This article describes the settings that are available in the '''Privacy''' panel of the Firefox [[Options Window|{for win}Options{/for}{for mac,linux}Preferences{/for} window]]. The Privacy panel allows you to: * Control how Firefox handles your history, which includes what pages you've visited, what files you've downloaded, what you've entered into forms, and what [[cookies]] sites have sent you. * Control what sites can send you cookies and remove cookies that sites have sent you. * Control how the Location bar uses history to suggest matches for what you type. For more information, see [[Location bar autocomplete]]. __TOC__ = History = The '''Firefox will''' setting controls how Firefox saves information about your web browsing. == Remember history == {for win,fx35}[[Image:c429d2de8abb3a0c9ba3bdc67b5b7f5f-1258875743-327-6.png]]{/for}{for mac,fx35}[[Image:c429d2de8abb3a0c9ba3bdc67b5b7f5f-1260031568-484-2.png]]{/for}{for linux,fx35}[[Image:c429d2de8abb3a0c9ba3bdc67b5b7f5f-1258875743-327-1.png]]{/for}{for win,fx4}[[Image:Options - Privacy - Win1]]{/for}{for mac,fx4}[[Image:Prefs - Privacy - Mac1]]{/for}{for linux,fx4}[[Image:Prefs - Privacy - Lin1]]{/for} When '''Firefox will''' is set to '''Remember history''': * Your browsing history, which is the list of pages you've visited, will be kept for 90 days. * A list of files you download will be kept in the [[Downloads window]]. * The text you enter into form fields or the search bar will be remembered so you can use those entries again. For more information, see [[Form autocomplete]]. * Firefox will accept cookies from sites until they expire. For more information on cookies, see [[Cookies]]. Click on: * '''clear your recent history''' to open the Clear Recent History window, which allows you to erase some or all of your history quickly. For more information, see [[Clear Recent History]]. * '''remove individual cookies''' to display the Cookies window. For more information, see [[Deleting cookies]]. == Never remember history == When '''Firefox will''' is set to '''Never remember history''': * Firefox will keep no record of your browsing history. * The files you download will not be listed in the [[Downloads window]]. * The text you enter into form fields or the search bar will not be remembered. * Firefox will accept cookies from sites and delete them when you close Firefox. For more information on cookies, see [[Cookies]]. Using '''Never remember history''' is equivalent to always being in Firefox Private Browsing mode. For more information, see [[Private Browsing]]. Click on '''clear all current history''' to open the Clear Recent History window, which allows you to erase some or all of your history quickly. For more information, see [[Clear Recent History]]. == Use custom settings for history == {for win,fx35}[[Image:c429d2de8abb3a0c9ba3bdc67b5b7f5f-1258875743-327-5.png]]{/for}{for mac,fx35}[[Image:c429d2de8abb3a0c9ba3bdc67b5b7f5f-1260031568-484-1.png]]{/for}{for linux,fx35}[[Image:c429d2de8abb3a0c9ba3bdc67b5b7f5f-1258875743-327-2.png]]{/for}{for win,fx4}[[Image:Options - Privacy - Win2]]{/for}{for mac,fx4}[[Image:Prefs - Privacy - Mac2]]{/for}{for linux,fx4}[[Image:Prefs - Privacy - Lin2]]{/for} When '''Firefox will''' is set to '''Use custom settings for history''', the following settings will be available: * '''{for fx35}Automatically start Firefox in a private browsing session{/for}{for fx4}Permanent Private Browsing mode{/for}''': <br/> If selected, Firefox will not remember any new history the next time it starts. For more information, see [[Private Browsing]]. * '''Remember my browsing history{for fx35} for at least ''n'' days{/for}''': <br/> If selected, Firefox will keep a list of the pages you've visited{for fx35} in the last ''n'' days (by default, ''n'' is 90){/for}. * '''Remember download history''': <br/> If selected, a list of files you download will be kept in the [[Downloads window]]. * '''Remember search and form history''': <br/> If selected, the text you enter into form fields or the search bar will be remembered so you can use those entries again. For more information, see [[Form autocomplete]]. * '''Accept cookies from sites''': <br/> If selected, Firefox will accept [[cookies]] from sites. Click {button Exceptions...} to control whether some sites are not allowed to set cookies. For more information, see [[Blocking cookies]]. ** '''Accept third-party cookies''': <br/> If selected, Firefox will accept cookies from ''http://site2.com'' when you are visiting ''http://site1.com''. For more information, see [[Disabling third party cookies|Third party cookies]]. ** '''Keep until''': *** '''they expire''': If selected, Firefox will allow the sites you visit to specify how long Firefox should keep its cookies. *** '''I close Firefox''': If selected, your cookies will be deleted when you close Firefox. *** '''ask me every time''': If selected, Firefox will prompt you each time a site tries to send you a cookie. * '''Clear history when Firefox closes''': <br/> Your history will be deleted when you close Firefox. Click {button Settings...} to control what items are deleted. Click {button Show Cookies...} to display the Cookies window. For more information on the Cookies window, see [[Deleting cookies]]. {for fx3} * '''Keep my history for at least ''n'' days''': <br/> If selected, Firefox will keep a list of the pages you've visited in the last ''n'' days (by default, ''n'' is 90). * '''Remember what I enter into forms and the search bar''': <br/> If selected, the text you enter into form fields or the search bar will be remembered so you can use those entries again. For more information, see [[Form autocomplete]]. * '''Remember what I've downloaded''': <br/> If selected, a list of files you download will be kept in the [[Downloads window]]. {/for} {for fx3} = Cookies = * '''Accept cookies from sites''': <br/> If selected, Firefox will accept [[cookies]] from sites. Click {button Exceptions...} to control whether some sites are not allowed to set cookies. For more information, see [[Blocking cookies]]. ** '''Accept third-party cookies''': <br/> If selected, Firefox will accept cookies from ''http://site2.com'' when you are visiting ''http://site1.com''. For more information, see [[Disabling third party cookies|Third-party cookies]]. ** '''Keep until''': *** '''they expire''': If selected, Firefox will allow the sites you visit to specify how long Firefox should keep its cookies. *** '''I close Firefox''': If selected, your cookies will be deleted when you close Firefox. *** '''ask me every time''': If selected, Firefox will prompt you each time a site tries to send you a cookie. {/for} {for fx3} = Private Data = * '''Always clear my private data when I close Firefox''': <br/> Your history will be automatically deleted when you close Firefox. Click {button Settings...} to control what items are deleted. If you have the next setting selected, you will be prompted to delete these items when you close Firefox. * '''Ask me before clearing private data:''' <br/> If selected, Firefox will prompt you for what items to clear when the you select '''Clear Private Data''' from the {menu Tools}. Click {button Clear Now...} to display the Clear Private Data window. For more information, see [[Clearing Private Data]]. {/for} = Location Bar = * '''When using the location bar, suggest''': <br/> The Location Bar is the horizontal bar that displays a site's web address (UR<!---->L). When you type in the location bar, Firefox can display results that match what you type: ** '''History and Bookmarks''': If selected, the Location bar will display results from the sites you've visited and the pages you've [[Bookmarks|bookmarked]]. ** '''History''': If selected, the Location bar will display results from the sites you've visited. ** '''Bookmarks''': If selected, the Location bar will display results from the pages you've [[Bookmarks|bookmarked]]. ** '''Nothing''': If selected, the Location bar will not display results that match what you type. [[Template:backtoOptionsPreferences]]

This article describes the settings that are available in the Privacy panel of the Firefox OptionsPreferences window.

The Privacy panel allows you to:

• Control how Firefox handles your history, which includes what pages you've visited, what files you've downloaded, what you've entered into forms, and what cookies sites have sent you.
• Control what sites can send you cookies and remove cookies that sites have sent you.
• Control how the Location bar uses history to suggest matches for what you type. For more information, see Address bar autocomplete suggestions in Firefox.

History

The Firefox will setting controls how Firefox saves information about your web browsing.

Remember history

When Firefox will is set to Remember history:

• Your browsing history, which is the list of pages you've visited, will be kept for 90 days.
• A list of files you download will be kept in the Where to find and manage downloaded files in Firefox.
• The text you enter into form fields or the search bar will be remembered so you can use those entries again. For more information, see Control whether Firefox automatically fills in forms.
• Firefox will accept cookies from sites until they expire. For more information on cookies, see Cookies - Information that websites store on your computer.

Click on:

• clear your recent history to open the Clear Recent History window, which allows you to erase some or all of your history quickly. For more information, see Delete browsing, search and download history on Firefox.
• remove individual cookies to display the Cookies window. For more information, see Clear cookies and site data in Firefox.

Never remember history

When Firefox will is set to Never remember history:

• Firefox will keep no record of your browsing history.
• The files you download will not be listed in the Where to find and manage downloaded files in Firefox.
• The text you enter into form fields or the search bar will not be remembered.
• Firefox will accept cookies from sites and delete them when you close Firefox. For more information on cookies, see Cookies - Information that websites store on your computer.

Using Never remember history is equivalent to always being in Firefox Private Browsing mode. For more information, see Private Browsing - Use Firefox without saving history.

Click on clear all current history to open the Clear Recent History window, which allows you to erase some or all of your history quickly. For more information, see Delete browsing, search and download history on Firefox.

Use custom settings for history

When Firefox will is set to Use custom settings for history, the following settings will be available:

• Automatically start Firefox in a private browsing sessionPermanent Private Browsing mode:
  If selected, Firefox will not remember any new history the next time it starts. For more information, see Private Browsing - Use Firefox without saving history.
• Remember my browsing history for at least n days:
  If selected, Firefox will keep a list of the pages you've visited in the last n days (by default, n is 90).
• Remember download history:
  If selected, a list of files you download will be kept in the Where to find and manage downloaded files in Firefox.
• Remember search and form history:
  If selected, the text you enter into form fields or the search bar will be remembered so you can use those entries again. For more information, see Control whether Firefox automatically fills in forms.
• Accept cookies from sites:
  If selected, Firefox will accept cookies from sites. Click Exceptions... to control whether some sites are not allowed to set cookies. For more information, see Block websites from storing cookies and site data in Firefox.
  • Accept third-party cookies:
    If selected, Firefox will accept cookies from http://site2.com when you are visiting http://site1.com. For more information, see Third party cookies.
  • Keep until:
    • they expire: If selected, Firefox will allow the sites you visit to specify how long Firefox should keep its cookies.
    • I close Firefox: If selected, your cookies will be deleted when you close Firefox.
    • ask me every time: If selected, Firefox will prompt you each time a site tries to send you a cookie.
• Clear history when Firefox closes:
  Your history will be deleted when you close Firefox. Click Settings... to control what items are deleted.

Click Show Cookies... to display the Cookies window. For more information on the Cookies window, see Clear cookies and site data in Firefox.

Location Bar

• When using the location bar, suggest:
  The Location Bar is the horizontal bar that displays a site's web address (URL). When you type in the location bar, Firefox can display results that match what you type:
  • History and Bookmarks: If selected, the Location bar will display results from the sites you've visited and the pages you've bookmarked.
  • History: If selected, the Location bar will display results from the sites you've visited.
  • Bookmarks: If selected, the Location bar will display results from the pages you've bookmarked.
  • Nothing: If selected, the Location bar will not display results that match what you type.

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