This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

enable history in private browsing...

  • 6 majibu
  • 1 ana tatizo hili
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

Hi, I realise the subject title sounds like an oxymoron, but...

I have private browsing enabled by default always - I want what it does re cookies and the rest and in particular, I'm the sort of person that collects gazillions of tabs and it forces me to close them every time I close FF. However, I DO want to keep my browsing history - just in case one of those tabs that got closed is something that I want to go back to.

My reason for using private browsing by default is not to stop people knowing where I've been - should they care to forensically investigate my computer - but, to stop all those trackers and cookies etc AND to impose some discipline on my browsing habits...

So, I'd like all that private browsing offers, but with my browsing history - can this be done.

Thanks Morgan.

Hi, I realise the subject title sounds like an oxymoron, but... I have private browsing enabled by default always - I want what it does re cookies and the rest and in particular, I'm the sort of person that collects gazillions of tabs and it forces me to close them every time I close FF. However, I DO want to keep my browsing history - just in case one of those tabs that got closed is something that I want to go back to. My reason for using private browsing by default is not to stop people knowing where I've been - should they care to forensically investigate my computer - but, to stop all those trackers and cookies etc AND to impose some discipline on my browsing habits... So, I'd like all that private browsing offers, but with my browsing history - can this be done. Thanks Morgan.

All Replies (6)

more options

Well, may be - but, what would the config be to replicate private browsing in standard mode - then I could just allow the history I guess.

What, iirc, prompted the inquiry is that this is possible with Fennec on Android - I open all sites into PB tabs, but have history enabled.

Thx

more options

Hi

One option would be to use the "normal" (not private browsing) Firefox, but set it to clear browsing data - with the exception of history - on exit.

This support article should help:

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/delete-browsing-search-download-history-firefox#w_how-do-i-make-firefox-clear-my-history-automatically

more options

Hmm, that article's sort-of the wrong way round - is there an article that describes what PB does? Then, I can implement it but for the history. The link describes what standard browsing does and then how to secure it... Thanks, M.

more options

I guess the top link does that under the head 'What does Private Browsing not save?'

more options
more options

The only way to keep links or tabs when you are in PB mode is by bookmarking all tabs e.g. "Ctrl+Shift+D", you can't keep history.

You can possibly use code in the Browser Console to save session data, this also works with PB mode tabs/windows.


/* Session data - Get/Set State */
ssj = SessionStore.getBrowserState(); // get Current Session State
ssj = prompt("Copy Current Session State\n\nPaste New Session State: press ESC or click Cancel to abort", ssj||"");
if(ssj){SessionStore.setBrowserState(ssj)}