We're calling on all EU-based Mozillians with iOS or iPadOS devices to help us monitor Apple’s new browser choice screens. Join the effort to hold Big Tech to account!

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Where does Firefox store the 'session restore' information on my computer (Windows 7)?

  • 3 replies
  • 16 have this problem
  • 6 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

It seems I became familiar with the following situation:

I would close all windows of Firefox, with the exception of 1. In this remaining Firefox window I would have various tabs open (numerous web pages) that I wished to continue browsing the next time I opened Firefox. I would then click to close that remaining window, whereby a small query window asking me if I wanted to "quit" Firefox, or if I wanted to "save and quit" would pop up. I would choose the 'save and quit' option, at which point the Firefox window would close, and my tab session(s) would be ready and waiting for the next time I opened the Firefox program.

My problem:

I went to close the last Firefox window (the window with the tabs that I wished to continue browsing the next time I opened Firefox)... but the crux of it, is that absolutely NO query window popped up to ask me if I wished to "quit" or if I wanted to "save and quit"!!! The Firefox window (with all its tabs) closed completely, and that was that - NO saved session! I don't know why the query window (giving me options) did not show up!

My 'problem solving' theory:

When Firefox crashes or when you choose to 'quit and save', Firefox must (somewhere) store the information of it's 'saved session' (or, indeed, a 'session prior to a crash'). I thought that perhaps if I could locate this information... thinking along such lines that perhaps it's a file somewhere in the belly of the computer ...that I could initiate this 'file' and get back my lost session.

Question(s):

  • Where can I find this 'file' or information?
  • Is this possible? (Or am I way off base?)

Some basic information: - current Firefox version: 3.5.15 - operating system: Windows 7 - current emotional status: angry and confused!!! Wahhh! (lol)

'''It seems I became familiar with the following situation:''' I would close all windows of Firefox, with the exception of 1. In this remaining Firefox window I would have various tabs open (numerous web pages) that I wished to continue browsing the next time I opened Firefox. I would then click to close that remaining window, whereby a small query window asking me if I wanted to "quit" Firefox, or if I wanted to "save and quit" would pop up. I would choose the 'save and quit' option, at which point the Firefox window would close, and my tab session(s) would be ready and waiting for the next time I opened the Firefox program. '''My problem:''' I went to close the last Firefox window (the window with the tabs that I wished to continue browsing the next time I opened Firefox)... but the crux of it, is that absolutely NO query window popped up to ask me if I wished to "quit" or if I wanted to "save and quit"!!! The Firefox window (with all its tabs) closed completely, and that was that - NO saved session! I don't know why the query window (giving me options) did not show up! '''My 'problem solving' theory:''' When Firefox crashes or when you choose to 'quit and save', Firefox must (somewhere) store the information of it's 'saved session' (or, indeed, a 'session prior to a crash'). I thought that perhaps if I could locate this information... thinking along such lines that perhaps it's a file somewhere in the belly of the computer ...that I could initiate this 'file' and get back my lost session. '''Question(s): * Where can I find this 'file' or information? * Is this possible? (Or am I way off base?) ''' '''Some basic information:''' ''- current Firefox version: 3.5.15 - operating system: Windows 7 - current emotional status: angry and confused!!! Wahhh! (lol)''

All Replies (3)

more options

I didn't find it in profile files: Recover important data from an old profile.

more options

sessionstore.js in your Profile folder.

more options

In Firefox 3 you do not get the 'Save & Quit' pop-up dialog if you choose Tools > Options > General > Startup: "When Firefox Starts": "Show my windows and tabs from last time".
If that option is selected then your pages will already be reopened the next time.
To get that pop-up dialog you have to select one of the other choices (Show my home page,Show a blank page).

You can reset the warn prefs on the about:config page via the right-click context menu.

See also http://kb.mozillazine.org/Session_Restore

Modified by cor-el