Previous session disappeared

I have always had my settings as restore tabs from last time, and that at least is one thing I've never had a problem with. But today I closed firefox and when I opened it again it was just the start page. Firefox hadn't crashed, I just closed it normally because Google Translator wasn't working. When I restarted Firefox, none of my tabs were there. I didn't get the "Well this is embarrassing" message. The option to restore previous session was not able to be selected. There was just nothing. The option was still set to 'show tabs from last time' so I'm not sure what the problem is.
Is there anyway to get them back? My recent history isn't helpful, since some of those tabs have been open for weeks (I haven't been able to save bookmarks for some time so I have to keeps several tabs open at once). Or at the very least prevent this from happening again?

If you go to the History menu, is "Restore Previous Session" available? You can check that either:
* "3-bar" menu button > History
* classic menu bar: History
If it's grayed out, then that's a bad sign.
Do not close Firefox. First, try to rescue the following files:
Open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either
* "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
* (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
* type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter
In the first table on the page, click the "Show Folder" button.
In the window that launches, scroll down:
(1) Double-click into the '''sessionstore-backups''' folder. Anything from the relevant date/time? If so, copy it to a safe location such as your Documents folder or Desktop.
(2) Back at the main level, scroll down to the sessionstore file(s). Same question. If so, copy it to a safe location such as your Documents folder or Desktop.
The kinds of files you may find among your sessionstore files are:
* sessionstore.js and recovery.js: the windows and tabs in your currently live Firefox session (or, if Firefox is closed, your last session)
* recovery.bak: a backup copy of recovery.js
* previous.js: the windows and tabs in your last Firefox session; sessionstore.bak for pre-33 versions of Firefox
* upgrade.js-''build_id'': the windows and tabs in the Firefox session that was live at the time of your last update; sessionstore.bak-''datetime'' for pre-33 versions of Firefox
If you come up with something promising, you may be able to have Firefox use it for your next session (details if relevant).

Similar Messages

My previous session disappeared when I updated, how can I get it back?

My previous session disappeared when I updated, how can I get it back?

If you go to the History menu, is "Restore Previous Session" available? You can check that either:
* "3-bar" menu button > History
* classic menu bar: History
If it's grayed out, then that's a bad sign.
Do not close Firefox. First, try to rescue the following files:
Open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either
* "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
* (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
* type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter
In the first table on the page, click the "Show Folder" button.
In the window that launches, scroll down:
(1) Double-click into the '''sessionstore-backups''' folder. Anything from the relevant date/time? If so, copy it to a safe location such as your Documents folder or Desktop.
(2) Back at the main level, scroll down to the sessionstore file(s). Same question. If so, copy it to a safe location such as your Documents folder or Desktop.
The kinds of files you may find among your sessionstore files are:
* sessionstore.js and recovery.js: the windows and tabs in your currently live Firefox session (or, if Firefox is closed, your last session)
* recovery.bak: a backup copy of recovery.js
* previous.js: the windows and tabs in your last Firefox session; sessionstore.bak for pre-33 versions of Firefox
* upgrade.js-''build_id'': the windows and tabs in the Firefox session that was live at the time of your last update; sessionstore.bak-''datetime'' for pre-33 versions of Firefox
If you come up with something promising, you may be able to have Firefox use it for your next session (details if relevant).

I am trying to use tab groups. My problem is that everytime I restart Firefox any groups I made in the previous session disappear. How do I stop this from happening?

I am trying to use tab groups. My problem is that everytime I restart Firefox, any tab groups I made in the previous session are no longer there. How do I stop this from happening?

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

I have my settings correct, but my app tabs, or previous session tabs STILL disappear whenever I close Firefox. Help?

1. I have a basic MacBook.
2. I'm running Mac OS X Version 10.6.8.
3. Under Firefox, I have my preference settings set on "When Firefox starts 'show my windows and tabs from last time'."
4. I have privacy settings set to "Tell websites I do not want to be tracked." and "Firefox will remember history."
Whenever I close Firefox (by clicking on the red dot at the top of the window OR by clicking 'quit Firefox' from the menu) and reopen it, it shows only my home page.
None of my tabs are saved - including the new app tabs (which sounded like something I'd like!) I don't have any trouble pinning the app tabs, but they don't stick. Or pin, that is. :) Nor can I get a restored browsing session.
This is something I can live with, but it's frustrating. Any suggestions?
Wendy

'''''"I cannot get Tabs from previous session back when I reopen Firefox"'''''
Be sure that you are not using Private Browsing or are in permanent Private Browsing mode. See: https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Private%20Browsing (2nd and 3rd menu items on that page)
Be sure you are not clearing history during a session or when closing Firefox. See:
*Clear Recent History: https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Clear%20Recent%20History
*Clear History when Firefox closes: un-check "Clear history when Firefox closes" on Options > Privacy panel (the first item under "History" on that panel must be set to "Firefox will: Use custom settings for history" to see that item to un-check)
'''''"there is no Firefox Tab at the top of my open Firefox window - only a menu bar"'''''
The Firefox button is supposed to be on by default only in Vista and Windows 7.
In Firefox 4, you have your choice of using the Firefox button (orange or gray) in the upper left corner or the Menu Bar (''File, Edit, View, History, Bookmarks, Tools. Help'').
*The selections on the Firefox button are different from the selections on the Menu Bar.
*You can easily switch back and forth between the Firefox button and the Menu Bar or leave one or the other active.
*The one being used depends on whether Menu Bar is checked
**Menu Bar '''checked''' = Menu Bar '''on''', Firefox button '''off'''
**Menu Bar '''un-checked''' = Menu Bar '''off''', Firefox button '''on'''
When the Firefox button is displayed and '''you want to ''temporarily'' display and use the Menu Bar''', pressing the ALT or F10 key will display the Menu Bar and you can make your selections from the temporarily displayed Menu Bar.
To check (or un-check) Menu Bar, do one of the following:
*using Firefox button: click Firefox button > Options > Menu Bar
*using the Menu Bar: click View > Toolbars > Menu Bar
*HOLD down the ALT key while pressing the keyboard letters VTM

Firefox will not open my previous session

Firefox 4 will not open any previous session once I shut down. I can have say 5 tabs open, close firefox, and reopen it and the session was saved. If I have those same 5 tabs open and shut down, then turn on my computer the next day, I can click on firefox, it will highlight the icon, and the highlight will disappear after about 5 seconds, and then I have to click it again, and it will open a totally new session. How do I fix this?

Make sure that you do not use [[Clear Recent History]] to clear the "Browsing History" if Firefox is closed.

Firefox does not reopen tabs from previous session

Hi,
When I start firefox it does not reopen the tabs I had open from the previous time Firefox was open, despite following suggestions in other support articles mentioning a similar problem.
I have seen these other similar problems and solutions in the support forums but none of them describe exactly my problem and none of their solutions fix my problem:
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/questions/800462#answer-154670
http://support.mozilla.com/bn-BD/questions/796107#answer-151748
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/questions/786128#answer-139770
As suggested in the above articles I have gone to about:config and ensured that all of
browser.tabs.warnOnClose
browser.warnOnQuit
browser.warnOnRestart
browser.showQuitWarning
are set to true.
With all the above set to true I have also tried in
Options -> General -> Startup -> When Firefox Starts
varying the setting between
"Show my windows and tabs from last time"
and
"Show my homepage"
When I have this set to "Show my homepage" Firefox does ask me when I'm closing it down if I would like to save my tabs for next time. I select Save and Quit, yet when I reopen Firefox it opens only a single tab, my homepage.
When I have it set to "Show my windows and tabs from last time" Firefox does NOT ask me when I'm closing it down if I would like to save my tabs for next time. When I reopen Firefox it opens only a single tab, my homepage.

I ddin't have this problem ubtil today! If I closed Firefox with open tabs, then when I reopened Firefox, the tabs were there. It was like that first thing this morning but now, at 10:37, it warns me when I try to close it with multiple tabs open and when I reopen Firefox it reopens without the previous tabs! I have opted for "show my windows and tabs from previous session". Restore previous session is inoperative. Presumably, there's been another update which has caused this, as with the RSS feeds disappearing.

How do I restore a previous session when the Firefox homepage does NOT have the "restore" button and it is grayed out in the menu? menu

My Firefox homepage had a "Restore Previous Session" button but it has disappeared. SO when my Firefox crashes I lose all my tabs and tab groups, and this is very inconvenient. I have checked through all the "Options" seeing if there is some button there to enable this feature, but to no avail. I am frustrated as after a crash I spend hours revisiting all my links in my History menu to reset my tabs. Can you help?

In case you are using "Clear history when Firefox closes":
*do not clear the Browsing History
*Tools > Options > Privacy > Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history": [X] "Clear history when Firefox closes" > Settings
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Clear+Recent+History
Note that clearing "Site Preferences" clears all exceptions for cookies, images, pop-up windows, software installation, and passwords.
Clearing cookies will remove all specified (selected) cookies including cookies that have an allow exception and cookies from plugins.

Previous session is gone

So, I know I wasn't in private browsing, and I didn't clear my history, but there is NO RECORD of my previous session AT ALL! I've tried the links provided, but I just get an error. What happened? Okay, it's in my history, but the Restore Session button is grayed out and when I right click, all I get are shortcuts to my new session. It's seriously like it disappeared. And if this is the wrong place, try to move it, I guess...
Nevermind. I uninstalled and reinstalled Firefox, and my session was recovered. Wow, I was really scared there. This topic will be closed now.

Try tHis
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Session_Restore
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/restore-previous-session

How do I stop FF from restoring previous session, I've already played with all the options I can find but nothing stops it unless I delete history each time.

Recently, FF has started opening my last tabs when I start a fresh session. I have already checked to make sure that none of the applicable settings are enabled, such as under Options->General: When FF starts "SHOW MY HOMEPAGE" is selected. But for some reason, it opens my last session. The only way I've been able to get it to stop doing this is by having it delete my browsing history after I close the session. I don't want this since I often use my history to re-find information I need for class research. I have made certain that all my settings are the same from before FF started doing this. It only started doing this after the computer was turned off for a long weekend.
I've already searched through the Mozilla help pages and all I can find is how to restore the previous session or similar. I don't want to restore my previous session, I want it to stop restoring my previous session without having to delete my browsing history each time.

Using the instructions here:
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Session_Restore#Disabling_crash_recovery
I was able to turn off that feature entirely without having to create a new profile.

Every time I launch Firefox 4 it opens 3 or 4 blank windows, no longer opens the tabs from the previous session and does not show my bookmarks sidebar.

I have to manually close the extra windows and restore the tabs from the previous session, and reopen the sidebar. In disgust I uninstalled Firefox 4 and reinstalled 3.6. Everything works fine in 3.6. Looks to me like Firefox 4 has many major bugs and is not yet ready for prime time. I'll stay with 3.6 for now.

This can be a problem with the files [http://kb.mozillazine.org/sessionstore.js sessionstore.js] and sessionstore.bak in the [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox Profile Folder]
Delete [http://kb.mozillazine.org/sessionstore.js sessionstore.js] and sessionstore.bak in the [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox Profile Folder]
* Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Open Containing Folder
If you see files sessionstore-##.js with a number in the left part of the name like sessionstore-1.js then delete those as well.<br />
You will have to redo App Tabs and Tab Groups after deleting sessionstore.js.
See:
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/Session_Restore

I installed Firefox 4-my home page is mostly blank and it keeps asking me to retore to previous session. When I do this it only brings up the last visited site. When I type in a seach it will not search.

The Web Page will not respond to commands including searches that I type in. The Google Search will work.

The default Firefox 4 homepage - '''about:home''' - has a hyperlink that allows you to '''''Restore Previous Session''''', which is part of the new feature where Firefox 4 automatically saves your previous session, without asking you as with previous versions of Firefox. You don't have to use that hyperlink unless you want restore your previous session.
As far as the "search container" search engine in about:home not working, some users have reported that to be caused by an extension or two that are related to a security suite that is installed. Another cause could be related to "local storage" be turned off when Firefox is updated; there's a couple of Bug reports filed about that cause, but I don't understand the discussion about it - but those Bugs haven't been fixed yet, as it only affects a small number of users ''(sounds like a real low priority from what I gather when reading those reports)''.
The easiest "fix" to both issues is you set your own choice of a homepage. This one is what Firefox 3.6 and earlier versions used. <br />
http://www.google.com/firefox
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/How+to+set+the+home+page

Unable to get my tabs back after power outage and "restore previous session" doesn't show up.

Well, I've spent most of my day trying to figure out how to fix this. My power unexpectedly went out overnight and I left my computer on. When I woke up, i saw that the computer was off. So I started my computer, but when I went to get onto Firefox, none of my windows and tabs were there. (and I did have a ton of tabs open.) There wasn't even a "Restore Previous Session" icon to press on the Firefox homepage or a "Well, this is embarrassing" window. I tried opening "sessionstore.js" and "sessionstore.bak", but then a window came up titled "Windows Script Host" and said "Microsoft JScript Compilation Error." Then all there is to do is press "Ok". (By the way, at another time today when I tried opening a .js file, it said "Windows can't open this file" and it wanted me to choose the program I wanted to use to open the file, or use the internet to find a program. I chose Notepad, but then it was just a bunch of letters, words and symbols.)
I've also tried entering "about:sessionrestore" to get my windows and tabs back and then it says "Well, this is embarrassing." and "Firefox is having trouble recovering your windows and tabs." And there are no windows and tabs showing up below that sentence, with check marks, like it is when session restore has worked for me in the past. The only thing that worries me is that I did restart my computer between when I first started it this morning and now, when I'm writing this. I wanted to see if the "Restore Previous Session" icon would bring up my missing windows and tabs from before. But all it brought up automatically were the current windows and tabs that I have open right now. So now I'm wondering if I've permanently lost those tons of tabs that I had open before the power went out.
The other thing is that when I first got onto Firefox today, I could see all of my history from the days, weeks, and months past. Now I can only see today's history. I know I pressed something when I was trying to fix things but I don't remember what I pressed. Maybe that changed whether or not I could see the previous months' history. I did try "places.sqlite", "places.sqlite-shm" and "places.sqlite-wal" to restore my history, but again it said "Windows can't open this file" and it wanted me to choose a program to open the file. So again I chose Notepad, and it was just a bunch of letters, numbers, and symbols.
Hopefully someone may have an answer for me. Thanks!

Yes I can understand you being confused there is an awful lot of information you need to take in and learn as you encounter such a situation. I will try to expand my explanation to cover the points you ask.
''right click the file and select "restore previous versions", right?''
That is correct when using Windows to try to recover for instance files where the working fie is corrupted, but a previous version worked
If you have no previous versions available from Windows you need to work on whatever you do have. With any file restore operation it is always a good idea to make copies of not only the originals but also the restored files.
If you restored the ''places.sqlite'' with Windows that could possibly have resulted in a copy overwriting your working file that is even worse than the original file.
When you restore a file using the Windows OS it restores the files in their ordinary working location and they should function as expected without needing to do anything else. Generally it is probably best to try such restores when the files are not in use and in this instance that means when Firefox is closed.
For the benefit of any other readers of this thread note : <br />The places.sqlite is in the Firefox profile and easiest to find before closing down Firefox as the ''troubleshooting information page'' (''about:support'') may be used to find it.
* [[Profiles - Where Firefox stores your bookmarks, passwords and other user data#w_how-do-i-find-my-profile]]_how-do-i-find-my-profile
The ''places.sqlite'' database is the only file Firefox itself has with the full ''History'' information in it. The database also contains bookmarks but Firefox should have some other backups of those. If the database is deleted Firefox will restore the database but all it can do is add back bookmarks information from its backups the History is lost.
There is almost no chance of getting the History back unless there is another copy of that database. Either one Windows is able to recreate, or one that was somehow created by another method, that normally being the user deliberately making a manual backup of your profile or places file in advance. Or maybe having in place other backup procedures.
'' am I supposed to double-click the file?''
That is not going to help in these circumstances. There are advanced methods of studying the files but right clicking does not help in this instance.
Open tabs information is stored in the series of files ''sessionstore.*'' It may take rather a lot of messing about to to get any useful information out of whatever files you have. It would normally probably be a lot quicker just going back to the sites concerned, but that is made more difficult if you have overwritten the History database so you may need to try if the tabs were important to you. I can give more details in another post if you need to try that
We could have a lot more luck with your bookmarks. Did you bookmark most of the sites concerned ? If so then at least you have a good chance of finding the sites again.
Have you already got a fairly complete listing of your bookmarks in the Firefox bookmarks library/menu ? If you need to try to get back lost bookmarks that existed in the last few days but not are not present right now make a backup copy
*Of the profile folder called '''''bookmarkbackups''''' ( With its contents ! )
* ''places.sqlite'' Remember whenever attempting restoring bookmarks always backup the database file ''places.sqlite'' first.

I can't restore a previous session (it instead recovers the session before) of my Tabs and my home page keeps being reset to firefox

Hi,
Over the last few days (since i updated to the newest version of firefox) i've been having problems. I usually keep open quite a few tabs that are invaluable to me that I need, they contain vital information i've been needing for research and I can't afford to keep losing them!. I'm used to exiting firefox when i turn off my computer and them saving for my next session when I open firefox back up. For some reason now, if i turn off my computer, when i turn on again and go into firefox to restore my previous session. it will restore the session prior to my previous session but not my previous session.
My default setting was to resume the Firefox session from where it was when I last exited Firefox that I set. The settings are all the same as they was before I updated firefox and I had this problem, so it is set to remember my history. I'm really not that tech savvy so i really don't know if it was teh update that caused it but it seems around the same time. Also, every single time. it sets my home page to firefox (it is usually google)) it will only remain google if i change it back and remain for the day until i restart my computer.
I'd be most grateful to any hint that might solve this problem. Thank you for your attention. I really appreciate the input! thanks everyone in advance!
Details:
I have windows 7 64 bit home premium
Latest version of firefox

You can check for problems with the sessionstore.js and sessionstore.bak files in the Firefox profile folder that store session data.
Delete the sessionstore.js file and possible sessionstore-##.js files with a number and sessionstore.bak in the Firefox profile folder.
*Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder (Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder)
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Multiple_profile_files_created
Deleting sessionstore.js will cause App Tabs and Tab Groups and open and closed (undo) tabs to get lost and you will have to recreate them (make a note or bookmark them if possible).

How do I stop safari from reopening previous sessions even after restart?

Finally made the leap to Lion.
WHY does safari insist on starting up and restoring the previous session, all tabs and everything even after a restart. I've looked in preferences and for the life of me cannot find how/where to turn this off. I just want Safari to start with a blank page, not reloading the previous page/tabs I had open the last time I used it!

Thanks QuickTimeKirk for the solution to this - have hated this feature as the default. It is useful if you want to return to something specific, but I reckon the majority of users would rather have the defaults the other way around - homepage as default for new Safari sessions and using the shift key when opening to return to last viewed pages/tabs.

What happened to the Bookmark all Tabs/Save and Exit/Open previous session feature in 4.0? If this has been taken out then 4.0 is of no use to me. I'll have to go back to 3.6

In 3.6 when ever I closed the browser with multi tabs open it would give me the option to Save and Exit. Then when I reopened the browser it would give me the option to open the previous session. I could also bookmark all open tabs. All of these features appear to no longer be present in 4.0. If this is the case I will be forced to uninstall and reinstall 3.6.

Bookmark All Tabs - you can get it when you right-click on a tab, or use keyboard shortcut Control+Shift+D.
Firefox now always stores the old session, and you can access it by going to the History menu and selecting "Restore Previous Session"
If you want Firefox to display the message to save the session, it can be turned back on by changing some preferences.
# Type '''about:config''' into the location bar and press enter
# Accept the warning message that appears, you will be taken to a list of preferences
# Locate the preference '''browser.tabs.warnOnClose''', if its value is set to '''false''', double-click on it to change its value to '''true'''
# Repeat this for these 3 preferences '''browser.warnOnQuit''', '''browser.warnOnRestart''' and '''browser.showQuitWarning'''
If you always open the last set of tabs, an alternative approach is this:
# Click the orange Firefox button, then select options to open the options window
# Go to the General panel
# Change the setting "When Firefox starts" to "Show my windows and tabs from last time"

Previous session disappeared

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