Restore previous session - Configure when Firefox shows your most recent tabs and windows

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  • Revision id: 14077
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  • Creator: AliceWyman
  • Comment: removed fx3 content, added FxCrash-RestoreSession screenshot to update article for Firefox 4
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  • Reviewed by: scoobidiver
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  • Readied for localization by: scoobidiver
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Firefox can be configured to restore all windows and tabs that were open when the application is closed or terminated unexpectedly. This article describes the circumstances under which your session is restored and how you can configure it.

When session restore occurs

Software crash

Due to unexpected issues such as problems with a website, software errors, or an accidental loss of power, Firefox may unexpectedly close. In these situations, Firefox can restore the pages that you were visiting when it is restarted. Firefox will automatically restore your previous session, the first time you launch it after a crash.

If Firefox crashes a second time, the Restore Session (i.e. "Well this is embarrassing") page will appear when you next launch Firefox.
FxCrash-RestoreSession

  • To restore your previous session, select the windows or tabs you want to restore and click Restore.
  • If Firefox continues to experience errors when windows and tabs are re-opened, you can launch Firefox without restoring these items. Click Start New Session.

After installing an add-on

50d69608d844b9c206ea8615c091cae1-1258706212-695-1.png When a new extension or theme is installed, you must restart Firefox to enable the new add-on. To restart, click Restart Firefox. All windows and tabs are re-opened when Firefox restarts and installs the new add-on.

After a software update

To apply any updates to the Firefox application that have been downloaded, you must restart Firefox. To restart, click Restart Firefox.


Configuring session restore

By default, when Firefox starts, a single window is opened, displaying your specified home page. If desired, you can configure Firefox to open all windows and tabs from your previous session: 50d69608d844b9c206ea8615c091cae1-1258706212-695-2.png

  1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and then select Preferences or Settings, depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button Fx89menuButton and select Settings.
  2. Select the General panel (Main panel in Firefox 3.5).
  3. From the When Firefox starts drop-down, select Show my windows and tabs from last time.
  4. Close the Settings page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.
Note: When the Restore Session feature is enabled, you should close Firefox by opening the FileFirefox menu and selecting ExitQuitQuit Firefox. If you close each window one at a time, only the tabs in the final window that you close are re-opened upon Firefox restart.


Privacy issues

Session Restore may keep you logged in to sites that you were logged into before you closed Firefox. If someone else used your computer after you, they could access your account on these sites. If this is a concern then you should not configure Firefox to open all windows and tabs from your previous session ("Show my windows and tabs from last time" option described above).

You may also wish to disable the Session Restore crash recovery feature which is enabled by default. This will prevent restoring a previous session when Firefox is opened after an unexpected close or software crash:

  1. Type about:config in the address bar and press EnterReturn.
    A warning page may appear. Click Accept the Risk and Continue to go to the about:config page.
  2. Find browser.sessionstore.resume_from_crash in the list
  3. Double-click on browser.sessionstore.resume_from_crash to set it to false.





Based on information from Session Restore (mozillaZine KB)