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Firefox only restores last 3 windows open, doesn't show recently windows from last session, doesn't add restored windows to recent history

  • 6 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by rudyl

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Every time I have a series of windows open, I want to restore the whole session when I re-open.

However, say I have 5 windows open: if it gives the option to "Restore Session" in the main window, Firefox will only restore the last 3 windows and will not store any other windows in 'recent windows' or 'recent tabs'. If it gives an option to "Restore Session" it doesn't store anything in the 'recent windows/recent tabs' drop-down. If it DOESN'T give an option to "Restore Session" it will only store the last 3 windows in the 'recent windows' section and nothing in 'recent tabs'. If I chose to "Restore Session" or open 'recent windows' it does not re-enter those windows into my current history.

The combination of the above problems is making Firefox unusable for me.

Why is this happening? Chromium does not have this issue, but I would prefer to use Firefox for the customization and general aesthetic of the interface.

Every time I have a series of windows open, I want to restore the whole session when I re-open. However, say I have 5 windows open: if it gives the option to "Restore Session" in the main window, Firefox will only restore the last 3 windows and will not store any other windows in 'recent windows' or 'recent tabs'. If it gives an option to "Restore Session" it doesn't store anything in the 'recent windows/recent tabs' drop-down. If it DOESN'T give an option to "Restore Session" it will only store the last 3 windows in the 'recent windows' section and nothing in 'recent tabs'. If I chose to "Restore Session" or open 'recent windows' it does not re-enter those windows into my current history. The combination of the above problems is making Firefox unusable for me. Why is this happening? Chromium does not have this issue, but I would prefer to use Firefox for the customization and general aesthetic of the interface.

Chosen solution

Enter about:config in the urlbar and set browser.sessionstore.max_windows_undo = 5

Read this answer in context 👍 2

All Replies (6)

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Also some sysinfo

Arch Linux 4.19.18-1-lts Firefox Quantum (v65)

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Chosen Solution

Enter about:config in the urlbar and set browser.sessionstore.max_windows_undo = 5

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Awesome!!!

Ok this is a good moment, I was losing all hope for browsers in general. Now I feel guilty lol... defs gonna give firefox more lattitude next time :)

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I've had this problem for ages, and just checked both my options and my about:config (which was set to browser.sessionstore.max_windows_undo = 7 and I have changed it to 5) and Firefox still only opens one window on start.

What's the actual fix?

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How are you closing Firefox?

Use one of these to close Firefox if you are currently doing that by clicking the close X on the Firefox title bar to close all open windows at once and prevent losing unnoticed windows.

  • "3-bar" menu button -> Exit (Power button)
  • Windows: File -> Exit
  • Mac: Firefox -> Quit Firefox
  • Linux: File -> Quit
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I close Firefox like I close everything else (when I'm the one closing it and not experiencing a Microsoft surprise closure) -- I move along the task bar, hovering and clicking the X. As I have always done, as long as there has been a task bar. How else would I close all the things, simply and efficiently?