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

Multiple windows, check for closing multiple tabs is asked only on last window

  • 10 replies
  • 0 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Fred

more options

Hey there,

during work I often open two windows of Firefox to have more information visible on my two monitors. Unfortunately I sometimes forget that I have a second window open, so I close only my "main" window and loose all tabs.

Is there a way to force Firefox to ask to close a window and loosing multiple tabs for every window open?

Right now this only happens for the last open window.

PS: I just found out about the keyboard shortcut of restoring a window (CTRL+SHIFT+N) recently. I would prefer a setting in my case.

Thanks in advance Fred

Hey there, during work I often open two windows of Firefox to have more information visible on my two monitors. Unfortunately I sometimes forget that I have a second window open, so I close only my "main" window and loose all tabs. Is there a way to force Firefox to ask to close a window and loosing multiple tabs for every window open? Right now this only happens for the last open window. PS: I just found out about the keyboard shortcut of restoring a window (CTRL+SHIFT+N) recently. I would prefer a setting in my case. Thanks in advance Fred

Modified by Fred

Chosen solution

I just found the settings to switch on my desired behaviour!

It is "browser.tabs.closeWindowWithLastTab = false".

Now I get the warning in the second open window with more than two open tabs, even when closing via X on Windows. Also when having two windows open, the "second" one with only one tab, the warning is shown in "main window".

So now it works like desired.

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (10)

more options

What do you have set here? see screenshot This option is a must for me.  ;-)) see my open windows screenshot

more options

jonzn4SUSE said

What do you have set here? see screenshot This option is a must for me.  ;-)) see my open windows screenshot

"Confirm before closing multiple tabs" is checked. Nonetheless Firefox is just asking to close multiple tabs on the last open window with multiple tabs.

I do not see the other setting. Did you use some about:config settings to activate it?

Modified by Fred

more options

You can also go here for history. see screenshot

more options

Looks like on Linux there is the ctrl + Q option. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-configure-close-tab-warnings-firefox

more options

Did you check "History -> Restore Previous Session and" "History -> Recently Closed Windows/Tabs"?

Use one of these to close Firefox if you are currently doing that by clicking the close X on the Firefox Title bar, especially if you have multiple windows or Private Browsing windows open to prevent losing tabs in unnoticed windows.

  • "3-bar" menu button -> Exit (Power button)
  • Windows: File -> Exit
  • Mac: Firefox -> Quit Firefox
  • Linux: File -> Quit
more options

Thanks for your reponse, core-el!

cor-el said

Did you check "History -> Restore Previous Session and"

Unfortunately I'm not quite sure where to find these settings in History.

I do have checked "Settings > General > Startup > Open previous windows and tabs". Is that what you are asking for? That setting only saves the last opened windows and tabs. And if I have closed my "main window" already all tabs are lost. But ...

cor-el said

"History -> Recently Closed Windows/Tabs"?

I never used that function, so will try to remember the next time, thanks!

cor-el said

Use one of these to close Firefox if you are currently doing that by clicking the close X on the Firefox Title bar, especially if you have multiple windows or Private Browsing windows open to prevent losing tabs in unnoticed windows.
  • "3-bar" menu button -> Exit (Power button)
  • Windows: File -> Exit
  • Mac: Firefox -> Quit Firefox
  • Linux: File -> Quit

A bit annoying to exit this way, to be honest, but if it helps, I'll try to close it this way in the future.

more options

Hi Fred, maybe this one:

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button accepting the risk.

More info on about:config: Configuration Editor for Firefox. The moderators would like us to remind you that changes made through this back door aren't fully supported and aren't guaranteed to continue working in the future. Since we have had this setting for a long time and I use it myself, I feel comfortable mentioning it.

(2) In the search box in the page, type or paste browser.tabs.warnOnClose and pause while the list is filtered

(3) Double-click the preference (or click the toggle button at the right end of the row ) to switch the value from false to true

I suggest testing with a less important multi-tab window first.

more options

Hey jscher2000,

thanks for your detailed response!

But it is already activated. And it does work.

My point is that if I have a second Firefox window open, no warning is shown. Only the last window shows the warning. Because of that I did lost a few times some important tabs on my "main window".

So my question is: is this behaviour intentional or maybe a bug? It would be nice if the warning would be shown for every window separately.

Fred

Modified by Fred

more options

Hi Fred, I get a warning for every* non-private window I close. Maybe I guessed wrong about which preference is responsible for that.

* if it has 2 or more tabs

Modified by jscher2000 - Support Volunteer

more options

Chosen Solution

I just found the settings to switch on my desired behaviour!

It is "browser.tabs.closeWindowWithLastTab = false".

Now I get the warning in the second open window with more than two open tabs, even when closing via X on Windows. Also when having two windows open, the "second" one with only one tab, the warning is shown in "main window".

So now it works like desired.