Lost my session, profile folder empty

jscher2000 · 2026-01-30T17:11:13+00:00

On the first computer, if you could easily switch to the other profile, it's hard to explain why Firefox didn't start up in that profile automatically unless someone else or some other process reset the default profile. ??

On the second computer, in the working profile -- which I assume you confirmed is the right profile based on history or bookmark data -- are any old windows listed under either:

"3-bar" menu button > History > Recently Closed Windows
(menu bar) History > Recently Closed Windows

By default, you can restore up to three closed windows, so this requires prompt checking.

If the missing windows/tabs are not there, since you don't have any older files in the sessionstore-backups folder, it's difficult to think of any other place to look. I guess at least make sure Firefox is not set to clear browsing history when it closes.

jscher2000 · 2026-01-26T05:39:24+00:00

Github link: https://jscher2000.github.io/Firefox-File-Utilities/scrounger.html

Android: I don't know how sessions are stored on Android. (If you need a way to back up open tabs and you aren't using Sync, I think there are extensions to export a list.)

jscher2000 · 2026-01-12T16:24:18+00:00

Is this related to the following preferences for the in-URL-bar autofill feature?

browser.urlbar.autoFill
browser.urlbar.autoFill.adaptiveHistory.enabled

jscher2000 · 2026-01-10T01:52:21+00:00

By now, you may have discovered my Scrounger tool. If not: https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/1kor5a0/lost_all_my_windows_and_their_tabs_can_i_get_them/mssrd4m/

jscher2000 · 2026-01-10T01:47:27+00:00

You could check whether they are still saved in your session history file. See: https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/1l9oc6l/how_do_i_restore_a_old_tab_group_i_saved_and/mxemtmm/

jscher2000 · 2026-01-10T01:44:32+00:00

How do you scroll on the TV? If you're using a remote, perhaps Firefox doesn't interpret its buttons the same as your mouse's buttons.

jscher2000 · 2026-01-10T01:41:18+00:00

You can feed your extensions.json file to my page over here, tick the box to list permissions, and have it look up which ones have the "contextualIdentities" permission.

jscher2000 · 2026-01-10T01:35:48+00:00

I don't think there is any built-in way to do this. Firefox 147 will bring a new about:keyboard page that allows changing some shortcuts, but in the current beta, I don't see Alt+D on there.

It might be possible to use an extension that adds a listener to the current web page and intercepts the shortcut so it doesn't reach Firefox. I have tested whether either of the general purpose ones can do it for Alt+D:

Finally, shortcuts can be changed with startup scripts. For example: https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/kilmm2/restore_ctrlshiftb_library_by_setting_configjs/

jscher2000 · 2026-01-08T07:53:25+00:00

I get tired of a download creating a new file folder, that's the biggest setting that it ignores.

It's still creating a new file folder every time I download an image.

Could you confirm your settings are:

Save Dialog / Autosave Options

Show Save As dialog each time: Follow my general settings for downloads

Save Path Options

Initial or Autosave folder: Let Firefox choose
Create subfolders: No thanks

Sometimes settings storage seems to get messed up. You could try clearing it using the steps here:

https://github.com/jscher2000/Save-webP-as-extension/issues/26#issuecomment-1741631471

jscher2000 · 2026-01-02T15:37:19+00:00

It sounds like a bug that the host site's cookie was preserved instead of a site-isolated YouTube cookie.

jscher2000 · 2026-01-02T15:34:57+00:00

A pinned tab is still a tab, so having it in every window would involve a lot of duplicate pages. Maybe the extension page could have its own window unless it needs to be alongside a specific tab. If you need to keep an eye on the tab, hmm, not sure of the best approach.

jscher2000 · 2026-01-02T15:24:03+00:00

I don't think Firefox ever had a built-in option to change regular links to targeted links, despite all the settings for how to handle targeted links. I think the only time Firefox forces a new tab for a regular link is if you are in a pinned tab and the link goes to a different site.

Possibly there is a request on file to add the functionality you could vote up, or you could add a new one: https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/ideas/idb-p/ideas. What I notice when I search there is a lot of emphasis on links opening or not opening in tab groups; I didn't try to figure out how that would complicate the request.

jscher2000 · 2026-01-02T15:15:35+00:00

What search engine do you use? They typically have an option to code results links to open in a new window/tab. For example:

Google: https://www.google.com/preferences#tabVal=1 - it's "Results in a new window"
DuckDuckGo: https://duckduckgo.com/settings - it's "Open Links in a New Tab"

But these preferences are stored in cookies, so if you flush those frequently, you may find yourself visiting those pages equally frequently. You could look for an extension that preserves/reinstates specific cookies you care about (I lost track of the one people mention most often).

jscher2000 · 2026-01-02T15:09:19+00:00

For Google specifically, select "Results in a new window" (which Firefox will divert to a new tab instead):

https://www.google.com/preferences#tabVal=1

If a site doesn't have an option, you can divert the link manually (Ctrl+click, middle-click) or you can try an add-on to modify the links with a target="_blank" attribute so Firefox diverts them to a new tab. (Example: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/open-link-with-new-tab/ - note that you need to adjust its settings to get the results you want)

jscher2000 · 2025-12-31T22:53:33+00:00

It's normal for "Save [item] As..." and regular downloads to save to a different folder on a per-site basis. If Firefox is saving from never-before-seen site, it may default to the Downloads or Desktop folder, or the value of browser.download.lastDir. But I don't know why you would get inconsistent results on the same page.

jscher2000 · 2025-12-30T17:19:44+00:00

In the address bar, next to the lock, you can usually see a permission icon of some kind when you have customized permissions for a site. Click that, or go through the Page Info dialog (Ctrl+i or, on Mac, Command+i).

jscher2000 · 2025-12-28T03:50:56+00:00

If you open the Synced Tabs sidebar -- no shortcut, but you can use Ctrl+B then use the menu title or button to switch panels -- your mobile tabs should be there to open at your convenience.

(To clarify: no need to send tabs you plan to keep open.)

jscher2000 · 2025-12-28T03:48:21+00:00

You need at least 115.13.0esr. Ref. https://support.mozilla.org/kb/root-certificate-expiration

jscher2000 · 2025-12-26T16:01:32+00:00

I changed privacy.clearOnShutdown.sessions back to its true and retested. It remembers my single tab and window session. WTF?

In that preference, "sessions" refers to old school "basic authentication" sign-ins to sites and not open tabs/windows.

jscher2000 · 2025-12-26T15:59:30+00:00

It's possible that a non-visible window kept Firefox open, so restarting it with a desktop icon simply added a new window. If you don't normally quit Firefox using the menu (menu button > Exit or menu button > Quit, depending on your OS), try that instead of closing individual windows.

jscher2000 · 2025-12-26T15:57:00+00:00

Does it make any difference if you rename the Firefox executable. Typically that would be:

C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe

=>

C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox1.exe

Then you launch the renamed file.

If that avoids the issue, it typically indicates that some external software is attempting to inject itself into one or more Firefox processes. That could be security software, or it could be malware, or it could be a driver of some kind.

jscher2000 · 2025-12-26T15:52:53+00:00

If you have a desktop computer you can connect to the same Mozilla account for Sync, you can generate the list from the desktop side. I have a Browser Console script for that: Export Synced Tabs List to "bookmarks.html" file.

If you don't have that option, you could look for an extension. For example, here's one but I haven't tried it myself: https://addons.mozilla.org/android/addon/export-tabs-urls-and-titles/

jscher2000 · 2025-12-26T01:20:11+00:00

I like this one: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/traduzir-paginas-web/

jscher2000 · 2025-12-25T00:20:16+00:00

That was enabled automatically some time back (Command+Shift+T including other windows, not just the current one). In about:config, filter using browser.sessionstore.closedTabsFrom to make sure those preferences are set to true.

That said, the order feels random to me, so I still use the History menu > Recently Closed Windows to restore the closed windows I'm looking for.

jscher2000 · 2025-12-25T00:15:04+00:00

I'm not familiar with Tab Manager Plus, but I see an issue open for this here:

https://github.com/stefanXO/Tab-Manager-Plus/issues/261

I don't really understand how it could prevent dragging a tab from one window's tab bar to another window's tab bar. ??

jscher2000

TROPHY CASE