Deleting Firefox Auto Complete Values

I am working on a project where I have to add several new job postings each day into a data base through a simple web form. Often, the job duration, application due date, city, or company are the same as previous ones. As a shortcut, I simply type in the first two or three characters and scroll through the auto complete list in Firefox.

Occasionally, I press tab too soon to get to the next field and end up submitting a partial value (like ‘4 ‘ instead of ‘4 months’).

Well, I just realised how to delete unwanted items from the auto complete list in Firefox. Just scroll through the list with the down arrow key on your keyboard until the the unwanted one is highlighted. then press Shift+Delete. Voilá! (is that better Cedric)

For IE users, I believe the key combo is simply the Delete key.

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Categorised as Browsers

By Kim Siever

I am a copywriter and copyeditor. I blog on writing and social media tips mostly, but I sometimes throw in my thoughts about running a small business. Follow me on Twitter at @hotpepper.

8 comments

  2. Thanks for the info about how to delete the autocomplete values.

    The shift delete worked.

    I think autocomplete only happens when I use the display as firefox option.

    However I am still considering uninstalling Netscape. I can not find a way from keeping it from remembering logon ids. To me, that is not acceptable, it is akin to giving out a password.

    In IE it is easy to stop autocomplete.

    I also can’t stand Netscape and the Passcard and Datacard. I wish I could delete these options entirely.

    I want to be forced to fill out forms. Information I put on forms on the internet should never be remembered on any computer I use.

  3. Ahhh! I’ve been wondering how to do this and just never thought to search for an answer before! Thanks so much for the great tip!

  6. Thank you so much for taking the time to post this tip! Like Malvolio, this was driving me crazy.

  7. The tip seems so straightforward, but when I try it, nothing happens. I have firefox 1.0.7, mac os 10.2.8…I have tried shift delete, fn delete, ctrl delete, option delete, and apple delete, nothing happens. please help! I was SO excited to see the tip and really want to make it work
    thanks

  8. That is a great tip! The OP was made a long time ago and their version of FireFox was not mentioned. I am using FF 2.0.0.6 and I noticed that I do not have to hold the shift key, I only have to use the delete key.

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