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Firefox does not reliably follow settings

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  • Last reply by cor-el

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I have a fresh install of Debian 12.5, which came with Firefox 115.7.0esr. Firefox is inconsistent in following the settings I put in. For example, I specified the download folder, but it still automatically saved to the original default folder. But when I clicked to ask me before downloading, it does! And it gives me the 1st option to save the the folder I specified. But if I uncheck the "ask me" button, it goes back to putting downloads in my home directory, which I don't want. Another example is I've set it to "open previous windows and tabs on startup", but it doesn't. When I close Firefox with several tabs open, the next time I start it I have just the home tab. Yet when I look in "settings" it still says it's supposed to be opening my previous tabs. This is more annoying than the download issue. How can I get Firefox to follow the settings, which ARE being saved?

I have a fresh install of Debian 12.5, which came with Firefox 115.7.0esr. Firefox is inconsistent in following the settings I put in. For example, I specified the download folder, but it still automatically saved to the original default folder. But when I clicked to ask me before downloading, it does! And it gives me the 1st option to save the the folder I specified. But if I uncheck the "ask me" button, it goes back to putting downloads in my home directory, which I don't want. Another example is I've set it to "open previous windows and tabs on startup", but it doesn't. When I close Firefox with several tabs open, the next time I start it I have just the home tab. Yet when I look in "settings" it still says it's supposed to be opening my previous tabs. This is more annoying than the download issue. How can I get Firefox to follow the settings, which ARE being saved?

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Oh, and just in case it makes any difference, Firefox does remember my history, so I CAN retrieve my old tabs by going to "recently closed tabs," but I really want it to take me back where I left off, just like it does on every other computer I use

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Use one of these to close Firefox if you are currently doing that by clicking the close X on the Firefox Title bar, especially if you have multiple windows or Private Browsing windows open to prevent losing tabs in unnoticed windows.

  • "3-bar" menu button -> Exit (Power button)
  • Windows: File -> Exit
  • Mac: Firefox -> Quit Firefox
  • Linux: File -> Quit

See also:

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