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Clear Firefox open tabs and windows data

Overview

About this script

This script improves your privacy on Linux.

These changes use Linux system commands to update your settings.

The sessionstore.jsonlz4 file stores the currently open tabs and windows 1.

See "Restore previous session - Configure when Firefox shows your most recent tabs and windows".

This script uses Bash (Shell script) scripting language.

Not Advised

This script should only be used by advanced users. This script is not recommended for daily use as it breaks important functionality. Do not run it without having backups and system snapshots.

Implementation Details
  • Language: bash

  • Required Privileges: Root/sudo access

  • Compatibility: Linux only

  • Reversibility: Some changes may be permanent

Explore Categories

This action belongs to Clear Firefox history category. This category encompasses a series of scripts aimed at helping users manage and delete their browsing history and related data in Mozilla Firefox. The scripts are designed to target different aspects of user data stored by Firefox, providing users options for maintaining privacy and freeing up... Read more on category page ▶

Apply now

Choose one of three ways to apply:

  1. Automatically via privacy.sexy: The easiest and safest option.
  2. Manually by downloading: Requires downloading a file.
  3. Manually by copying: Advanced flexibility.

Alternative 1. Apply with Privacy.sexy

privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily.

Open privacy.sexy

privacy.sexy instructions
  1. Open or download the desktop application
  2. Search for the script name: Clear Firefox open tabs and windows data.
  3. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
  4. Click on Run button at the bottom of the page.

Alternative 2. Download

Reversible

This script is reversible, you can restore your changes to the initial/default state. The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.

If something goes wrong, use the Revert script provided above.

  1. Download the script file by clicking on the button below:

    Download script

  2. Run the script file by clicking on it.

Alternative 3. Copy

This is for advanced users. Consider automatically applying or downloading the script for simpler way.

  1. Open Terminal

  2. Copy the following code:

Code to apply changes
# Delete files matching pattern: "~/.mozilla/firefox/*/sessionstore.jsonlz4"
if ! command -v 'python3' &> /dev/null; then
echo 'Skipping because "python3" is not found.'
else
python3 <<EOF
import glob
import os
path = '~/.mozilla/firefox/*/sessionstore.jsonlz4'
expanded_path = os.path.expandvars(os.path.expanduser(path))
print(f'Deleting files matching pattern: {expanded_path}')
paths = glob.glob(expanded_path)
if not paths:
print('Skipping, no paths found.')
for path in paths:
if not os.path.isfile(path):
print(f'Skipping folder: "{path}".')
continue
os.remove(path)
print(f'Successfully delete file: "{path}".')
print(f'Successfully deleted {len(paths)} file(s).')
EOF
fi
# Delete files matching pattern: "~/.var/app/org.mozilla.firefox/.mozilla/firefox/*/sessionstore.jsonlz4"
if ! command -v 'python3' &> /dev/null; then
echo 'Skipping because "python3" is not found.'
else
python3 <<EOF
import glob
import os
path = '~/.var/app/org.mozilla.firefox/.mozilla/firefox/*/sessionstore.jsonlz4'
expanded_path = os.path.expandvars(os.path.expanduser(path))
print(f'Deleting files matching pattern: {expanded_path}')
paths = glob.glob(expanded_path)
if not paths:
print('Skipping, no paths found.')
for path in paths:
if not os.path.isfile(path):
print(f'Skipping folder: "{path}".')
continue
os.remove(path)
print(f'Successfully delete file: "{path}".')
print(f'Successfully deleted {len(paths)} file(s).')
EOF
fi
# Delete files matching pattern: "~/snap/firefox/common/.mozilla/firefox/*/sessionstore.jsonlz4"
if ! command -v 'python3' &> /dev/null; then
echo 'Skipping because "python3" is not found.'
else
python3 <<EOF
import glob
import os
path = '~/snap/firefox/common/.mozilla/firefox/*/sessionstore.jsonlz4'
expanded_path = os.path.expandvars(os.path.expanduser(path))
print(f'Deleting files matching pattern: {expanded_path}')
paths = glob.glob(expanded_path)
if not paths:
print('Skipping, no paths found.')
for path in paths:
if not os.path.isfile(path):
print(f'Skipping folder: "{path}".')
continue
os.remove(path)
print(f'Successfully delete file: "{path}".')
print(f'Successfully deleted {len(paths)} file(s).')
EOF
fi
  1. Paste the code into terminal.
  2. Press Enter to apply the code.

Some scripts requires restarting your computer to take affect.

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