Warn when closing multiple tabs in Private Window

[KERR]

I use private windows for a lot of "throwaway" browsing like ebay rabbitholes and stuff that I don't want cluttering up my history.

Unfortunately I've hit Ctrl+Shift+W by accident a few too many times which instantly closes the entire window, without any warning. I suppose this is a handy "boss key" for some people...

Any chance we could have a setting to warn when closing multiple tabs on a Private Window?

[TC66]

I hate the fact that even though I have "confirm before closing multiple tabs" checked in the Settings, it doesn't work in a private window for some bizarre reason. And on the Mac version of Firefox, the "close" button is right above the "back" arrow, making it very easy to click on the "close" button accidentally and lose what you were doing.

I also hate the fact that I can't turn off automatic updates and check for them in my own time, rather than have the software keep popping up that I need to update the software for the third time in a week. Very annoying, especially when I have multiple tabs open in a private window and no way to save what I'm doing while I update the software.

[Jon]

Thanks for submitting an idea to the Mozilla Connect community! Your idea is now open to votes (aka kudos) and comments.

[Jon]

(Note: similar ideas have been merged into this thread)

[MozillaUser2]

One more vote for KERR's suggestion. It is very annoying to click the app window's close button (X), especially when done accidentally, and have Firefox close every open tab without providing a warning while using Private browsing . This occurs even though I have the setting "Confirm before closing multiple tabs" checked. Apparently developers did not validate via testing that this setting only applies to non-Private browsing and document that on the Settings page or else they did not bother to apply it to all instances of Firefox running. Please honor this setting in Private browsing mode and implement it as soon as possible!

[bread1]

Firefox users have been asking for a 'warning popup' when closing Private Windows with multiple tabs open for years, and years, and years.

I am sadly switching to Chrome after about 2 decades of Firefox use, I don't see this update ever happening. 

[Agentvirtuel]

Hello

Configure Close Tab warnings in Firefox
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-configure-close-tab-warnings-firefox
[box] Confirm before closing multiple tabs

For information purposes
Configuration Editor for Firefox
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/about-config-editor-firefox
Search browser.tabs.warnOnClose
true, is [box checked] Confirm before closing multiple tabs
false, is [box unchecked] Confirm before closing multiple tabs

[SleepyScientist]

@AgentvirtuelAs others have stated, the problem is that setting only works on regular windows and not Private windows. Hence requesting that it be implemented to work on ALL windows.

[SleepyScientist]

Yes, this SERIOUSLY needs to be added! It's ridiculous it still hasn't been. It should apply to ALL windows, including private browsing. Or at the very least have a separate option to turn it on for private windows. I keep having where somehow my private browsing windows get closed accidentally, my guess is it happens when minimizing them, and I often have a bunch of tabs open I'm working on that I end up losing. I don't want to clutter up my browsing history with potentially useless browsing, especially since then I get unhelpful website suggestions when I start typing in the address bar. I move tabs over to regular windows once I'm sure I'm going to use them. Though sometimes that doesn't happen right away and I keep losing important stuff I'm working on because this setting doesn't apply to private windows!

[Agentvirtuel]

Hello

For my part checked it seems to me not to have problems?

However, if you'd like to try
https://mozilla.github.io/policy-templates
Try https://mozilla.github.io/policy-templates/#policiesjson-75

{
  "policies": {
    "Preferences": {
      "browser.tabs.warnOnClose": {
      "Value": true,
      "Status": "locked"
      }
    }
  }
}

Copy/paste the code (example) into Notepad
Save
Type: All files
policies.json

Create distribution folder
Move policies.json to distribution folder
Move the distribution folder to the folder containing firefox.exe [the program installation folder]
Stop Firefox start Firefox

Your browser is managed by your organization, it's normal

Use the Troubleshooting Information page to help fix Firefox issues
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/use-troubleshooting-information-page-fix-firefox

---

Enterprise Policies: This shows you if your browser is being managed by Windows Group Policy or a policies.json file. If enterprise policies are managing Firefox, clicking on Active will show you a list of the policies that are currently active on Firefox.

---

And for information purposes
Configuration Editor for Firefox
Search browser.tabs.warnOnClose
You'll see a padlock it's normal it's locked

[Fuchs]

@TC66I use the extension "Bulk URL Opener" to copy-paste the list of opened (private) tabs to a .txt-file, so that I can open them right after a Firefox restart again.

On the topic: I've been waiting for (the reintroduction of) this simple feature for years at this point, I've lost so many tabs in private browsing mode over the years by accidentally clicking the "X" (especially while using a touchpad), which is massively annoying, especially considering that implementing such a warning pop-up (if activated in the settings) should be rather straightforward.

[Eureka]

The most infuriating experience is accidentally closing the private browsing window and immediately losing all your tabs. Mozilla, you gotta warn us!!!

[Eureka]

Has there been any movement on this???

[SleepExpert]

I thought I had voted on this idea previously (2+ years ago) and it had many more votes than this one. Hopefully, I'm misremembering (as opposed to the idea being deleted/removed).

Seems like I deal with this every few months or so but just lost 15 private tabs after an accidental click that cost me significant time.

The problem appears to be that some members of the Mozilla team think closing Private Windows as fast as possible is so important that users should not be given the option to add an extra confirmation click.

See here and here.

I have subscribed to this thread so I can switch back to Firefox once/if this functionality becomes available.