1823561 - FF will not properly install the Multi-Account Containers extension

Status: UNCONFIRMED

(WebExtensions :: Untriaged, defect, P3)

Description

[dave]

User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64; rv:109.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/110.0

Steps to reproduce:

Successfully installed "Multi-Account Containers" extension. No container icon appears on FF. I can reach the container management page via the Addons page and added a container. The extension seemed to be enabled. As suggested by https://blog.zgp.org/scale-20, I looked for an "always open this site in continer" link but none is visible.

Actual results:

But the extension was not enabled. The addons page says this extension requires container tabs. After enabling that feature and then enabling the extension, the addons page shows that feature checked but dimmed and the only option for the extension is "Disable Extension".

Expected results:

The extension should behave as described on the blog post referenced above. It should be enabled, the container icon should be visible, and the container tabs feature should be enabled.

Comment 1

[BugBot [:suhaib / :marco/ :calixte]]

The Bugbug bot thinks this bug should belong to the 'WebExtensions::Untriaged' component, and is moving the bug to that component. Please correct in case you think the bot is wrong.

Comment 2

[Alex Cornestean]

Hello,

I attempted to reproduce the issue you are having based on the steps to reproduce you provided and the extension performs as intended i.e. the extension is installed without issues, enabled and can properly make YouTube to always open in the designated container.

To do this, I performed the following steps:

1. Installed the extension from https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/multi-account-containers/
2. After installation I clicked the puzzle icon in the upper right corner to reveal the extension panel where the Multi-Account Containers button is displayed and clicked the extension button.
3. I completed the onboarding to reach the extension dashboard
4. On the extension dashboard, I clicked the “Manage Containers” button at the bottom
5. On the following panel, I clicked on “+ New Container”
6. I chose a name for the new container, a color and an icon and clicked on “OK” to create the container. Upon creating the new container, The “Manage Containers” panel is displayed and the new container can be seen in the list, in the last spot
7. I opened a new tab and accessed https://www.youtube.com/
8. While on the tab with YouTube, following Steps 2 through 3 (without the installation and onboarding parts of course), I accessed the extension dashboard once more and clicked “Always Open This Site in…” (which is the 4-th option from top to bottom)
9. On the ensuing panel, I selected the container created at Step (6)
10. As a result, YouTube will be reopened in the selected container, while the original tab is also kept
11. Close both YouTube tabs (the original one and the containerized one as well)
12. Access https://www.youtube.com/ again in a new tab
13. A page will now be displayed where you will be asked confirm whether you want YouTube to be opened in a normal tab or the assigned container (from Step 9)
14. Check the box for “Remember my decision for this site” (this will cause YouTube to always open in the assigned container and never ask for confirmation again) and click the “Open in <Name of the container created at Step (6)> container”
15. Just as a test, close the container tab with YouTube, open a new tab and access YouTube again. YouTube will open in the chosen container without asking for confirmation

Tested on the latest Nightly (113.0a1/20230322211554) and Release 111.0.1 (111.0.1/20230321111920) under Windows 10 x64 and Release 110.0.1 (110.0.1/20230227191043) under Ubuntu 16.04 LTS.

For more details, I’ll also attach a video of the above steps.

Hope this helps.

Comment 3

[Alex Cornestean]

Attachment: 2023-03-23_10h50_53.mp4

Comment 4

[dave]

Thank you for the investigation and the very complete reply. However, my installation is slightly different but still, I think, conformant with proper Firefox behavior. (1) All settings on about:preferences#home under Firefox Home Content are disabled. (2) The following about:config settings are false: browser.chrome.site_icons, browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.feeds.favicon, browser.shell.shortcutFavicons, security.insecure_connection_icon.enabled, security.insecure_connection_icon.pbmode.enabled, security.secure_connection_icon_color_gray, services.sync.prefs.sync.services.sync.syncedTabs.showRemoteIcons, services.sync.syncedTabs.showRemoteIcons, browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.feeds.favicon, extensions.ui.extension.hidden. (3) The following about:config settings are true: extensions.ui.locale.hidden, extensions.ui.sitepermission.hidden. (4) Many of the main toolbar icons are removed but the extensions icon remains (I can't see how to remove it). There are other preferences changes but these seem relevant. I presume it is possible that one or more of these settings are inhibiting the proper container installation for me. However, I am not aware that FF requires standard settings in order to install an extension.

(This hasn't succeeded in eliminating ALL icons, which would be my preference, but it helps. And the site_icons are still shown on the bookmarks bar despite the setting. If I could, I would also change back to text buttons for the toolbar, as FF once permitted.)

Comment 5

[Alex Cornestean]

Hello dave,

I changed the settings and prefs as per Comment 4, restarted Firefox and afterwards installed Multi-Account Containers.

I was still able to properly install the extension and use it in accordance to my previous comment (Comment 2).

Tested on the latest Release (111.0.1/20230321111920) under Windows 10 x64.

I’ll keep investigating and post any findings here.

Thank you !

Comment 6

[William Durand [:willdurand]]

(In reply to dave from comment #0)

The extension should behave as described on the blog post referenced above. It should be enabled, the container icon should be visible, and the container tabs feature should be enabled.

Hi. The fact that the extension button isn't visible in the toolbar by default kinda makes sense. Question is: do you see it in the extensions panel? (which you can open by clicking the extensions button in the toolbar)

Comment 7

[dave]

Attachment: Screenshot_20230327_132709.png

I have six extensions installed and enabled as shown on the attached image. However, when clicking the extensions button, only two appear: Print-Edit is greyed out and User Agent Switcher is normal. The others do not appear. I can't capture that image because the popup disappears when my cursor leaves the FF window.

Comment 8

[William Durand [:willdurand]]

(In reply to dave from comment #7)

I have six extensions installed and enabled as shown on the attached image. However, when clicking the extensions button, only two appear: Print-Edit is greyed out and User Agent Switcher is normal. The others do not appear.

Do you use a private window (Private Browsing mode)? The two extensions that appear are allowed in PB mode, the others aren't, according to the screenshot.

Comment 9

[dave]

I don't use the "private browsing" mode. Settings for an extension are either defaults or random answers to option queries.

Comment 10

[William Durand [:willdurand]]

Could you please go to about:addons and set "Run in Private Windows" to "Allow" for the Firefox multi-containers add-on? Then see if that changes anything in the panel.

It is really suspicious that you see only 2 add-ons listed in the panel, no add-ons in the navbar, and there are only 2 add-ons allowed in PB mode.

Comment 11

[dave]

Attachment: Screenshot_20230403_155124.png

It appears that this extension does not work in a private window.

Comment 12

[William Durand [:willdurand]]

Ah ok.. Could you try with DownThemAll! please then?

Comment 13

[dave]

With that change, DownThemAll now appears on the list when selecting the extensions button. Note that UserAgentSwitcher and UIVisionRPA are also permitted in private windows but do not appear on that list.

Comment 14

[William Durand [:willdurand]]

If this extension appears, then it likely means you are using some kind of private window.

Note that UserAgentSwitcher and UIVisionRPA are also permitted in private windows but do not appear on that list.

Hum, that is odd. These extensions are also not shown in the navbar? Do you have a collapsible toolbar, e.g. the bookmarks toolbar? No extensions in there?

Comment 15

[dave]

Yes, I do have a bookmarks toolbar, but no, no extensions are on it. Nor are any of them saved as bookmarks of any kind. I am not aware of using any kind of private window though I have certainly refused cookies and taken similar privacy actions.

Comment 16

[BugBot [:suhaib / :marco/ :calixte]]

The severity field is not set for this bug.
:zombie, could you have a look please?

For more information, please visit auto_nag documentation.

Comment 17

[William Durand [:willdurand]]

dave, did you ever set "never remember history" in the Firefox settings by chance (about:preferences)?

Comment 18

[dave]

Yes, all the time.

Comment 19

[William Durand [:willdurand]]

One thing I've learned recently is that "never remember history" is pretty much the same as the "private browsing" mode so that's why you kept telling me you weren't using PB and I was saying that I couldn't understand how it was possible. I am sorry.

Now I think it'd be good to detect that setting (PB mode/never remember history) in the extensions panel and show a message indicating that some extensions might not appear because of it.