Sure. For simplified example have only the following in your user.js file:
user_pref("browser.tabs.warnOnClose",true);
Start Firefox
Observe that the pref is indeed true
Go to Setting > General, observe that Confirm before closing multiple tabs is checked
Uncheck the option
In about:config observe that browser.tabs.warnOnClose is now false
Restart Firefox
Observe that the pref is again set to true
The reason is also very simple. Firefox will never write anything to user.js - thus any changes you do at runtime will only be stored to prefs.js. However, user.js always overrides prefs.jsat startup.
Yes. Firefox doesn’t create user.js file itself - if you want one then you need to create it yourself either manually or with some tool. Also, I’ve seen some “security” software create user.js file without notifying the user about it…
Have you independently confirmed this?
What is preventing
user.jsfrom doing exactly what you’re describing right now on your system?Sure. For simplified example have only the following in your
user.jsfile:user_pref("browser.tabs.warnOnClose",true);Confirm before closing multiple tabsis checkedbrowser.tabs.warnOnCloseis now falsetrueThe reason is also very simple. Firefox will never write anything to
user.js- thus any changes you do at runtime will only be stored toprefs.js. However,user.jsalways overridesprefs.jsat startup.Understood, thanks. So on a clean install, I’m assuming
user.jsis either empty or missing, correct?Yes. Firefox doesn’t create user.js file itself - if you want one then you need to create it yourself either manually or with some tool. Also, I’ve seen some “security” software create user.js file without notifying the user about it…