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I have Firefox set to delete cookies when it closes, but everytime it updates it loses this setting, and I am now unware I'm saving cookies. How do I stop this?

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by FredMcD

zeyyix
zeyyix
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Every time Firefox updates it loses my privacy and security settings and reverts back to standard settings. I have it set to delete cookies and site data when it closes. Because of this issue, I am often surfing for months believing cookies and site data are being deleted when they are not. This is a serious security and privacy flaw. It also happens to my homepage settings. I've now learned that when I see the standard Firefox homepage instead of the one I set, that my security settings are also lost.

Is there a way to prevent this from happening? I would imagine this is happening to countless other users who are unaware they no longer have the security settings they've set.

Thanks for your help!

Every time Firefox updates it loses my privacy and security settings and reverts back to standard settings. I have it set to delete cookies and site data when it closes. Because of this issue, I am often surfing for months believing cookies and site data are being deleted when they are not. This is a serious security and privacy flaw. It also happens to my homepage settings. I've now learned that when I see the standard Firefox homepage instead of the one I set, that my security settings are also lost. Is there a way to prevent this from happening? I would imagine this is happening to countless other users who are unaware they no longer have the security settings they've set. Thanks for your help!

All Replies (2)

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 25 Contributor
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Hi zeyyix, both of those settings, along with many others, such as your pinned tiles on the Firefox home page, are stored in a file named prefs.js in your profile folder. It sounds as though there is a problem with prefs.js retaining your settings, or perhaps that file is getting removed for some reason.

Firefox will create a new file if you use the Refresh feature. Of course, that also removes your add-ons, so you would notice many more changes.

Some users reported that severe system crashes caused Firefox 67 to generate a new prefs.js file, but presumably you aren't having power outage or blue screen crashes at each update.

The following article lists a range of possible reasons for problems with prefs.js, so please have a look here and see whether it helps: How to fix preferences that won't save.

FredMcD
FredMcD
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Back up and restore information in Firefox profiles.{web link} I use an add-on that makes backups of my user profile, Just In Case. Unfortunately, it is not compatible with the current Firefox.

Every now and then, open the profile folder and create a copy of the current profile as is to another location on your hard drive. This way you will have a backup.

If you do this each day, you will not lose much data. This should be done with Firefox Closed.

Note: In case you need to restore from these backups, you may need to overwrite old or corrupted files.