Save Firefox Windows & Tabs on Restart - Quick Tip

Addressing the Challenge of Firefox Restarts

For many Firefox users, particularly those who routinely navigate with a large number of open tabs, restarting the browser presents a dilemma. The desire to avoid losing progress necessitates a solution beyond simply closing and reopening the application. However, manually bookmarking numerous tabs can be a tedious process.

Fortunately, several methods exist to streamline this process and ensure a seamless browsing experience. These options range from dedicated extensions to built-in Firefox settings.

Available Solutions

• Utilizing the Restart Firefox extension.
• Configuring Firefox to automatically save windows and tabs.
• Adjusting settings within the Tab Mix Plus extension, if it's your preferred session manager.

Employing the Restart Firefox Extension

To begin, the Restart Firefox extension must be downloaded and installed from the Mozilla Add-ons repository. Following installation, a new option will appear within the Firefox file menu.

Selecting this menu item will initiate a browser restart while preserving all currently open tabs in their original state. A toolbar button is also available, though it may consume valuable screen space.

Leveraging Firefox's Built-in Session Restore

Firefox can be configured to automatically save your browsing session. This is achieved by navigating to the Options menu and modifying the dropdown selection to "Show my windows and tabs from last time."

Upon browser closure, Firefox will then automatically resume your previous session, restoring all open windows and tabs. This setting effectively diminishes the relevance of the homepage configuration.

Utilizing Tab Mix Plus for Session Management

If you rely on the Tab Mix Plus extension for managing browsing sessions, a specific setting can be adjusted to ensure session restoration.

Access the Tab Mix Plus Options and change the "When Browser Starts" setting to "Restore." This will instruct Tab Mix Plus to automatically reload your saved session upon launching Firefox.

Consider enabling crash recovery as a supplementary measure, although Firefox’s native session restore functionality is often reported to be more reliable.