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I am not seeing a purple mask when I open a private window. How can I fix this?

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  • 5 have this problem
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  • Last reply by cor-el

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I've followed all the suggested fixes. Adding '-private' to the target line in properties prompted this message: Problem with Shortcut The name "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe-private" specified in the Target box is not valid. Make sure the path and file name are correct. Open to other reasonable suggestions. Thanks

I've followed all the suggested fixes. Adding '-private' to the target line in properties prompted this message: Problem with Shortcut The name "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe-private" specified in the Target box is not valid. Make sure the path and file name are correct. Open to other reasonable suggestions. Thanks

Chosen solution

You need to leave a space before a command line switch like -private and place the switch outside the path that is enclosed between quotes.

  • "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -private

But if you start Firefox that way in a Private Browsing mode session then you won't see the purple mask. You only get a purple mask and the about:privatebrowsing page in a new window when you start Firefox in normal mode and open a New Private Window to distinguish a PB mode window from a normal window.

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Chosen Solution

You need to leave a space before a command line switch like -private and place the switch outside the path that is enclosed between quotes.

  • "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -private

But if you start Firefox that way in a Private Browsing mode session then you won't see the purple mask. You only get a purple mask and the about:privatebrowsing page in a new window when you start Firefox in normal mode and open a New Private Window to distinguish a PB mode window from a normal window.