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Firefox offers more documented ways to recover tabs: it can reopen the previous session at startup, restore it manually from History, recover recently closed tabs or windows, and show a session-recovery page after a crash or unexpected shutdown. Chrome documents a simpler built-in option: “Continue where you left off,” which reopens pages that were open when Chrome was quit. These are comparisons of documented controls—not proof that either browser is more reliable in every situation.
How Chrome and Firefox compare
| What you can do | Chrome | Firefox |
|---|---|---|
| Reopen tabs automatically at startup | Yes. Choose “Continue where you left off” in Settings > On startup. Google says this reopens the same pages that were open when Chrome was quit. Google Chrome Help | Yes. Choose Settings > General > Home and startup page > Open previous windows and tabs. Mozilla Support |
| Manually restore a previous session | The cited Chrome instructions document the startup option; they do not describe an equivalent manual previous-session command. | Yes. Use History > Restore Previous Session. Recently Closed Tabs and Recently Closed Windows are also available. Mozilla Support |
| Documented recovery after a crash or unexpected shutdown | The cited Chrome instructions do not establish a specific crash-recovery flow. | Firefox usually attempts to restore the session and may show a Restore Session page. Mozilla Support |
| Sign-in and private-window effects | Google says site data is saved with the startup option, so previously signed-in sites may reopen signed in. Google Chrome Help | Restored regular tabs may remain signed in; private windows are excluded from Session Restore. Mozilla Support |
What Chrome does when you reopen it
On a computer, open Settings > On startup and select Continue where you left off. Chrome will reopen the pages that were open when you quit the browser, according to Google’s instructions.
This is an automatic startup setting, not a documented promise that every session can be recovered after every crash, forced shutdown, or cleanup. Google notes that cookies and other site data are saved, which can leave you signed in to sites when Chrome reopens. If you do not want that behavior, Google points to on-device site-data controls for deleting data when all windows close.
Availability can depend on how the device is managed. Google notes that Chromebook users at work or school may be unable to change startup settings when an administrator controls them.
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What Firefox lets you restore
Automatically reopen the previous session
To have Firefox reopen your previous windows and tabs whenever it starts, go to Settings > General > Home and startup page, then enable Open previous windows and tabs. Mozilla documents this option in its session-restoration instructions and tab-restoration guide.
Restore a session or recently closed items manually
If Firefox has already opened without the session you wanted, use History > Restore Previous Session. You can also restore a particular item through History > Recently Closed Tabs or Recently Closed Windows, as documented by Mozilla Support.
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There is a window-specific limitation: if you close windows manually, Firefox restores tabs only from the last window you closed.
Recover after a crash or unexpected shutdown
Mozilla says Firefox usually attempts to restore a session after a crash or unexpected shutdown and may display a Restore Session page. After an update, tabs and windows should restore automatically; if they do not, Mozilla recommends checking Recently Closed Windows or Recently Closed Tabs.
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- Durable and Reliable: This USB wireless mouse features a line-by-line scroll wheel, up to 1 year of battery life (2) thanks to a smart sleep mode function, and comes with the included AA battery
- Universal Compatibility: Your Logitech mouse works with your Windows PC, Mac, or laptop, so no matter what type of computer you own today or buy tomorrow your mouse will be compatible
- Plug and Play Simplicity: Just plug in the tiny nano USB receiver and start working in seconds with a strong, reliable connection to your wireless computer mouse up to 33 feet / 10 m (5)
- Better than touchpad: Get more done by adding M185 to your laptop; according to a recent study, laptop users who chose this mouse over a touchpad were 50% more productive (3) and worked 30% faster (4)
What restoration means for privacy
Restoring tabs can also restore access to sites where you were signed in. Mozilla warns that Firefox session restoration may leave login sessions active, so another person using the computer could access those sites. Firefox’s regular Session Restore excludes private windows. Google likewise says Chrome saves site data when you choose “Continue where you left off,” which may keep previously signed-in sites signed in.
On a shared or sensitive device, consider whether reopening signed-in pages is appropriate before enabling automatic restoration. The setting controls browser behavior; it does not make a restored session private from other people who can use your account or device.
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What to try if Firefox does not restore tabs
Mozilla’s troubleshooting guidance identifies several possible causes, including history settings, extensions, and corrupt session data. Check whether Firefox is configured to clear browsing history when it closes, and review extensions if restoration stops working. Mozilla’s restore-session guide covers these checks.
Because session restoration is not a guaranteed backup, save especially important pages separately—for example, as bookmarks—rather than relying on the open session as the only way to find them again.
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Which browser should you choose?
Choose Firefox if you want the wider set of documented built-in recovery actions, especially the ability to restore a previous session or recently closed items manually after startup. Choose either browser if your main need is simply to reopen pages automatically: Firefox has an “Open previous windows and tabs” setting, and Chrome has “Continue where you left off.”
The official instructions describe available features, not comparative reliability results. They do not establish that either browser will recover every session across all crashes, shutdowns, profiles, policies, or cleanup conditions.
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