings. With the default history settings you always see "Remember history" or "Never remember history" depending on whether PB mode is active.

hank.leeps
hank.leeps Question owner
more options

I'm not sure if that response is about the CWC, part of why I find these FF settings to be confusing (and Brave is not).