Firefox v.23 for Mac: how to "un-private", or exit private browsing mode?
The new private browsing settings are not only wildly unpopular, their use is incomprehensible. Having experimented with the "new private window" setting, I now seem stuck in that mode, even when logging into Firefox.
Firefox opens up the start page in private mode, and every other tab or page opened thereafter is also in private mode; there is no option to open a non-private window in the File menu. Then, some of the pages I open from the bookmarks menu open in private mode, others not; I seem to have no control over it. This is a major pain, since many of the"privatised" pages no longer know their passwords. Can somebody please make sense of this shambles for me, as for the first time in many years I am increasingly tempted to stop using this application?
All Replies (4)
Having bookmarks open different kinds of windows is very strange, but could be based on the status of the window you're in when you access the bookmark. I'd have to experiment a bit.
Could you confirm that Firefox is NOT set to start up automatically in private mode? You can do that here:
Firefox menu > Preferences > Privacy
If you see "Firefox will: Never remember history" then change that to "Use custom settings for history" to access the detailed settings. Here you can uncheck the "Always use private browsing mode" checkbox.
Does that "stick" when you restart Firefox?
Hello Akominatus, be sure that in Firefox menu > Preferences... > Privacy panel > Firefox will > Never remember history is NOT selected, select another option.
see: How do I always start Firefox in Private Browsing?
thank you
ΕDIT : jscher2000 was faster
Modified by ideato
Thank you both for helping resolve this.
You must admit that, no matter what elaborate apologias Mozilla representatives may have posted in other threads about the problems stemming from the arbitrary change of the private browsing setting, this has been an unmitigated disaster....
Though not completely computer illiterate, I'm still utterly confused about how the system is supposed to work. I wonder if Mozilla willl have the grace to admit it was a ballsup and revert to the old system, or if they will stick to the usual corporate attitude of "never apologise, never explain, never admit a mistake".
Hi Akominatus, in the future, it is expected that you'll be able to pick and choose individual tabs to be private or not private. I don't know whether that will be more convenient or (even) more confusing.
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