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Private Browsering Page will not open.

red3knight5
red3knight5
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When I try to open Private Browser Window but the page open to My Home Page. I when to FireFox Information Pages but did not find any solutions to fit the problem. Thanks John

When I try to open Private Browser Window but the page open to My Home Page. I when to FireFox Information Pages but did not find any solutions to fit the problem. Thanks John

Chosen solution

Could you double-check that you are not starting up in automatic private browsing? With that setting, all windows are in a private browsing session, but Firefox runs in a "stealth" mode where there is no visible indication that the windows are private windows.

Here's how to check that on the Options page:

"3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Options

In the left column, click Privacy.

On the right side, check for either of these:

  • "Firefox will: Never remember history"
  • "Firefox will: Use custom settings for history" and the checkbox for "Always use private browsing mode" is selected

Both of those indicate automatic private browsing.

If you are not using automatic private browsing, then it sounds as though either Firefox is broken or one of your add-ons may be blocking private browsing.

Could you test in Firefox's Safe Mode? In Safe Mode, Firefox temporarily deactivates extensions, hardware acceleration, and some other advanced features to help you assess whether these are causing the problem.

If Firefox is not running: Hold down the Shift key when starting Firefox.

If Firefox is running: You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
  • Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

and OK the restart.

Both scenarios: A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Refresh).

Any difference?

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All Replies (1)

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 25 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

Could you double-check that you are not starting up in automatic private browsing? With that setting, all windows are in a private browsing session, but Firefox runs in a "stealth" mode where there is no visible indication that the windows are private windows.

Here's how to check that on the Options page:

"3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Options

In the left column, click Privacy.

On the right side, check for either of these:

  • "Firefox will: Never remember history"
  • "Firefox will: Use custom settings for history" and the checkbox for "Always use private browsing mode" is selected

Both of those indicate automatic private browsing.

If you are not using automatic private browsing, then it sounds as though either Firefox is broken or one of your add-ons may be blocking private browsing.

Could you test in Firefox's Safe Mode? In Safe Mode, Firefox temporarily deactivates extensions, hardware acceleration, and some other advanced features to help you assess whether these are causing the problem.

If Firefox is not running: Hold down the Shift key when starting Firefox.

If Firefox is running: You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
  • Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

and OK the restart.

Both scenarios: A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Refresh).

Any difference?