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instead of opening a new blank window firefox opens 65 tabs from a couple of years ago

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  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by FredMcD

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usually firefox remembers my windows and tabs from the previous session. sometimes instead it will open a very old window from about 2 years ago that has 65 tabs in it. sometimes these are appended before the previous session's tabs. kind of unwieldly. this old window also opens when i choose new window from the file menu. to open a new blank window i have have to tear off a new blank tab.

usually firefox remembers my windows and tabs from the previous session. sometimes instead it will open a very old window from about 2 years ago that has 65 tabs in it. sometimes these are appended before the previous session's tabs. kind of unwieldly. this old window also opens when i choose new window from the file menu. to open a new blank window i have have to tear off a new blank tab.

Chosen solution

I called for more help.

Type about:config<enter> in the address bar. If a warning screen comes up, press the I Accept the Risk button. At the top of the screen is a search bar. Type browser.startup.homepage

What is the value? Right-click and select Reset to restore its default value; about:home

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You may have corrupt sessionstore [v56] sessionstore.jsonlz4 file(s). Delete all sessionstore* files and the sessionstore-backups folder.

Type about:support<enter> in the address bar.

Under the page logo on the left side, you will see Application Basics. Under this find Profile Folder. To its right press the button Show Folder. This will open your file browser to the current Firefox profile. Now Close Firefox.

Locate the above file. Then rename or delete it. Restart Firefox.


Don't delete the files if you need to rescue any data from them, just move them out of the profile folder to some location where Firefox doesn't look for them. You can try to read out their contents using this tool: https://www.jeffersonscher.com/res/scrounger.html

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thanks for your suggestion. however, it didn't help. when i chose new window from the file menu all the tabs (62) showed up again. any other suggestions?

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Chosen Solution

I called for more help.

Type about:config<enter> in the address bar. If a warning screen comes up, press the I Accept the Risk button. At the top of the screen is a search bar. Type browser.startup.homepage

What is the value? Right-click and select Reset to restore its default value; about:home

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it worked! thank you so much. no problems opening a new window now. and my previous session is remembered as well. thanks again.

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Did you previously checked the home page setting (a new window opens by default the home page(s))?

You can check the home page setting.

Firefox supports multiple home pages separated by '|' (pipe) symbols.

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Glad to help. Safe Surfing.