This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

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

firefox not deleting cookies after close

  • 5 cavab
  • 1 has this problem
  • 23 views
  • Last reply by wizzardz

more options

Currently using Firefox 36.0.1 - but I'm not sure if it started in the previous version as I recently updated.

Pertinent settings in Options --> Privacy

Firefox will: Use custom settings for history Always use private browsing mode - disabled Remember browsing/download history - enabled Remember search and form history - enabled Accept cookies from sites - enabled Accept third-party cookies: From Visited Keep until: I close Firefox

Despite the last setting above, cookies are not deleted after Firefox is closed. Previous versions would delete these cookies upon close

Currently using Firefox 36.0.1 - but I'm not sure if it started in the previous version as I recently updated. Pertinent settings in Options --> Privacy Firefox will: Use custom settings for history Always use private browsing mode - disabled Remember browsing/download history - enabled Remember search and form history - enabled Accept cookies from sites - enabled Accept third-party cookies: From Visited Keep until: I close Firefox Despite the last setting above, cookies are not deleted after Firefox is closed. Previous versions would delete these cookies upon close

All Replies (5)

more options

Attaching image since duplicate was noted due to failed upload of image

more options

Make sure that you close all open tabs before closing Firefox to prevent Firefox from storing the cookies in sessionstore.js as part of the session data.

See also:

If clearing cookies didn't help then it is possible that the cookies.sqlite file that stores the cookies got corrupted.

Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions (Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.

  • Switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance
  • Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe Mode start window
more options

cor-el said

Make sure that you close all open tabs before closing Firefox to prevent Firefox from storing the cookies in sessionstore.js as part of the session data.

Is this a new requirement for 36? I have not previously had to close all the tabs for this option to work. This would seem to be contrary to the option to Show my Windows and Tabs from last time when Firefox starts.

more options

I'm assuming Safe mode disables all the extensions. Should it also delete cookies on exit? I.e., if I repeatedly open and close Firefox in safe mode, this would eliminate all interference by add-ons (I don't use other themes). and remove cookies on close?

So far manually deleting them has been the only way.

more options

Installing 35.0.1 resolved this problem (all other settings/add-ons being equal).