Does any way exist to delete private browsing cookies (without restarting)?
Very often I need to delete cookies from web sites so the sites won't remember me. The cookies in private tabs never show up in "Privacy & Security / Cookies and Site Data" (so I can't delete them from there), and they don't go away when I close the tabs or windows. It seems that I can only get rid of them by shutting down Firefox - a horrible solution when I have many other tabs and windows open.
I can't believe that no way exists to delete cookies (and local storage) in private windows and tabs. Does anyone know some way to do that?
All Replies (6)
Your ‘logged-in’ status is stored in special cookies. If the cookie is removed, you are logged out.
You may be in Private Browsing mode or told Firefox not to remember.
Type about:preferences#privacy<enter> in the address bar. The button next to History, select Use Custom Settings.
Turn off Always Use Private Browsing Mode Turn on Remember My Browsing And Download History At the bottom of the page, turn on Clear History When Firefox Closes. At the far right, press the Settings button. Turn on Cache and Form And Search History and whatever else you want.
> You may be in Private Browsing mode
Yes, as I stated in the question, I want to delete cookies and local storage in private browsing mode. Firefox obviously needs to "remember" these during the session. I don't see any reason why a user shouldn't have the ability to selectively delete cookies and local storage during a session. I can't think of any other browser that doesn't allow this (and I don't want my history remembered under any circumstances).
It sounds like you have admitted that no way exists to do this.
When you are using Private Browsing, all data (cookies, logins . . . .) are stored in temporary storage. When the browser is closed, those are removed.
Private Browsing - Use Firefox without saving history
Firefox Private Browsing is great for viewing websites without saving things like cookies, temp files, and a history of the pages you visit.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/common-myths-about-private-browsing
You can possibly use the Storage Inspector to clear cookies for a specific tab.
You can look the Add-ons website for an extension to see if there is one that supports PB mode.
- Cookie Quick Manager https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/cookie-quick-manager/
> When you are using Private Browsing, all data (cookies, logins . . . .) > are stored in temporary storage. When the browser is closed, those are removed.
Yes, but I (very often) need to delete those cookies and logings WITHOUT closing the browser. It seems absolutely incredible to me that no one realizes the importance of this. Why can't the Privacy & Security tab include these. In Firefox (unlike other browsers), the current behavior means that "private browsing" doesn't actually exist until the user closes the browser (which in my case happens only a handful of times each year).
> You can possibly use the Storage Inspector to clear cookies for a specific tab.
> https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Tools/Storage_Inspector
We have a winner! Not the most convenient way to do it, but I will choose power over convenience every time.
> You can look the Add-ons website for an extension to see if there is one that supports PB mode.
> Cookie Quick Manager https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/cookie-quick-manager/
I don't use addons (just another attack vector).
Sorry, I have to undo your "solution." The storage inspector will list all of the cookies and local storage, but I can't actually delete anything (right clicking on any item and selecting delete has no effect).