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Firefox won't forget passwords on restart in v. 23

  • 6 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 8 views
  • Last reply by sbwinter2

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I recently allowed my XP SP3 computer to upgrade from v16 to v23 (most recent beta version that Firefox forces you to have). Now, all passwords are remembered despite what I have set for them.

In all previous versions, if I did not choose to Remember Password, then Firefox would not - I did not have to set an exception. On restart, I would just have to log in again. Now after having upgraded, I cannot get Firefox to stop remembering my passwords after restart. I have cleared all cookies and cache. I have even set the exception, but it still just logs me in to my gmail and facebook.

What is wrong with the newer versions of Firefox that you can't just chose to not remember the passwords and it won't?

I recently allowed my XP SP3 computer to upgrade from v16 to v23 (most recent beta version that Firefox forces you to have). Now, all passwords are remembered despite what I have set for them. In all previous versions, if I did not choose to Remember Password, then Firefox would not - I did not have to set an exception. On restart, I would just have to log in again. Now after having upgraded, I cannot get Firefox to stop remembering my passwords after restart. I have cleared all cookies and cache. I have even set the exception, but it still just logs me in to my gmail and facebook. What is wrong with the newer versions of Firefox that you can't just chose to not remember the passwords and it won't?

Chosen solution

There is a way to modify the session restore feature to dump the cookies. This is linked to other form data.

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter. Click the button promising to be careful.

(2) In the search box that appears above the list, type or paste sess and pause while the list is filtered

(3) Double-click the following preferences and set them to the desired value for private data (site cookies, form data, POST data, and scrollbar position on the page):

(A) browser.sessionstore.privacy_level - applies to resuming your session automatically (e.g., after updating) or if you set Firefox start up to "Show my windows and tabs from last time"

  • Save/restore for both HTTP and HTTPS sites => 0 (default)
  • Save/restore for HTTP sites only => 1
  • Do not save/restore for any sites => 2

(B) browser.sessionstore.privacy_level_deferred - applies to ad hoc session restore from the user interface (i.e., any time you are not automatically restoring your previous session)

  • Save/restore for both HTTP and HTTPS sites => 0
  • Save/restore for HTTP sites only => 1 (default)
  • Do not save/restore for any sites => 2

Source of this tip: firefox is remembering passwords i tell it not to. browser reopens after computer restart and i can still login. it's really annoying.

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All Replies (6)

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First, make sure to clear all saved logins. You can do that here:

(WIN) orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Options > Security > "Saved Passwords"

Second, if the "Remember passwords" checkbox get checked by itself when you exit and restart Firefox, check for a user.js file as described in this article: How to fix preferences that won't save. (If viewing/printing on Mac, use the OS selector above the article to change to Windows to get the correct menus/button labels.)

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So, I had already checked the saved passwords, and there are none for either of those sites - never have been. And I did not check it by mistake since I never want to remember those on that computer nor have those sites on the exception list (don't want a list of websites there). I will check that link though once I can get back to that computer. Thanks.

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Just a note about cookies: some cookie-based logins that normally expire at the end of a session may remain "live" if Firefox resumes/restores your earlier session.

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Sorry - I accidentally chose your answer as the solution, when I don't think it is. While what you say makes sense, I never had this problem with older versions. Once you restart Firefox, it is supposed to start a new session, even if you open the previous tabs from the last one. That is what is going wrong in this version. I should be able to restart FF, and it start a new session with previous tabs, but maybe it is not starting a new session.

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Chosen Solution

There is a way to modify the session restore feature to dump the cookies. This is linked to other form data.

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter. Click the button promising to be careful.

(2) In the search box that appears above the list, type or paste sess and pause while the list is filtered

(3) Double-click the following preferences and set them to the desired value for private data (site cookies, form data, POST data, and scrollbar position on the page):

(A) browser.sessionstore.privacy_level - applies to resuming your session automatically (e.g., after updating) or if you set Firefox start up to "Show my windows and tabs from last time"

  • Save/restore for both HTTP and HTTPS sites => 0 (default)
  • Save/restore for HTTP sites only => 1
  • Do not save/restore for any sites => 2

(B) browser.sessionstore.privacy_level_deferred - applies to ad hoc session restore from the user interface (i.e., any time you are not automatically restoring your previous session)

  • Save/restore for both HTTP and HTTPS sites => 0
  • Save/restore for HTTP sites only => 1 (default)
  • Do not save/restore for any sites => 2

Source of this tip: firefox is remembering passwords i tell it not to. browser reopens after computer restart and i can still login. it's really annoying.

Modified by jscher2000 - Support Volunteer

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Thanks. Back in the office and adjusting those privacy settings (which had gone back to default since the update) seems to have fixed the problem.