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Firefox deleting cookies and history on closure

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I have recently installed Firefox but am unable to stop it deleting cookies and history on closure. In the 'privacy and security -> history' settings I selected 'Use custom settings', unticked 'private browsing' and 'clear history' and ticked 'remember browsing and search history'. In the 'clear history' section I unticked everything except 'cache'. Despite this cookies and search history have been deleted so I have re-sign onto web sites. I have also tried the 'remember history' setting instead of 'custom settings' but this does not work either. I had already added extensions and customised Firefox so I tried a 'refresh' which had no effect. Finally, I removed all traces of Firefox from my PC and did a clean install (no extensions or customisation). I used the default privacy/security settings but again got the same result. I am running Firefox v99 on Windows 10 Pro v21H2. Any ideas how I can fix this?

I have recently installed Firefox but am unable to stop it deleting cookies and history on closure. In the 'privacy and security -> history' settings I selected 'Use custom settings', unticked 'private browsing' and 'clear history' and ticked 'remember browsing and search history'. In the 'clear history' section I unticked everything except 'cache'. Despite this cookies and search history have been deleted so I have re-sign onto web sites. I have also tried the 'remember history' setting instead of 'custom settings' but this does not work either. I had already added extensions and customised Firefox so I tried a 'refresh' which had no effect. Finally, I removed all traces of Firefox from my PC and did a clean install (no extensions or customisation). I used the default privacy/security settings but again got the same result. I am running Firefox v99 on Windows 10 Pro v21H2. Any ideas how I can fix this?

All Replies (2)

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Did you also look at "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed" ?

You can use these steps to make a website recognize and remember you.

  • create a cookie allow exception with the proper protocol (https:// or http://) to make a website remember you

You can check that you aren't clearing important cookies.

  • using "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed" keeps cookies with an allow exception
  • using "Clear history when Firefox closes" to clear cookies clears all cookies including cookies with an allow exception you may want to keep
  • clearing "Site Preferences" clears exceptions for cookies, images, pop-up windows, and software installation and exceptions for passwords and other website specific data
  • Settings -> Privacy & Security
    Cookies and Site Data: "Manage Exceptions"
  • Settings -> Privacy & Security
    Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history":
    [X] "Clear history when Firefox closes" -> Settings
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Many thanks for the prompt reply. I added the relevant web site to the exception list and checked the other settings as per your suggestions; all my browsing history and stored passwords is now being kept. However, although the web site required a sign-in is marked as an exception, its cookie still seems to get deleted on closure. I have to sign in for each new session. Is there anything else I can try?