Cookies store many different things, but one of the most common is a code that the website uses to know it's you visiting again, and not the guy next door.

To see how Firefox is handling cookies on Google, you can check the cookie permissions in the Page Info dialog, and modify them if needed. While viewing a page on the site, try either:

• right-click and choose View Page Info > Permissions
• Alt+t (open the classic Tools menu) > Page Info > Permissions

The "Set cookies" setting will show whether you let Google set persistent cookies that Firefox retains even when you exit and restart ("Allow"), or session cookies that Firefox dumps when you exit the browser ("Allow for Session") or no cookies ("Block").

Some sites split their content over different servers. In that case, you may need to allow "third party" cookies. However, I can't recall whether Google requires third party cookies to be allowed.

Does that help at all?

Note that add-ons can change how Firefox handles cookies, so you may want to review your extensions and see whether any could be blocking Google cookies to protect your privacy.

You can do that here:

orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons > Extensions category

Thanks for your email, but what you wrote is wildly over my head. I'm not knowledgeable about how computers operate, and very frustrated that I have to sign in every time I get to my (Google) home page and see the little box checked "stay signed in". If it says "stay signed in" - WHY ISN'T IT?

It was a long reply, but if you go one sentence at a time and let me know what you find or don't find, I think you can work through it. Here's a screen shot of the first step, viewing the Permissions section of the Page Info dialog while viewing a page on google.com.

Hi - My permissions is set to default, and allow cookies. Further, there are no extensions. Any other suggestions?

Thanks - Paul De Longe

Hi Paul, did this problem just start recently? If so, can you associate it with any changes on your computer such as installing or updating software?

Some users have security software with privacy features that may block some information from being transmitted to websites. If you have that kind of software, review its settings to see whether it could be filtering out cookies or other information.

Some users connect to the web through a proxy or privacy service (sometimes called a private VPN or anonymizer). This can cause their computer's IP address to change between requests, which may cause servers to require a new login. To see whether your Firefox is set to use a custom connection method, you can check here:

orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Options > Advanced

On the Advanced tab, click the small Network tab, then the Settings button. The default value when you first install Firefox is "Use system proxy settings". You also could try "No proxy".

By the way, I'm assuming that Gmail works normally for you in Internet Explorer. If IE also is having the same problem, that would point more strongly to an external cause.

Hi - Thanks for your response; I checked Firefox - Options - Advanced - Settings. It was set to "Use system proxy settings." I tried unchecking that and checking "No proxy." Neither changed my problem - can't stay signed into Google. I switched back to "Use system proxy settings" and then tried signing in via IE but the problem persists. I really appreciate your interest and advice, but I get no change on Google sign-in. Any further ideas?

Paul De Longe

Do you stay logged in to Google as long as you are using the same window, but not if you access Google in a different window? That might indicate you are using the private browsing feature. This article has more information: Private Browsing - Use Firefox without saving history.

Try to set an allow exception for Google cookies.

• Firefox/Tools > Options > Privacy > Cookies: Exceptions

In case you are using "Clear history when Firefox closes":

• do not clear the Cookies
• do not clear the Site Preferences

• Tools > Options > Privacy > Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history": [X] "Clear history when Firefox closes" > Settings
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Clear+Recent+History

Note that clearing "Site Preferences" clears all exceptions for cookies, images, pop-up windows, software installation, and passwords.

Clearing cookies will remove all specified (selected) cookies including cookies with an allow exception that you want to keep.

Thank you both for your suggestions. I've tried to follow them as well as I am able, but I'm not truly computer literate. I can't find several of the things you mention and have tried the things I can understand and find, but the result has been ZERO. Although the little box to "stay signed in" is checked, I still have to sign in every time. This is particularly aggravating because the "stay signed in" function on my home computer, a new HP, works fine. This office computer (no server, running on a private phone line in a single person office) is about a year old, runs Windows 7, runs perfectly but the interface with Mozilla is very difficult to comprehend. I'd sure like to cure this minor problem. I don't know if the problem is me, Mozilla or Google, but even with your expert help we've found no cure.

Paul De Longe

Could you do a two-minute experiment?

Create a new Firefox profile

It will have your system-installed plugins (e.g., Flash), but no themes, extensions, or other customizations. It also should have completely fresh settings databases and a fresh cache folder. This will help clarify whether the problem lies with your current Firefox settings or is a larger issue.

Exit Firefox and start up in the Profile Manager using Start menu > search box (or Run):

firefox.exe -P

Any time you want to switch profiles, you'll exit Firefox and return to this dialog.

Click the "Create Profile" button. When creating a new profile, I recommend using the default location suggested, and to avoid data loss, not re-using any existing folder. Then start Firefox in the new profile.

Can you stay logged in to Google in the new profile?

When you return to the Profile Manager, you might be tempted to remove that new "test" profile. However, please resist the temptation. Before deleting unneeded profiles, I suggest making a backup of all your profiles first in case something were to go wrong.

Does it work if you have closed Firefox, but open a new tab or window in the current Firefox session?

Many thanks to both of you for your consideration and suggestions but your current advice is beyond my ability to understand. Computers are sadly disappointing in that simple options are offered, i.e. - "stay signed in" by checking a box which may work or not. Searching with your truly kind help has been fruitless - the systems or software or whatever is involved is far beyond my comprehension. One would think that computer manufacturers would instruct software writers that a large component of buyers don't have detailed operating knowledge; they simply buy the machines to use. I know this complaint has been around since the beginning and it's still unsolved. I give up.