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Default zoom level not sticking on ONE domain/site, reverts to 50%

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I work at a university and our campus IT team is stumped by this, so I'm really hoping someone can help.

Since yesterday the zoom level for my office's online application website automatically zooms out to 50% in my Firefox browser — even though I have the default zoom level set at 100%.

This is ONLY happening on this specific domain/site. On any other website the default 100% zoom level sticks. I've never changed the default to 50% at any time (nor would I, since I'm visually impaired).

I have to press Ctrl-0 to reset it to 100% — and it will stay at 100%, but only if I don't open any other that site's links in a new tab and/or window. For example, if I open Page A in Tab/Window #1 and Page B in Tab/Window #2 and reset both to 100%, once I toggle between them they both revert to 50%. IT'S MADDENING!

Unfortunately, due to the nature of my work in this site (which I use all day long) I need have multiple Firefox tabs/windows open. It's just not sustainable for me to have to click Ctrl-0 every few seconds (literally!) just to get work done.

I've tried clearing my cache, opening in Troubleshooting Mode, and adding a couple of zoom-related extensions (Default Zoom and Fixed Zoom), but nothing's worked. Our IT guy also tried doing something with "resist.fingerprinting" (??) but that didn't do anything, either.

Short of exporting all my bookmarks and un/reinstalling Firefox, I don't know what else to do. Any suggestions?

p.s. Please note that I am not very tech-savvy, so responses in plain English are appreciated!

I work at a university and our campus IT team is stumped by this, so I'm really hoping someone can help. Since yesterday the zoom level for my office's online application website automatically zooms out to 50% in my Firefox browser — even though I have the default zoom level set at 100%. This is ONLY happening on this specific domain/site. On any other website the default 100% zoom level sticks. I've never changed the default to 50% at any time (nor would I, since I'm visually impaired). I have to press Ctrl-0 to reset it to 100% — and it will stay at 100%, but only if I don't open any other that site's links in a new tab and/or window. For example, if I open Page A in Tab/Window #1 and Page B in Tab/Window #2 and reset both to 100%, once I toggle between them they both revert to 50%. IT'S MADDENING! Unfortunately, due to the nature of my work in this site (which I use all day long) I need have multiple Firefox tabs/windows open. It's just not sustainable for me to have to click Ctrl-0 every few seconds (literally!) just to get work done. I've tried clearing my cache, opening in Troubleshooting Mode, and adding a couple of zoom-related extensions (Default Zoom and Fixed Zoom), but nothing's worked. Our IT guy also tried doing something with "resist.fingerprinting" (??) but that didn't do anything, either. Short of exporting all my bookmarks and un/reinstalling Firefox, I don't know what else to do. Any suggestions? p.s. Please note that I am not very tech-savvy, so responses in plain English are appreciated!

All Replies (2)

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Follow-up / additional info from OP:

  • I should have mentioned that this problem is occurring on my regular work computer that recently updated to Firefox 91.0.2.
  • A little while ago I logged into the affected site on another computer with Firefox 89.0.2 and DID NOT encounter the this weird zoom problem.
  • The zoom level stuck to 100% on that other computer in Firefox 89.0.2, no matter how many tabs or windows I opened pages of the affected site.
  • This leads me to believe that this problem must be related to the recent update to 91.0.2..... right?
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The custom zoom setting for a website is stored as part of the Site Preferences in content-prefs.sqlite.

You can try to clear the Site Preferences to see if that help and possibly rename/remove content-prefs.sqlite in the Firefox profile folder with Firefox closed.

You can use the button on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page.