1977142 - Firefox Android 140.0.3 — Private tab data sometimes not deleted on “Quit” despite all delete options enabled

Status: UNCONFIRMED

(Firefox for Android :: Privacy, defect, P1)

Description

[Mohammad Shaklain]

🔴 Issue 1: Private browsing data not deleted on “Quit”

I'm using Firefox Android version 140.0.3 with the search engine set to Google.

I experienced a privacy bug where, even though all delete options were enabled, search history from private tabs remained visible after using the “Quit” option from the 3-dot menu.

This issue does not happen every time, but it has occurred multiple times.

My Firefox is configured as follows:

Delete browsing data on quit: Enabled

Everything checked under it:
✅ Open tabs
✅ Browsing history
✅ Cookies and site data
✅ Cached images and files
✅ Site permissions
✅ Downloads

Even with all this set, after quitting, when I reopened Firefox and opened a private tab, previous Google search terms still showed up — which should not happen.

🛠️ What worked to finally delete the data:

I had to manually go to:

Settings > Delete browsing data

Select all items and delete again manually

Then go to uBlock Origin > Settings > Reset to default

Only after doing all this did the private data finally disappear.
But this should not be necessary — “Quit” is supposed to clear all data.

Issue 2: Link opens in app without asking, despite “Ask before opening” setting

Another related bug:

I added the link chatgpt.com to my Firefox homepage.
When I long-pressed the shortcut and chose “Open in private tab”, Firefox did the following:

Opened the ChatGPT Android app (which I had installed),

Then also opened the link in a private tab inside Firefox.

But I have “Open links in apps → Ask before opening” enabled in Firefox settings.

Expected:

Firefox should have asked before opening the link in the external app.

Also, “Open in private tab” should only open it inside Firefox — not launch the external app.

Actual:

It opened both: the external app and the private tab — and without asking.

Steps to Reproduce (Issue 1 — Intermittent):

1. Use Firefox Android with Google as search engine

2. Open a private tab, search anything

3. Tap 3-dot menu → Quit

4. Reopen Firefox → open new private tab

5. Sometimes, previous search terms reappear

Steps to Reproduce (Issue 2):

1. Add chatgpt.com to Firefox homepage

2. Long-press > choose “Open in private tab”

3. Observe that it opens external ChatGPT app + private tab, without asking

Expected Behavior:

“Quit” should delete all private data every time

“Ask before opening links in apps” should be respected

Private tab actions should stay inside Firefox only

Actual Behavior:

Sometimes private tab search data remains after Quit

Firefox opens external app even with “ask before opening” setting enabled

Opens in app and private tab at the same time

Device Info:

Device: Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

OS: Android 15

Firefox version: 140.0.3

Comment 1

[Mohammad Shaklain]

This bug is still alive in Firefox nightly 144.0a1 also.