MX Linux Forum

Hello All,

Using Firefox 69.0.1, does anyone know how to set Preferences > Privacy & Security's history/cookie settings so when FF is closed it will clear all history, cache and cookies except for some cookies I want to keep?
There are tutorials around but all I can find is ones years out of date & the settings menus have changed since then.
I don't want to use an add-on.

Thanks

One google search gave me this: https://www.groovypost.com/howto/automa ... temp-exit/

Looks different, but still applies.


To be found here:

about:preferences#privacy
Then scroll down to history.

these things are well explained here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/cl ... ta-firefox

Eadwine Rose wrote: Sat Oct 12, 2019 4:47 am One google search gave me this: https://www.groovypost.com/howto/automa ... temp-exit/

Looks different, but still applies.


To be found here:

about:preferences#privacy
Then scroll down to history.

Thanks Eadwine, I'd already found that same info many times before asking here and yes that does work.
However the problem is I want it to keep some of the cookies upon closing instead of deleting them all.

darknetmatrix wrote: Sat Oct 12, 2019 4:49 am these things are well explained here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/cl ... ta-firefox

Thanks darknetmatrix,
Already read that several times too before I posted, the problem with that page is it doesn't explain how to keep some of the cookies upon closing while removing everything else...unless I missed it.
It apparently could be done on older versions as there's quite a few tutorials showing the settings for this, but the newer versions of FF the settings are different & don't appear to have the necessary options that need changing to enable it.

I hope this can help you: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1200198

Thanks again, yes seen that one several times also, but the settings described there to change don't appear in the current version of FF that I can see.

When I set "Use custom settings for history", the "Accept cookies from websites" and "Keep until:" settings don't appear like it's shown on that page.
The pic below is what I see in settings.
Under Cookie and Site Data, clicking "Clear Data" gives 3 options, clear all cookies and site data, clear the cache, or both.
Clicking "Manage Data" shows all the cookies with the option to remove only the selected ones or all at once.
"Manage Permissions" gives the options to block or allow cookies on different sites.

Under History, "Clear History" is obvious, with options to check/uncheck different parameters.
And the "Settings" beside Clear history when Firefox closes gives the same check/uncheck options as the Clear History options.

I suggest as this is a Firefox-specific question that you ask it in the Mozilla support forum. You'll probably have better luck being guided to a solution that suits you there.

Thanks Jay, yes that's the next step if no one here knows how to do this, thought I'd ask here first
Maybe Mozilla's removed that ability from the newer versions.
Add-ons can do it from what I've read, though I'd prefer to not use them if possible.

JmaCWQ wrote: Sat Oct 12, 2019 6:34 am Thanks Jay, yes that's the next step if no one here knows how to do this, thought I'd ask here first
Maybe Mozilla's removed that ability from the newer versions.
Add-ons can do it from what I've read, though I'd prefer to not use them if possible.

The ability to use add-ons is usually considered to be one of the greatest strengths of Firefox, so why wouldn't you use them?

jeffreyC wrote: Sat Oct 12, 2019 8:12 am The ability to use add-ons is usually considered to be one of the greatest strengths of Firefox, so why wouldn't you use them?

Speed.

Just a thought, but you might consider installing uMatrix and use it to allow cookies on the sites you want.
As for speed, I just loaded this page with uMatrix enabled = 1 second
Reloaded with uMatrix disabled = 1 second
So no discernable speed hit having it installed.
It might even quicken your overall browsing experience thanks to it's ability to block the dross that slows page loading.

JmaCWQ wrote: Sat Oct 12, 2019 7:12 pm

jeffreyC wrote: Sat Oct 12, 2019 8:12 am The ability to use add-ons is usually considered to be one of the greatest strengths of Firefox, so why wouldn't you use them?

Speed.

I use uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger, and AutoCookieDelete (or trying Cookiebro instead) and I'm pretty sure the first two actually improve page loads by blocking requests to ad servers and trackers.

Thanks People,
I do use uBlockOrigin & have done for some time now, it's quite handy in the advanced mode.
Past experiences with FF & multiple add-ons haven't been all the great IMO.
Even uBO makes a slight difference on my current setup, page loading times are better, but overall FF performance is slightly slower, not enough to be a nuisance but it is noticeable compared to when there's no add-ons installed.
I will read up on uMatrix and perhaps have a play around with it if I don't find a solution I'm happy with in the meantime.