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

Firefox Android: All tabs and history gone as a result of automatic update

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 16 views
  • Last reply by Ciaopescao

more options

A recent unwanted Firefox for Android automatic update has replaced all the open tabs and history with a different set of tabs and history. The tabs and history I had before the automatic update are now gone and in their place are a set of tabs which I had in a previous install of Firefox on the same device, but some time ago.

Some of the tabs I had open in the session before were important (reminders, notes for things, pages I needed to look at for various reasons, etc.).

Any ideas how I can get this session back?

Some ideas:

How do I find out the version of Firefox that was installed prior to the automatic update, for the purpose of reverting to it and hoping the previous tabs are there?

Is it possible that data for two Firefox installations are on the phone, even though only one installation is listed? This must be the case with histories and tabs because a bunch of old tabs and an old history have appeared along with the automatic update. Any idea where this data is stored with Firefox Android?

I'm not too worried about the history. I had that synced anyway. The open tabs is the main thing.

Thanks for any help.

PS. Any other users who wish to avoid this happening please note, automatic updates can be turned off in the google play store app, in settings. You can then backup your tabs if and when you wish to update Firefox.

A recent unwanted Firefox for Android automatic update has replaced all the open tabs and history with a different set of tabs and history. The tabs and history I had before the automatic update are now gone and in their place are a set of tabs which I had in a previous install of Firefox on the same device, but some time ago. Some of the tabs I had open in the session before were important (reminders, notes for things, pages I needed to look at for various reasons, etc.). Any ideas how I can get this session back? Some ideas: How do I find out the version of Firefox that was installed prior to the automatic update, for the purpose of reverting to it and hoping the previous tabs are there? Is it possible that data for two Firefox installations are on the phone, even though only one installation is listed? This must be the case with histories and tabs because a bunch of old tabs and an old history have appeared along with the automatic update. Any idea where this data is stored with Firefox Android? I'm not too worried about the history. I had that synced anyway. The open tabs is the main thing. Thanks for any help. PS. Any other users who wish to avoid this happening please note, automatic updates can be turned off in the google play store app, in settings. You can then backup your tabs if and when you wish to update Firefox.

All Replies (4)

more options

Hi

If you remove your current version of Firefox for Android and install an old version, it will not bring those tabs back.

Could they be inactive tabs, as described in this article?

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/manage-tabs-firefox-android

more options

The update has brought back tabs I haven't had open for ages, so the browser must be getting them from somewhere. You mentioned inactive/active tabs....yes in fact the tabs I now have were initially in the inactive tabs section. I brought them back into active tabs. As I say though, the problem is that they are tabs from ages ago, not the install I was using just two days ago!

Any idea how I find out the previous version number which I had there installed on the phone prior to the automatic update?

more options

It would have been version 93.

Instead of going back a version (not the best idea), it may be better to turn off the inactive tabs option in the menu under Settings and Tabs.

more options

Seburo said

Instead of going back a version (not the best idea), it may be better to turn off the inactive tabs option in the menu under Settings and Tabs.

Could you explain how turning off inactive tabs in the settings in the current install helps me recover the tabs lost as a result of the automatic install? I don't understand how this helps me achieve this. Thanks.