How can I make Firefox stop reopening previous tabs?
Software: Windows 7 and Firefox 35.0.1 (previously 39)
Problem: When I open a window, I want to start a fresh browsing session. But Firefox instead reopens all the tabs from a previous browsing session. Seems like an easy fix, right? Well, I've taken a number of reasonable measures to fix this and it persists!
What I've already tried: I've selected the option to not reopen tabs on restart. Problem persists. I've selected option to delete all browsing history on close. This appeared to work, but when I changed the setting back, Firefox reopens tabs from before I told it to delete browsing history. Clearly it didn't really delete. I've selected option to go to my homepage on opening. It starts to go to homepage, but then replaces it with my old tabs! I've even uninstalled and reinstalled Firefox and THE PREVIOUS TABS ARE STILL THERE!!
Please help me if you can. This is driving me absolutely crazy. (Thanks)
All Replies (4)
Hello,
The Refresh feature (called "Reset" in older Firefox versions) can fix many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your bookmarks, history, passwords, cookies, and other essential information.
Note: When you use this feature, you will lose any extensions, toolbar customizations, and some preferences. See the Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings article for more information.
To Refresh Firefox:
- Open the Troubleshooting Information page using one of these methods:
- Click the menu button
, click help 
and select Troubleshooting Information. A new tab containing your troubleshooting information should open.
- If you're unable to access the Help menu, type about:support in your address bar to bring up the Troubleshooting Information page.
- Click the menu button
- At the top right corner of the page, you should see a button that says "Refresh Firefox" ("Reset Firefox" in older Firefox versions). Click on it.
- Firefox will close. After the refresh process is completed, Firefox will show a window with the information that is imported.
- Click Finish and Firefox will reopen.
Did this fix the problem? Please report back to us!
Thank you.
Solution appears to have worked! Thanks so much!
If it happens again then you can check if you have a user.js file in the Firefox profile folder that sets the browser.sessionstore.resume_session_once pref to true.
You can use this button to go to the currently used Firefox profile folder:
- Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder (Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder)
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
Windows hides some file extensions by default. Among them .html and .ini and .js and .txt, so you may only see a file name without file extension. You can see the real file type (file extension) in the properties of the file via the right-click context menu in Windows Explorer.
When you reset/refresh Firefox then the current profile folder is moved to an "Old Firefox Data" folder on the desktop, so you can still give this a check if you still have the "Old Firefox Data" to see if that was your issue.
It is possible to recover data from the old profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.
Hello,
I am glad to hear that your problem has been resolved. If you haven't already, please select the answer that solves the problem. This will help other users with similar problems find the solution more easily.
Thank you for contacting Mozilla Support.