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If I "allow for session" a cookie with an expiration date in the distant future, does that cookie function only if I go to that particular website again?

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  • Last reply by cor-el

perennialstudent
perennialstudent
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On some sites where I need to allow cookies to use the site, some of the cookies have expiration dates in 2020 or 2030 or whatever. If I allow these cookies "for session" only, do they become nonfunctional when I close Firefox and remain nonfunctional until I access that site again, even if I open Firefox again, or are they constantly active whenever Firefox is running (or whenever my computer is connected to the Internet)?

On some sites where I need to allow cookies to use the site, some of the cookies have expiration dates in 2020 or 2030 or whatever. If I allow these cookies "for session" only, do they become nonfunctional when I close Firefox and remain nonfunctional until I access that site again, even if I open Firefox again, or are they constantly active whenever Firefox is running (or whenever my computer is connected to the Internet)?

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cor-el
cor-el
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Session cookies expire automatically when you close Firefox. You should be able to check that in the cookie manager on the next start and before you have visited those websites in that session.

Let cookies expire when Firefox is closed to make them session cookies.

  • Firefox > Preferences > Privacy > "Use custom settings for history" > Cookies: Keep until: "I close Firefox"

Create a cookie 'allow' exception for cookies that you would like to keep.

  • Firefox > Preferences > Privacy > "Use custom settings for history" > Cookies: Exceptions

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

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

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