Firefox requires new start after background update, but doesn´t restart after closing. All tabs lost!
This has happened to me several times:
When browsing, a new tab opens, telling me that Firefox needs to restart after a background update and that after that, my current session will be re-created, all tabs reopened. Except - after closing Firefox, no tabs are reopened and Firefox does not restart either. I have to reopen Firefox manually, will then receive an update notification and stare at an empty tab.
I use Firefox for work and this is annoying - I have taken to bookmarking everything in such a situation, but I hope there is another solution.
I use Firefox on Ubuntu 18.04.2 .
Ŋuɖoɖo si wotia
There also are session management extensions you could consider as a backup for Firefox's built-in feature. These are the ones I'm aware of that you might investigate/try out:
Use database storage:
- https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/tab-session-manager/
- https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/session-boss/
Use bookmark storage:
- https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/session-sync/
- https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/my-sessions/
All Replies (4)
Hi,
I think the best solution would be to do a refresh http://mzl.la/15sSfJR to repair
Hi .johanna, I'm sorry to hear about this problem. We might have different experiences because on Windows, Firefox retrieves its own updates, while on various Linux distributions, the package manager may install updates in the background.
Note: private window tabs can never be restored.
When your session is not restored automatically, could you check whether either of these are available (not hidden or grayed out):
- "3-bar" menu button > Restore Previous Session
- (menu bar) History > Restore Previous Session
If they are missing or grayed, check either:
- "Library" toolbar button > History > Recently Closed Windows (and within each restored window, Recently Closed Tabs)
- (menu bar) History > Recently Closed Windows (and within each restored window, Recently Closed Tabs)
If that doesn't help...
Firefox creates numerous session history files, but because session history is only for the immediately previous session, it is unfortunately too easy to lose it. Could you start by making a backup of your existing session history files? Here's how:
You can open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either
- "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help > 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 "Open Directory" button to launch the folder in your system's file browser.
In your profile folder, double-click into the sessionstore-backups folder. Save all files here to a safe location such as your Documents folder.
The kinds of files you may find among your sessionstore files are:
- recovery.jsonlz4: the windows and tabs in your currently live Firefox session (or, if Firefox crashed at the last shutdown and is still closed, your last session)
- recovery.baklz4: a backup copy of recovery.jsonlz4
- previous.jsonlz4: the windows and tabs in your last Firefox session
- upgrade.jsonlz4-build_id: the windows and tabs in the Firefox session that was live at the time of your last update (internal updater only?)
- some old .js files from Firefox 55 or earlier (usually not helpful)
Could you take a look at what you have and the date/time of the various files to see whether you think any of them would have the missing tabs?
To preview the contents of a file, you can drag and drop it onto this page, then click Scrounge URLs: https://www.jeffersonscher.com/ffu/scrounger.html
That tool is on my site, so please let me know if it doesn't work for you.
Ɖɔɖɔɖo si wotia
There also are session management extensions you could consider as a backup for Firefox's built-in feature. These are the ones I'm aware of that you might investigate/try out:
Use database storage:
- https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/tab-session-manager/
- https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/session-boss/
Use bookmark storage:
Thank you!
These worked. :)