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Restore Previous Session Option is Missing From History Menu

  • 3 replies
  • 0 have this problem
  • 15 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

SR
SR
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I have been using the "Restore Previous Session Option" fairly often for years, but within the last few weeks the option is no longer there.

I had tried to use the Settings > Open Previous Windows and Tabs as a workaround, but it doesn't appear to be consistent.

Did something change in a recent update, or is my installation broken somehow? I tried refreshing Firefox but that didn't bring it back.

The article here shows what I am referring to and has a screenshot of where the "Restore Previous Session" option was: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/restore-previous-session#w_when-session-restore-occurs


[[Knowledge Base Article|https://assets-prod.sumo.prod.webservices.mozgcp.net/media/uploads/gallery/images/2021-05-19-06-31-50-513d15.png]]

Anyone else have this problem? Is my installation broken? And how to fix?

I have been using the "Restore Previous Session Option" fairly often for years, but within the last few weeks the option is no longer there. I had tried to use the Settings > Open Previous Windows and Tabs as a workaround, but it doesn't appear to be consistent. Did something change in a recent update, or is my installation broken somehow? I tried refreshing Firefox but that didn't bring it back. The article here shows what I am referring to and has a screenshot of where the "Restore Previous Session" option was: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/restore-previous-session#w_when-session-restore-occurs [[Knowledge Base Article|https://assets-prod.sumo.prod.webservices.mozgcp.net/media/uploads/gallery/images/2021-05-19-06-31-50-513d15.png]] Anyone else have this problem? Is my installation broken? And how to fix?

All Replies (3)

SR
SR Question owner
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Because I know these are going to be asked:

I do not have "use custom settings for history" checked.

I do not have "Clear history when Firefox closes" enabled.

I have tried with and without the "Clear history when Firefox closes" option enabled.

The History > restore previous session option is no longer there.

jonzn4SUSE
jonzn4SUSE
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Yes, it happens sometimes. You will have to roll your sleeves up and do it manually this time. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1437447#answer-1632326

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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"Restore Previous Session" is not available when the session already has been restored like when you use the startup "Open previous windows and tabs" or when you let the OS close Firefox.

Use one of these to close Firefox if you are currently doing that by clicking the close X on the Firefox Title bar, especially if you have multiple windows or Private Browsing windows open to prevent losing tabs in unnoticed windows.

  • "3-bar" menu button -> Exit (Power button)
  • Windows: File -> Exit
  • Mac: Firefox -> Quit Firefox
  • Linux: File -> Quit

You will normally find these files in the sessionstore-backups folder:

  • previous.jsonlz4 (cleanBackup: copy of sessionstore.jsonlz4 from previous session that was loaded successfully)
  • recovery.jsonlz4 (latest version of sessionstore.jsonlz4 written during runtime)
  • recovery.baklz4 (previous version of sessionstore.jsonlz4 written during runtime)
  • upgrade.jsonlz4-<build_id> (backup created during an upgrade of Firefox)

You can copy a file from the sessionstore-backups folder to the main profile and rename the file to sessionstore.jsonlz4 to replace the current file with Firefox closed.

  • make sure to backup the current sessionstore.jsonlz4

You can look at this tool to inspect a compressed jsonlz4 sessionstore file. This tool works locally, no uploading done.

You can use the button on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page (Root directory).