browser - How can I make Firefox remember my session while still clearing the browsing history on close?

07
2014-07
  • Philip

    I am aware, thanks to a thread [1], that Firefox doesn't save sessions when browsing history is cleared at close, as effectively the open tabs are themselves cleared from the history before the session is saved.

    But I would like Firefox to behave differently. Is there any way to change Firefox's behavior so it will clear my browsing history when it closes, but remember only that a certain list of tabs were open, and then restore those tabs when it opens (not even necessarily with those tabs' histories)?

    I'm running Firefox 3.5.6 on Mac OS X 10.5.

    [1] https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/forum/1/381229

    • Answers
  • outsideblasts

    I think the Tab Mix Plus addon, having its own session manager would be able to do this. You'll need to tweak the built in Firefox settings via Tools-Options-"Firefox will never remember history". I'm fairly sure that it'll work on Mac.

  • Pulse

    No need for any add-on...

    You can manually force the "session restore" page to appear any time by simply using:

    about:sessionrestore

    Found at http://www.webupd8.org/2009/08/quick-firefox-35-tip-manually-open.html

    Well, there is way to get back the Session Restore page manually, by typing this in the url bar:

    about:sessionrestore

    So the next time when you accidentally click on wrong button use the above trick to get back the session restore page.

    Google is your friend... see also

    firefox_2_and_making_session_restore_useful.html

    how-to-fix-annoying-youtube-jumpiness-in-firefox


    • Related Question

    How can I get a new browser session when opening a new tab or window on Firefox/Chrome?
  • Mercer Traieste

    When opening new Internet Explorer window, a new browser session is issued. Therefore you can login with two different accounts on the same service (let's say gmail). The same does not apply when opening a new tab in the same window on IE.

    How can I get a new browser session when opening a new tab or window on Firefox?

    How about Google Chrome?


    • Related Answers
  • Robert Ivanc

    In Chrome you can use private browsing to achieve the same.

    Chrome - Wrench(tools) menu/open new window without history

    In Firefox you can use IE tab extension, and have another tab rendered with an IE engine to achieve the same effect.

    Here are some other options: http://www.computer-realm.net/managing-multiple-gmail-accounts-with-firefox/

  • Ivo Flipse

    It seems that there is a handy chrome extension called "Session Buddy" that does just this

    enter image description here

    Session Buddy is a flexible session management extension that allows you to easily save, edit, and restore your browser sessions.

    • Quickly save the current session from the Session Buddy interface or from the right-click menu on any web page.
    • Flexible restore options allow restore of sessions into the original set of windows, a single window, or the current window.
    • Automatic capture of your 10 most recent sessions is especially handy for recovering a session after a browser or system crash.
    • Name and edit your saved sessions with ease.
    • Populate a session from a simple list of URLs.
    • Export a session to text or CSV format (more formats in development).
    • Control the types of tabs that Session Buddy recognizes.
    • Keyboard shortcuts make working with sessions a snap.
  • random

    For Google Chrome, you can set a shortcut to open up an Incognito session via the following:

    "C:\path-to\chrome.exe" /incognito

    Or simply CTRL + Shift + N while using the normal state. Only difference is that when you're incognito, the cookies and history won't stick.

  • jonsca

    By creating multiple profiles in the profile manager (firefox -p from start menu) and then creating a MOZ_NO_REMOTE environment variable with a value of 1, Firefox will allow multiple sessions in multiple windows.

    I've tried it myself with Firefox 8 and it works. I have an web application that has no logout button, and before I found this I had to keep opening and closing Firefox completely to switch between accounts (admin and user for testing). This has helped greatly.

  • galacticninja

    This Firefox extension allows that:

    Multifox

    Multifox is an extension that allows Firefox to connect to websites using different user names. Simultaneously!

    For example, if you have multiple Gmail accounts, you can open them all at the same time. Each Firefox window, managed by Multifox, accesses an account without interfering each other

    Each Multifox window is flagged with a number indicating the identity profile. Logins made in windows with different numbers are isolated.

    Logins are preserved the same way they are in “regular” windows. Even if you close the window or quit Firefox.

    The identity profile of each window is preserved when Firefox restores the session.

    It can also easily switch between profiles:
    enter image description here

  • Brad

    I have made a Chrome extension that allows you to use multiple Gmail accounts (and other accounts) by launching Chrome in a new session.

    It is called New Chrome Session, and you can download it here: http://www.musatcha.com/software/NewChromeSession/

  • elijabaley

    With firefox this solution worked like a charme!!

    http://www.fusioncube.net/index.php/multiple-sessions-firefox

    It's almost the same of what proposed in the answer by "Shawn" "MOZ_NO_REMOTE environment variable with a value of 1" It adds an advice for creating multiple links on desktop for opening the different firefox sessions

  • HackToHell

    Chrome is bringing multi profile. Already available in canary builds. You can switch profile instantly.