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Start firefox private mode without addons

  • 12 replies
  • 3 have this problem
  • 18 views
  • Last reply by James

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Is there a civilized way to start Firefox in private mode without plugins, or the only way is to have a shortcut on the desktop with magic command line parameters?

Is there a civilized way to start Firefox in private mode without plugins, or the only way is to have a shortcut on the desktop with magic command line parameters?

All Replies (12)

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What you're asking is: a) how to always use private browsing mode, b) how to use private browsing mode with all addons disabled, c) something else?

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Note: See the link for information on Private Windows.

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Command_Line_Options?redirectlocale=en-US&redirectslug=Command_Line_Options

Command Line Options - Mozilla
Example Usage: C:\PROGRA~1\MOZILL~1\firefox.exe [ options ... ] [URL]
      where options include:
 -h or –help		Print this message.
 -v or –version	Print Firefox version.
 -P <profile>		Start with <profile>.
 -migration		Start with migration wizard.
 -ProfileManager	Start with ProfileManager.
 -no-remote		Do not accept or send remote commands; implies -new-instance.
 -new-instance	Open new instance, not a new window in running instance.
 -UILocale <locale> Start with <locale> resources as UI Locale.
 -safe-mode		Disables extensions and themes for this session.
 -console		Start Firefox with a debugging console.
 -jsconsole		Open the Error console.
 -browser		Open a browser window.
 -new-window <url> Open <url> in a new window.
 -new-tab <url>	Open <url> in a new tab.
 -preferences	Open Options dialog.
 -search <term>	Search <term> with your default search engine.
 -setDefaultBrowser Set this app as the default browser.
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TyDraniu said

What you're asking is: a) how to always use private browsing mode, b) how to use private browsing mode with all addons disabled, c) something else?

Good question, thanks! I need to run provate mode without addons 1-2 times a day, additionally to regular running of Firefox.

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I'd suggest you to create a new profile (without addons and with "always use private mode" preference turned on). You'll be able to start it from the about:profiles page.

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Note that you can add -no-remote to the command line to open another Firefox instance with its own profile and run multiple Firefox instances simultaneously.

If you need the same bookmarks in both profiles then you can consider to use Sync.

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TyDraniu said

I'd suggest you to create a new profile (without addons and with "always use private mode" preference turned on). You'll be able to start it from the about:profiles page.

Great reply! I am halfway done - new profile created, now I can't find the option "always run in private mode without addons"... can you help me in that? I think it is not available within the settings window, but I need to go deeper.

Edit: now I noticed, that the private mode is opening when I last closed the browser in private. So this is done as well.

Now: what about disconnecting all unneeded services? I want to use this private profile for banking, so I do not need any kind of support of any kind (addon, external service etc.).

Modified by user1575498

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There is no "always run in private mode without addons" in Firefox. The purpose of the new (separate) profile is to have a clean profile without any extensions installed. Then you can enable permanent Private Browsing mode (Always use Private Browsing mode; Never Remember History) in this profile. You can create a dedicated desktop shortcut to launch Firefox with this profile.

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Command line options doesn't work for me :(.

Created new profile name: no_addons, created a new shortcut to launch: "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -new-instance -P "no_addons"

And it opens new tab in current instance, trying to open www.no_addons.com... Madness...

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Suggestion to Mozilla - little icon with possibility to fast change profiles would be useful...

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ygreko said

Suggestion to Mozilla - little icon with possibility to fast change profiles would be useful...

You should the feedback for that this part is the End user help forum for the Browser.

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ygreko said

Command line options doesn't work for me :(.

Created new profile name: no_addons, created a new shortcut to launch: "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -new-instance -P "no_addons"

I think the extra quotation marks at the beginning and end may be a problem. Also, if Firefox is already running, to create a separate instance, you need to use -no-remote (-new-instance doesn't work on Windows). So try:

"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -no-remote -P "no_addons"

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Note: do not use the -no-remote switch with the default Profile.

jscher2000 said

ygreko said
Command line options doesn't work for me :(.

Created new profile name: no_addons, created a new shortcut to launch: "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -new-instance -P "no_addons"

I think the extra quotation marks at the beginning and end may be a problem. Also, if Firefox is already running, to create a separate instance, you need to use -no-remote (-new-instance doesn't work on Windows). So try:

"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -no-remote -P "no_addons"

on the -new-instance switch

The -new-instance is a old switch and not a new one related to the new separate Firefox instances thing. It is said to not do anything on Windows anyways.

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Command_Line_Options#-new-instance Note: Not available for Windows, see bug 855899.


ygreko said

Start firefox private mode without addons ..... Is there a civilized way to start Firefox in private mode without plugins

The word Addons is a general term started during the Firefox 2.0/3.0 days to group together the separate Extensions, Plugins, Dictionaries, Language Packs and Search Engines.

Only one NPAPI Plugin can run in Firefox now days and that is Flash Player from Adobe. You can set Flash to be click to activate or never activate if you prefer in Addons Manager in Firefox.

What you are likely referring to this whole time is how to start Firefox in Private mode with all Extensions not enabled or installed in that Profile.