Firefox stores those entries in a database file named permissions.sqlite, along with other site-specific settings, such as cookie permissions.

One possible reason to lose these settings is if Firefox is set to clear them at shutdown. You can check for this in the Options dialog on the Privacy panel:

"3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Options > Privacy

If the middle of the dialog says "Firefox will: Remember history" then this should not be an issue.

If it says "Firefox will: Never remember history", change it to "Firefox will: Use custom settings for history". This should display numerous controls on the lower part of the panel, one of which is "Clear history when Firefox closes". If this is turned on, click the Settings button to the right of it and make sure that Site Preferences is not checked here.

This support article lists other reasons that Firefox settings might get lost between sessions: How to fix preferences that won't save.

Another common culprit is Advanced SystemCare, which like some other utility/security software can roll back unwanted browser settings changes -- but they don't know wanted from unwanted and may just roll them all back.

The forum software detected your Firefox as version 32. Is that correct?

Version 32 is not secure; Mozilla discloses security flaws after each new release. Is something holding you back from upgrading to Firefox 37? Please let us know so we can suggest solutions or workarounds.

If Help > About Firefox shows Firefox 37.0.2, you may need to clear the preference that is misreporting your version number. See: How to reset the default user agent on Firefox.

Actually, your Flash plugin and PDF plugin are both out of date as well. It's a security minefield waiting to blow!

To update Flash, you can install from either of these pages:

• https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ (make sure to uncheck any unwanted extras)
• http://www.adobe.com/special/products/flashplayer/fp_distribution3.html

To update the PDF plugin, use the updater inside your Adobe product, for example Adobe Reader, on its Help menu, "Check for Updates".

In case you use "Clear history when Firefox closes" or otherwise clear history:

• do not clear the Site Preferences

• Tools > Options > Privacy > Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history": [X] "Clear history when Firefox closes" > Settings
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/remove-recent-browsing-search-and-download-history

Clearing "Site Preferences" clears all exceptions for cookies, images, pop-up windows, software installation, passwords, and other website specific data.

Thanks for responding

It's set to remember history Don't have advanced system care Don't have a user.js file Prefs file doesn't have read only ticked Don't have a invalidprefs file

I'm aware it's not up to date and it's fine, really it is for me and I know how to update everything I've deliberately not updated on purpose. Every time I do I have to spend quite a bit of time whilst getting frustrated and annoyed trying to get FF back to how I want it. I'll update when I have the time and I'm nice and calm.

So unless I've missed something my options are reset or deleting prefs file. I really can't be bothered setting it up all over again (like I had to do after the last update) so does anyone have any other ideas?

Thanks

Can you watch what happens to the permissions.sqlite file when you do these things:

(1) Add or change a permission, whether related to popups, cookies, etc. Does the modification timestamp update?

(2) Exit Firefox. Does the modification timestamp update, or does the file disappear?

(3) Start Firefox again. Does the modification timestamp update, or does the file size change?

You may already be familiar with your currently active Firefox profile folder but, if not, you can most easily open it from inside Firefox. Either:

• "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
• (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
• type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table on the page, click the "Show Folder" button. This should launch a new window listing various files and folders in Windows Explorer.

If this database is simply working correctly, you might want to just delete that file (when Firefox is not running) so Firefox can build a fresh one.

That file hasn't updated since 19th Jan. So I did everything anyway and nothing changed and file size stayed constant.

What will happen if I delete it?

Thanks

carltonbp said

That file hasn't updated since 19th Jan. So I did everything anyway and nothing changed and file size stayed constant. What will happen if I delete it?

Firefox will need to build the database from scratch. In other words, it will lose track of all previous site-specific exceptions and use only the defaults (for example, that addons.mozilla.org can install add-ons).

If in doubt, you can simply rename it (e.g., permissions.old) or drag it to a different folder for potential restoration later.

Woohoo I think that's done it. Restarted twice and it's stayed there. Fingers crossed.

Many thanks.

Hopefully you'll find that time to update soon. Especially the Adobe software, as those are very popular malware vectors.