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Since upgrading to version 32, firefox always opens old tabs when starting, even though i do not have this option set. Version 33.0.3 does the same.

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  • Last reply by cor-el

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When I updated Firefox to version 32, it started to always show my tabs from the last session when it is started. I tried changing the option "when Firefox starts" to all three of the available choices. None of these changed the behavior. It still opens the tabs that were last opened. I waited for the next release (33.0.3) but the behavior is still the same. I would like Firefox to open to my selected home page. I'm running Windows 7 Pro.

When I updated Firefox to version 32, it started to always show my tabs from the last session when it is started. I tried changing the option "when Firefox starts" to all three of the available choices. None of these changed the behavior. It still opens the tabs that were last opened. I waited for the next release (33.0.3) but the behavior is still the same. I would like Firefox to open to my selected home page. I'm running Windows 7 Pro.

Chosen solution

One possibility is that Firefox keeps crashing during shutdown, and so Firefox is recovering from a crash every time. But if you can see that it is shutting down normally in your testing, that probably isn't it.

Sometimes external software will create or update an optional settings file named user.js. For some reason, one of the things that often shows up in there is a preference to restore your previous session just once. However, because Firefox uses user.js to override your normal settings every time it starts, that then turns into a permanent change. To check for this and remove any user.js file you find, try this support article: How to fix preferences that won't save.

Any luck?

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Chosen Solution

One possibility is that Firefox keeps crashing during shutdown, and so Firefox is recovering from a crash every time. But if you can see that it is shutting down normally in your testing, that probably isn't it.

Sometimes external software will create or update an optional settings file named user.js. For some reason, one of the things that often shows up in there is a preference to restore your previous session just once. However, because Firefox uses user.js to override your normal settings every time it starts, that then turns into a permanent change. To check for this and remove any user.js file you find, try this support article: How to fix preferences that won't save.

Any luck?

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You can check if you have a user.js file in the Firefox profile folder that sets the browser.sessionstore.resume_session_once pref to true.

You can use this button to go to the currently used Firefox profile folder:

  • Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder (Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder)

The "AppData" folder in Windows Vista and later Window 7+ versions and the "Application Data" folder in XP/Win2K are hidden folders.

Modified by cor-el