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Is it possible to Clear data but keep cookies?

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  • Last reply by cor-el

wybqogzigoxruxdhnp
wybqogzigoxruxdhnp
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Hi

I want to clear data but the only option FF is offering is with cookies. I want to delete all but cookies.

Image: https://imgur.com/jwLXxFx

Here it only says Cookies AND Site Data. But I want Site Data without Cookies. Can I somehow manually delete those files? Or manually selectively empty some tables in SQLite databases that FF uses? If yes then what files/databases exactly?

Hi I want to clear data but the only option FF is offering is with cookies. I want to delete all but cookies. Image: https://imgur.com/jwLXxFx Here it only says Cookies AND Site Data. But I want Site Data without Cookies. Can I somehow manually delete those files? Or manually selectively empty some tables in SQLite databases that FF uses? If yes then what files/databases exactly?

All Replies (3)

cor-el
cor-el
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You can use "Clear Recent History" to specify what data to clear.

  • using "Clear history when Firefox closes" in Firefox 102+ honors exceptions and keeps cookies with an allow exception, previous versions removed all cookies
  • clearing "Site settings" clears exceptions for cookies, images, pop-up windows, and software installation and exceptions for passwords and other website specific data

Cookies are stored in cookies.sqlite in the Firefox profile folder, so you can possibly keep a backup if you find cookies important.

wybqogzigoxruxdhnp
wybqogzigoxruxdhnp Question owner
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Thanks!

In clear recent history, what is the difference between Cookies and Active Logins? Aren't logins also just cookies?

cor-el
cor-el
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There are two ways to authenticate to make a website recognize that you have logged in. One is to store a session ID in a cookie which is send with every request to the server. This is normally used when you login to a website. Another way to authenticate is via Basic HTTP Authentication and this is what Active Logins are about, this is used by FTP servers and other servers use this method to authenticate.

So both are different and shouldn't be confused.

Detail like websites remembering you and log you in automatically is stored in cookies, so make sure you aren't clearing important cookies.

You can use these steps to make a website recognize and remember you.

  • create a cookie allow exception with the proper protocol (https:// or http://) to make a website remember you

You can check that you aren't clearing important cookies.

  • using "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed" to clear cookies keeps cookies with an allow exception
    in 102+ version toggling this setting makes changes to the "Clear history when Firefox closes" settings and those settings prevail
  • using "Clear history when Firefox closes" in Firefox 102+ honors exceptions and keeps cookies with an allow exception, previous versions removed all cookies

Make sure to keep the "Site settings".

  • clearing "Site settings" clears exceptions for cookies, images, pop-up windows, and software installation and exceptions for passwords and other website specific data
  • Settings -> Privacy & Security
    Cookies and Site Data: "Manage Exceptions"
  • Settings -> Privacy & Security
    Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history":
    [X] "Clear history when Firefox closes" -> Settings