Add option to disable icon of private window on taskbar

[Progress2000]

Since updated Firefox beta to version 104, a new icon will pop up on taskbar when I open a new private window. I find this very inconvenient. Is it possible to add an option to disable this icon and return to the original behavior before v104 without using about:config?

[Jon]

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

[rtestard]

Hi @Progress2000 . This allows separation of windows between private and non private contexts for clearer segmentation and you can also select to pin private windows to taskbar for simpler accessibility of private windows.

Can you please say a little more about the inconvenience you are experiencing?

[Progress2000]

Hi @rtestard. I understand it may be more convenient for many people but it takes up more space in the taskbar and it also makes private mode and non-private mode behave like they are from two different programs. I think most people are used to one program only taking up one space on the taskbar. There are also neither other major browsers nor previous versions of Firefox that behave this way which may cause users confusion. I agree Firefox can continue to have this feature but Firefox should at least have an option to disable it without using about:config to restore to what most users were used to. Thank you!

[rtestard]

That makes sense, it's always a challenge to maintain the right level of customization without adding too much complexity to our preferences. Let's monitor the votes on this report to assess if others will experience this issue.

[vishal]

Same problem here, is confusing because it acts like the window is from two different programs, and doing Windows key + 1 (if firefox is pinned to the 1st), does not work because the private browsing windows are all the way at the end.

An option to disable this in about:config would be really helpful in case you do not want to clutter the settings UI with yet another toggle. (Disabling browser.privacySegmentation.createdShortcut did not seem to work.)

[Progress2000]

@vishal Disabling browser.privacySegmentation.createdShortcut works on the beta version (at least v105.0) of Firefox but does not work on the Nightly version currently.

[LinuxEnjoy]

@rtestardHey, I really appreciate the possibility to share the Community Feedback 🙂

Regarding the topic at hand, I second all of the things said before me and wish to add my biggest issue with this change.

I do not want people to see at a glance of my desktop, whether i have a private tab open or not. At least not when it's minimized.

Oftentimes, I send screenshots or show someone my pc and don't want to hear "oh private tab, nice ;-)".

From my point of view, this will create even a bigger stigma about Private Mode. So less people will use a privacy feature because they don't want their coworkers to think that they are watching porn (there, i said the p word) at work.

[Progress2000]

An update on how to disable this in v106 (old method no longer work):

set browser.privateWindowSeparation.enabled to false

[Obskyr]

I'm glad there's a workaround, but I'm hoping there'll be an easier option at some point! I use private mode interchangeably with the regular mode – probably about 50/50. One reason is that I often want to google things without my results being personalized, but there are a lot of different criteria that make me want to use private mode instead. Making it hard to mix the windows is highly inconvenient for me, at least!

[LinuxEnjoy]

@Progress2000Thanks for making the effort to share the workaround ❤️

Lets hope this flag will last..

[wingrider6]

Tried this (set browser.privateWindowSeparation.enabled to false) and the annoying private tab icon is still  on my taskbar. I have v 106, restarted machine but it's still there. I have not need for "Private tab" so want the whole concept gone! How do I get rid of it?

[Gliz]

Version 106 just installed on my computer, and I can't say I'm terribly happy about not being able to at least toggle the option to open private browsing with it's own icon. I feel like this was a solution to a problem that nobody had.

[Progress2000]

@wingrider6Can you go to about:config and try again? browser.privateWindowSeparation.enabled  to false works for me on Firefox beta v107.0b2

[Progress2000]

Ultimate guide:

• Close all private windows

• Open about:config from the address bar

• Look up browser.privateWindowSeparation.enabled and set it to false

• If you also want to hide the icon at the top right corner, set browser.privatebrowsing.enable-new-indicator to false too

If this doesn't work for you, check about:studies.

Not by me, Reference: https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/y8iik0/the_fact_that_private_windows_open_like_this_now/

[temporaldoom]

While I understand the motivation behind the separation of private browsing icons, I think it impacts the usability of the UI. I have my frequent apps pinned to exact locations on the Taskbar, if I open private browsing now, a new icon will appear on the right most side of the Taskbar; so now I need to pin BOTH icons to the Taskbar. I use multiple browsers; can you image if they all followed suit? I'll have at least 6 icons on my Taskbar just for browsers. Why do I have/use multiple browsers? Ironically, because of this type of annoying changes that make me switch browsers from time to time.