Firefox/Screenshots/FAQs

Firefox Screenshots FAQs

Why is Firefox Screenshots labeled Beta ?

We’re using the Beta label to indicate that we're not quite done building the core set of Screenshots features. We're also improving the underlying technology behind Screenshots. Once Screenshots does all the things we want it to do, we will remove the Beta label. We expect this label to be removed in late 2017.

How do I disable Firefox Screenshots?

If you want to disable Firefox Screenshots, do the following:

1. In your browser's toolbar, type in about:config.
2. In the search field, type in screenshots. You will see a preference called extensions.screenshots.disabled.
3. Double-click this preference to set it to true.

Once you've toggled this preference, you're all set. Screenshots will no longer run in your browser.

What data does Firefox Screenshots collect?

Firefox Screenshots collects event data in a manner consistent with the Firefox Privacy Notice. We collect this data in order to learn how people use Screenshots so we can make it better for everyone. You can view all of the events we capture in this document.

Can I opt out of data collection?

Definitely. Screenshots consists of a web-based component and a browser-based component. Firefox’s preferences are undergoing a remodel, so disabling metrics works slightly differently depending on which version of Firefox you’re using.

Disabling add-on data collection

If you are on Firefox 55

1. Go to Firefox’s preferences menu. You can do this by typing about:preferences into Firefox’s URL bar.
2. Once there, click Advanced, then Data Choices.
3. Toggling off the Enable Firefox Health Report will disable data collection.

If you are on Firefox 56 or greater

1. Go to Firefox’s preferences menu. You can do this by typing about:preferences into Firefox’s URL bar.
2. Once there, click Privacy and Security.
3. Find the section labeled Firefox Data Collection and Use.
4. Uncheck Allow Firefox to automatically send technical and interaction data to Mozilla

Disabling website data collection

Screenshots respects your browser’s Do Not Track setting to determine whether or not to collect web data. This applies to Firefox as well as other browsers that support Do Not Track.

If you are on Firefox 55

1. Go to Firefox’s preferences menu. You can do this by typing about:preferences into Firefox’s URL bar.
2. Once there, click Privacy.
3. Click the link that says manage your Do Not Track settings.
4. Check the box that says Always apply Do Not Track and click OK

If you are on Firefox 56 or greater

1. Go to Firefox’s preferences menu. You can do this by typing about:preferences into Firefox’s URL bar.
2. Once there, click Privacy and Security.
3. Find the toggle labelled Send websites a “Do Not Track” signal that you don’t want to be tracked.
4. Toggle the control to Always.

How can I delete the screenshots I save to My Shots?

To delete individual shots, just click the Trash icon, then confirm. This icon can be found on each shot page and by hovering on each shot thumbnail on the My Shots page.

In order to delete all of your shots at once, do the following: Click on the Screenshot icon on your browser toolbar. Click the My Shots button in the upper right corner of the screen. On the My Shots page, click the link that says Remove All Data On the subsequent screen, click Proceed

Why doesn't Firefox Screenshots work in Private Browsing?

The technology behind Firefox Screenshots is still under active development in Firefox. For now, shots taken while you browse privately would show up in your normal downloads list. In order to protect privacy we’ve removed support for Screenshots in Private Browsing Mode entirely until we can build a more private experience.

You can follow along with the technical implementation of Private Browsing support in WebExtensions on this bug.

Why doesn't Firefox Screenshots work on certain pages?

Screenshots should work on almost all web pages. Certain pages that contain the HTML <frameset> are not fully supported and may not be shootable.

Additionally, some pages with special permissions to modify Firefox like Test Pilot and addons.mozilla.org are unsupported due to strict security rules designed to prevent page manipulation.

Finally, certain browser pages like the Firefox home and Preferences pages are not supported. These pages are built using a different language than the rest of the web.

How can I contribute to Firefox Screenshots?

Glad you asked. There are lots of ways you can contribute!

1. If you just want to give us feedback, or request a feature, you can use our forum.
2. If you’re interested in coding for Screenshots or any other Test Pilot feature, we’ve built a portal to help you find bugs to work on across all of our projects.
3. If you know your way around GitHub, you can file issues directly at our repository.