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Is there a way for the history sidebar to be a default?

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by cor-el

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Before Firefox was "improved", I used to customize so the history icon (clock) was available. One click and the sidebar would appear. Now I have to click the icon and then tell it I want the sidebar. How can I set sidebar as the history default?

This is just one of many little irritations with FF. The more it's "improved", the worse it gets. When I go searching for a site I visited previously, I want the sidebar to be there and stay put without extra steps.

Before Firefox was "improved", I used to customize so the history icon (clock) was available. One click and the sidebar would appear. Now I have to click the icon and then tell it I want the sidebar. How can I set sidebar as the history default? This is just one of many little irritations with FF. The more it's "improved", the worse it gets. When I go searching for a site I visited previously, I want the sidebar to be there and stay put without extra steps.

All Replies (3)

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As a sidebar user myself, I feel your pain with that silly change.

{ Ctrl + H } opens [and closes] the History sidebar. It will stay open as long as you want, even after closing and reopening Firefox. Best I can offer as an alternative for that change.

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Thank you for the suggestion. I knew about Ctrl H, but the mouse takes one hand and Ctrl H takes two, so I it's not really what I'm looking for. I don't mind changes in Firefox; but I absolutely loathe changes for no purpose, and without a way to restore as default. Do these developers ever give consideration to anything but their own desire to "stay ahead of the curve"? I think half the changes that are made are gratuitous, completely unnecessary.

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You can look at the Classic Theme Restorer extension to customize the appearance in Firefox 29 and later and make it look like older Firefox versions.

  • You can check out the settings of the CTR extension via its Options/Preferences button on the "Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions" page.
  • You can find extra toolbar buttons and more toolbar settings in Customize (3-bar Firefox menu button > Customize)