How to restore tabs from previous session
A recurring problem with FF (currently v. 31.0) is that open tabs from a previous session are lost. It's annoying enough -- if, perhaps, understandable -- after a crash but today all of my tabs were lost when I just closed FF and reopened it.
FF is set to restore the previous session when it is launched and this time I did not even get the "Well, this is embarrassing" window complaining about problems restoring the previous session. The tabs were simply all gone. I tried reverting the sessionstore.js file and, even though I get a message confirming the operation, nothing changes when I close and launch FF again.
Perhaps it is worth noting that when I choose a version of this file to restore by navigating to:
sessionstore.js --> Properties --> "Previous Versions" --> <version>
<version> disappears from the list of restore points but it is always there again when I navigate back to that option.
Any advice is appreciated.
Ilungisiwe
All Replies (2)
Make sure that you do not run Firefox in permanent Private Browsing mode (Never remember history).
- Tools > Options > Privacy > Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history"
- Deselect: [ ] "Always use Private Browsing mode"
You can check for problems with the sessionstore.js and sessionstore.bak files in the Firefox profile folder that store session data.
- Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder (Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder)
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Multiple_profile_files_created
Deleting sessionstore.js will cause App Tabs and Tab Groups and open and closed (undo) tabs to get lost and you will have to recreate them (make a note or bookmark them if possible).
"Always use private browsing mode" was already de-selected.
I already found the sessionstore.js file but attempting to restore an early version had no apparent effect. I am not sure how to check this file for errors -- it is not human readable.
Out of curiosity, I temporarily replaced sessionstore.js with sessionstore.bak and this too had no apparent effect. However, now there is an extra sessionstore.js and sessionstore.bak.