Firefox doesn't delete the browsing history in the address bar
No matter what you do with Firefox in clearing the browsing history by going to History -> Clear Recent History and deleting everything or resetting FF by going to Troubleshooting information, Firefox doesn't delete the browsing history. The website you have browsed still appear in the address bar.
Several people already have complained about this issue (see thread https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/939028) and the answer from the Firefox staff is that there is got to be a malware. This is not true, I've seen versions of Firefox in clean computers both Windows and Mac with Firefox doing the same thing, or more like not doing what it's supposed to do: clean the browsing history.
How unsafe is that. Where is your privacy? Firefox has to find a way to fix this glitch. Something tells me they're doing it on purpose because it hasn't been fixed after the complains.
Chosen solution
These add-ons can be a great help by backing up and restoring Firefox
FEBE (Firefox Environment Backup Extension) {web link} FEBE allows you to quickly and easily backup your Firefox extensions, history, passwords, and more. In fact, it goes beyond just backing up -- It will actually rebuild your saved files individually into installable .xpi files. It will also make backup of files that you choose.
OPIE {web link} Import/Export extension preferences
Read this answer in context 👍 0All Replies (8)
Firefox Profile
Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.
See Creating a profile:
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues
If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over the problem
Profile Backup and Restore
Tried and it worked but it restarted FF from zero, it deleted bookmarks and favorites as well. I'd like to keep bookmarks and favorites.
When I clear my browsing history (selecting Everything), I go to the address bar and as a type it still pops up a drop down list of previously visited websites. How is this possible?
This glitch hasn't been addressed properly.
It Happened in new profile?
yes, when I created the new profile, it restarted FF with no bookmarks nor favorites.
Hello ,
Certain Firefox problems can be solved by performing a Clean reinstall. This means you remove Firefox program files and then reinstall Firefox. Please follow these steps:
Note: You might want to print these steps or view them in another browser.
- Download the latest Desktop version of Firefox from http://www.mozilla.org and save the setup file to your computer.
- After the download finishes, close all Firefox windows (click Exit from the Firefox or File menu).
- Delete the Firefox installation folder, which is located in one of these locations, by default:
- Windows:
- C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox
- Mac: Delete Firefox from the Applications folder.
- Linux: If you installed Firefox with the distro-based package manager, you should use the same way to uninstall it - see Install Firefox on Linux. If you downloaded and installed the binary package from the Firefox download page, simply remove the folder firefox in your home directory.
- Windows:
- Now, go ahead and reinstall Firefox:
- Double-click the downloaded installation file and go through the steps of the installation wizard.
- Once the wizard is finished, choose to directly open Firefox after clicking the Finish button.
More information about reinstalling Firefox can be found here.
WARNING: Do not run Firefox's uninstaller or use a third party remover as part of this process, because that could permanently delete your Firefox data, including but not limited to, extensions, cache, cookies, bookmarks, personal settings and saved passwords. These cannot be easily recovered unless they have been backed up to an external device!
Please report back to say if this helped you!
Thank you.
You can delete the places.sqlite file if you aren't able to clear all history.
Are that entries that appear if you click the arrow at the far right of the location bar?
Do these items have a star to indicate that they are bookmarks?
mmm that's a was a good thought. I noticed that indeed the items in the address bar drop down list have a star. I have more than 200 bookmarks. Since the bookmarks are websites that of course I visited I thought they're were being brought up as cache or browsing history.
I think that solves this issue.
Thanks a lot.
Chosen Solution
These add-ons can be a great help by backing up and restoring Firefox
FEBE (Firefox Environment Backup Extension) {web link} FEBE allows you to quickly and easily backup your Firefox extensions, history, passwords, and more. In fact, it goes beyond just backing up -- It will actually rebuild your saved files individually into installable .xpi files. It will also make backup of files that you choose.
OPIE {web link} Import/Export extension preferences