Cannot clear recent history in Private Browsing Mode

Hello,
so why is this option disabled in the private browsing mode? It can be useful to clear cookies without restarting Firefox!
This is a pity :-(

OK, I will try your suggestions -- thank you. Although I did note today when I went out of private browsing mode and into normal mode, the recent cookies from PB mode were not visible like they were a couple of days ago.
But I am still confused about this because there are cookies definitely being placed and kept on my computer when I am in private browsing mode, but I can't see them or access them, so how do I get rid of them?
This was previously mentioned as a known bug that was supposed to be fixed, but it doesn't appear that it's been worked on yet. Here is the post from which I pulled the bug report link::
[https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/957436?esab=a&as=aaq#question-reply link text]
I want to be sure I can see what cookies I have, and also be able to delete them. Currently there is no way to do that while in PB mode. And also, it now appears that even after switching to normal mode, I can't see the cookies that were placed while in PB mode, so how can we know and remove those cookies that are being placed while in PB mode?
Thanks!

Similar Messages

Under Tools the Clear Recent History line is in shaded type and can't be accessed

In the dropdown menu under Tools the Clear Recent History option is in lighter type and cannot be accessed. Please advise.
== This happened ==
Every time Firefox opened
== I just tried to clear history

Check that you do not start Firefox in Private Browsing mode (Tools > Stop Private Browsing is grayed)
From the menu bar: Tools > Options > Privacy, choose the setting Firefox will: Use custom settings for history
Uncheck: [ ] "Automatically start Firefox in a private browsing session"
You enter Private Browsing mode if you select: Tools > Options > Privacy > History: Firefox will: "Never Remember History"
You can't clear your recent history in [[Private Browsing]] mode, because there isn't any new history being kept.

Why am I getting redirected to the MSN homepage (when logging out of hotmail) with third party cookies not enabled? And why are exceptions to cookies being cleared in private browsing mode?

I have the latest version of Firefox, I use Private browsing with Allow cookies but not third party cookies. Recently I have begun to be redirected to the MSN homepage after logging out of hotmail and whenever I add MSN cookies to the exceptions in cookies the list gets deleted. Can anyone tell me why, when blocking third party cookies should prevent that?

Two initial thoughts:
(1) If you look at the cookie names and content in the View Cookies dialog, are they the ordinary scramble of different names and values, or do they look like "opt-out" cookies? Some security software or add-ons may restore opt-out cookies after you clear them.
(2) If you have any extensions that make requests to those sites, it's possible they are bypassing private browsing mode, although I would hope not. Hmmm.
Unfortunately, unlike history where you can see the time that an entry was added, it is difficult to figure out when a cookie was set. But there are many cookie add-ons that might provide insight.
Alternately, you could go directly to the cookies.sqlite database using the SQLite Manager extension. This is on the nerdy side, but manageable.
(1) Install SQLite Manager from: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/sqlite-manager/
(2) The extension adds an item to the Tools menu. If you do not normally use the classic menu bar, tap the Alt key to display it temporarily or press Alt+t to pull down the Tools menu.
SQLite Manager may suggest a particular database, particularly on your second and later uses. You can skip that and it will open a new window.
(3) On the toolbar (first screen shot), choose the cookies.sqlite database and click Go. This should display the database entries for all your cookies (second screen shot).
(4) Select the following SQL query text:
SELECT host AS Site, datetime(creationTime/1000000,'unixepoch') AS Created, datetime(expiry,'unixepoch') AS Expires
FROM moz_cookies
ORDER BY creationTime, host
(5) Click the Execute SQL tab, paste the query, then click Run SQL. You should get a list of sites in order by the date their cookies were set (third screen shot).
Are the dates all fresh? If they are older, something may be rolling back your cookie clearing.

Found 0 results for While browsing eBay, when I watch or bid on an item, and later view it again, many inches of white space appears before item appears. If I delete the clear recent history box, the pages will come up as they should for several times, th

While browsing eBay, when I watch or bid on an item, and later view it again, many inches of white space appears before item appears. If I delete the clear recent history box, the pages will come up as they should for several times, then go back to a lot of extra white space. How can I prevent this? Thank you, Rick in English
== This happened ==
Every time Firefox opened
== About a month ago

As stated in 1.:
1. This procedure is a diagnostic test. It changes nothing, for better or worse, and therefore will not, in itself, solve the problem.
Obviously, it will not harm your computer provided you follow the instructions. However, if you don't post your results in the thread where you were given those instructions, then the person helping you cannot help you further. As he asks at the end, "please post the test results on Pastebin, then post a link here to the page you created."

Clear history and private browsing is stuck in gray

stop private browsing and clear history are stuck in gray and not responding when I click on them

You have turned on Permanent Private Browsing mode which makes those options grey so you don't accidentally turn it off.
Fortunately, there is a easy way to turn it off.
Click the Firefox button > Options > Options > Privacy tab then uncheck '''Permanent Private Browsing''' and click OK.
Or, if you don't have the orange Firefox button: 
Tools > Options > Privacy tab then uncheck '''Permanent Private Browsing''' and click OK.

Clearing recent history on Firefox freezes browser.

This is actually a problem and what I did to fix it....
Firefox 25 and Mac OS 10.7 (Lion)
Went to "Clear Recent History" and Firefox stopped responding.
• I had to use COMMAND-OPTION-ESC to quit Firefox
I then went to Firefox preferences-->Privacy-->History
• I changed "Remember History" to "Use custom setting for history"
• I checked the box that said, "Clear history when Firefox closes"
THIS IS WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENED
• Clicking Firefox from my Startup Menu would cause the pointer to spin endlessly
• Again, I had to use COMMAND-OPTION-ESC to quit Firefox
At this point I was worried that I could lose all of my Bookmarks with a clean install,
so I went to the internet and found out I could start Firefox in a "Safe Mode"
Here is what I did to correct the problem....
1) Hold down option and click Firefox from the Startup Menu (Firefox starts in Safe Mode)
2) I then went to Firefox preferences-->Privacy-->History
3) I unchecked the box that said, "Clear history when Firefox closes"
4) I changed "Use custom setting for history" to "Remember History"
5) I closed the Firefox preferences and Quit Firefox
When I restarted the computer all of my Bookmarks had returned :-)

That was very good work. Well Done.
These can't get your data back, but will help in the future.
These add-ons can be a great help by backing up and restoring Firefox
'''[https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/febe/ FEBE (Firefox Environment Backup Extension)]''' {web link}
FEBE allows you to quickly and easily backup your
Firefox extensions, history, passwords, and more.
In fact, it goes beyond just backing up -- It will actually rebuild
your saved files individually into installable .xpi files.
It will also make backup of files that you choose.
'''[https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/opie/ OPIE]''' {web link}
Import/Export extension preferences

Whenever I try to "clear recent history" in Firefox 6.0, I get a messages saying a script ("chrome://browser/content/sanitize.js:133") is busy or has stopped responding. How can I remedy this?

Whenever I try to "clear recent history," which I try to do after every browsing session, I get a message saying "A script on this page may be busy or it may have stopped responding. You can stop the script now, or you can continue to see if the script will complete. Script: chrome://browser/content/sanitize.js:133" I used to get this periodically before I upgraded to Firefox 6.0 but now I get it every time I try to clear my recent history. This happens on both my home and work computers and I'm using Firefox 6.0 and a Windows XP Professional SP2 operating system on each computer. How can I remedy this?

That can be caused by clearing the cookies via [[Clear Recent History]].
* Firefox/Tools > Options > Privacy > Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history" > [X] Clear history when Firefox closes > Settings
* Firefox > History > Clear Recent History or Tools > Clear Recent History
Try to exclude the cookies to see if that helps. 
Let all cookies expire when you close Firefox to remove unwanted cookies and keep the ones with an allow exception. 
Make sure that you do not clear the "Site Preferences" as that will remove all exceptions.
* Tools > Options > Privacy > Cookies: "Keep until": "I close Firefox"
If you use [[Clear Recent History]] to clear the cookies then Firefox also tries to clear the cookies from plugins like Flash and starts a plugin-container process for each plugin and that can add extra time and can cause an unresponsive script error to appear.

I cannot completely Clear Recent History; one url keeps showing up even after clearing. Why?

When I click on the Clear Recent History button, it appears that all categories are cleared. However, when I log back on, the drop-down menu of the URL bar shows that one previous URL from October 3, 2011, has not been cleared--has never been cleared, in fact. It is always the same address, which is: us.mc393.mail.yahoo.com/mc/welcome?gx=/&.tm=1317702807&.rand=42rlbj6nchdgv#_pg=showMessage&sMid=3&&filterBy=&.rand=248392308&midIndex=38...
It is the only item to appear in the drop-down menu.
Why is this happening, and how do I clear the history completely?
Thank you.
[email protected]

A possible cause is a problem with the file places.sqlite that stores the bookmarks and the history.
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Bookmarks_history_and_toolbar_buttons_not_working_-_Firefox
*https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Bookmarks+not+saved#w_places-database-file

"clear recent history" is not lit up, can't activate; I have an extra blank line under all these editing icons which I do not want?????Yahoo says it is your issue; also when I copy for instance a screenshot (see below)

1)trying to clear cache: when I click tools,options, "clear recent history" is not lit, I do not know what else to say. I tried to copy the screenshot sample, but it wouldn't let me. 
2) On a page: the items appear in this order - 
a)Header line:Firefox symbol Ask question or whatever I am seeking 
b)2nd line: the words: File, Edit, View, etc. 
c) 3rd line:arrows then 7 icons for editing which appeared one day, a small window that tells where I am with a star and then a window with
google's symbol and a small window with a magnifying glass. 
d)4th line: a wide empty line 
e)5th line: a small window telling what I am doing ie Ask a Question etc. then a plus sign in a gray box and then nothing follows. 
Yahoo says that the blank line and the icons are Firefox's issue. 
I never chose to have icons for editing instead of the words. I do not know how they got there. I had some problems for a number of weeks (1/4/11 to 2/5/11 because all of the 2nd line had disappeared and I had no bookmarks. Yahoo was completely ineffective and I got disparate yesterday and started click all over the screen and suddenly the words of that line appeared again as well as all my bookmarks were back.?????odd. So all this maybe related. I just would rather not have that blank line as it lowers my screen.
3) cont'd: to my desktop I cannot retrieve from my desktop. I click to open it and the page opens, but it keeps opening and opening and on and on and won't stop, so I have to close the tab and sign in again. This has happened about ten times recently. I guess that is it.

* Make sure that you not run Firefox in (permanent) [[Private Browsing]] mode
* You enter Private Browsing mode if you select: Tools > Options > Privacy > History: Firefox will: "Never Remember History"
* To see all History and Cookie settings, choose: Tools > Options > Privacy, choose the setting Firefox will: Use custom settings for history
* Uncheck: [ ] "Automatically start Firefox in a private browsing session"
* "Clear the Cache": Tools > Options > Advanced > Network > Offline Storage (Cache): "Clear Now"
* "Remove the Cookies" from sites that cause problems: Tools > Options > Privacy > Cookies: "Show Cookies"
Start Firefox in [[Safe Mode]] to check if one of the add-ons is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Tools > Add-ons > Themes).
* Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
See:
* [[Troubleshooting extensions and themes]]

Question Re: Clear Recent History Options

Navigating to: Clear Recent History > Details > Form & Search History
Question: I deselected all other boxes under details except Form & Search History
Time range was set to: Everything
My original objective for doing so was achieved
However, when I go back to this window, I cannot deselect all options and apply this null selection.
In my opinion, the user should be able to control what is cleared anytime they navigate to this window.
If the last most selection cannot be cleared then an accidental click on clear recent history without choosing the options in the details can lead to an error.
Why isn't there an apply button in the details window?

* Make sure that you not run Firefox in (permanent) [[Private Browsing]] mode
* You enter Private Browsing mode if you select: Tools > Options > Privacy > History: Firefox will: "Never Remember History"
* To see all History and Cookie settings, choose: Tools > Options > Privacy, choose the setting Firefox will: Use custom settings for history
* Uncheck: [ ] "Automatically start Firefox in a private browsing session"
* "Clear the Cache": Tools > Options > Advanced > Network > Offline Storage (Cache): "Clear Now"
* "Remove the Cookies" from sites that cause problems: Tools > Options > Privacy > Cookies: "Show Cookies"
Start Firefox in [[Safe Mode]] to check if one of the add-ons is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Tools > Add-ons > Themes).
* Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
See:
* [[Troubleshooting extensions and themes]]

Unless I am in private browsing mode some pages won't load properly. Data is moved and pictures located in strange places. Did a setting get changed? And if so, where do I go to change it back?

Unless I am in private browsing mode my home page, statesmanjournal.com, and a number of other pages come up 'jumbled' with wording all over the place and pictures out of place. This just started happening yesterday. My laptop is ok with firefox, only desktop effected.

Hi,
Please also try deleting the cache and cookies in normal mode: '''Tools''' ('''Alt''' + '''T''') > '''Clear Recent History''', choose '''Everything''' in '''Time range to clear''', '''Cookies''' and '''Cache''' in '''Details''' and '''Clear Now'''. [https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Clear%20Recent%20History Clear Recent History]

Safari autofills login field while in Private Browsing mode (and it shouldn't)

I've come across a strange behaviour when using Safari in "Private Browsing" mode (under Lion).
Recently, I'd visited a website which required logging in. Then I logged out, and after some time, tried to log in again. Somehow, my login name (which is an email address) was already in the respective field. "OK, that's strange, and it shouldn't happen," I thought and cleared Safari's Cache and Website Data. Interestingly, this wouldn't work either, and my login info was still accessible to Safari. I then went to Users/.../Library and trashed everything related to Safari that I could find. But to no avail. Now, at this moment I was surprised and a bit frustrated! Then I tried to access the same website using a second Mac. Login field remained unfilled in Safari there. Apparently, this issue is system-specific.
Obviously, login data had been stored somewhere as a cookie or in a plist file or whatever. Question is, why on Earth does this happen in PRIVATE BROWSING mode, and where exactly this data is being stored? Anyone?
Thanks!

History is a permanent record of where you have been. This is not kept when you are using Private browsing. The Back button contains the last sequence of links that you clicked which is not the same as history. The back button site chain will be kept for convenience (else how could you back up in a browsing session?). When you turn off private browsing the back button chain will be discarded. There will be no history and no back button chain.

Why is the "Clear Recent History" under my "History" menu inactive (grayed out, not black)?

When I click on the "History" icon, I get a new window with "History" at the top. Under it are three sub-options: "view History Sidebar", "Clear Recent History" (which is the one that I want to access), and "Restore Previous Session". Only the first one is black/active/"hot"; the other two are gray and do nothing when either clicked or the designated keyboard alternative is used. what must I do to be able to clear my history.

Did you make sure that Firefox isn't already running in private browsing mode?
Start Firefox in [[Safe Mode|Safe Mode]] to check if one of the extensions (Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.
*Switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance
*Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe Mode start window
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Safe+Mode
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes
You can also check the target line in the Firefox desktop shortcut.
You can use an extension to get Private Browsing mode support per tab to see if that shows that you are in a Private Browsing mode tab.
*Private Tab: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/private-tab/
*Private Browsing mode tabs get a dashed underline
*You can toggle Private Browsing mode on/off on each tab via the right-click context menu of the tab
Do a clean reinstall and delete the Firefox program folder before (re)installing a fresh copy of the current Firefox release.
*Download the full Firefox installer and save the file to the desktop https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/
If possible uninstall your current Firefox version to cleanup the Windows registry and settings in security software.
*Do NOT remove "personal data" when you uninstall your current Firefox version, because this will remove all profile folders and you lose personal data like bookmarks and passwords including data in profiles created by other Firefox versions.
Remove the Firefox program folder before installing that newly downloaded copy of the Firefox installer.
*(32 bit Windows) "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\"
*(64 bit Windows) "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\"
*It is important to delete the Firefox program folder to remove all the files and make sure that there are no problems with files that were leftover after uninstalling.
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_Firefox
Your bookmarks and other personal data are stored in the Firefox profile folder and won't be affected by an uninstall and (re)install, but make sure NOT to remove personal data when you uninstall Firefox as that will remove all Firefox profile folders and you lose your personal data.
If you keep having problems then also create a new profile.
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_backup
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Clean_reinstall

"Clear Recent History" is not enabled.

I updated my iMac G5 to TenFourFox 5.0 a month ago. Since then, I have not had access to my visited sites "History." The recent sites shown have not changed since I updated. Under "Tools," "Clear Recent History" is not enabled (dimly illuminated).

* Make sure that you not run Firefox in (permanent) [[Private Browsing]] mode
* You enter Private Browsing mode if you select: Tools > Options > Privacy > History: Firefox will: "Never Remember History"
* To see all History and Cookie settings, choose: Tools > Options > Privacy, choose the setting Firefox will: Use custom settings for history
* Uncheck: [ ] "Automatically start Firefox in a private browsing session"
* "Clear the Cache": Tools > Options > Advanced > Network > Offline Storage (Cache): "Clear Now"
* "Remove the Cookies" from sites that cause problems: Tools > Options > Privacy > Cookies: "Show Cookies"
Start Firefox in [[Safe Mode]] to check if one of the add-ons is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Tools > Add-ons > Themes).
* Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
See:
* [[Troubleshooting extensions and themes]]

Clear Recent History

The "Clear recent History" option under "Tools" is shaded out & not working, even after several hours of browsing ?

Could you be in [[private browsing|private browsing mode]], in that mode some menu items including "Clear recent history" are disabled.

Cannot clear recent history in Private Browsing Mode

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