{"slug": "temporary-containers", "name": "Temporary Containers", "category": "browsers", "category_name": "Browsers and extensions", "description": "Firefox extension that opens tabs in automatically created, disposable containers.", "recommenders": 5, "commenters": 6, "warners": 1, "score": 3.3, "rising": -1.64, "first": "2025-11-05", "latest": "2026-09-04", "why": "Liked for automatically opening sites in throwaway containers for what users call per-tab private browsing, for staying logged into one site with several accounts at once, and as part of a setup with other container extensions.", "why_is_quote": false, "has_verdict": true, "sentiment": {"recommend": 5, "neutral": 0, "compare": 0, "warn": 1}, "spark": [3, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 0, 0, 0], "listed": true, "loved": ["Privacy isolation", "Pairs with containers"], "caveat": "Unmaintained", "short_quote": "I also use temporary containers to make it easier to be logged into the same site with multiple accounts at the same time between tabs", "icon": false, "domain": null, "github_repo": null, "official_url": "https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/temporary-containers/", "pricing": "open source", "aliases": ["Temporary Containers"], "verdict": [{"text": "Liked for automatically opening sites in throwaway containers for what users call per-tab private browsing", "cites": [{"id": 792954896, "item_id": 49559681, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49559681", "by": "scorpioxy", "date": "2026-09-04", "stance": "warn", "quote": "the extension at some point corrupted my firefox profile and has been unmaintained for a while", "excerpt": "For a while, I used a firefox extension called \"Temporary Containers\" which would, as the name implies, create a temporary container for each site you visit. Combined with specifying some custom rules for ones you want to open in a specific container, that was a very convenient setup. But the extension at some point corrupted my firefox profile and has been unmaintained for a while so I didn't try again. I am not sur", "context": "", "use_case": "per-site temporary Firefox containers", "switched_from": "", "story": "My practical approach to surfing the web safely"}, {"id": 736274176, "item_id": 46017136, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46017136", "by": "lipbetfox", "date": "2025-11-22", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use automatic temporary containers as a rule", "excerpt": "I still haven't found a method that can fingerprint simple Firefox containers. I use automatic temporary containers as a rule, and rules for specific sites where I want to keep persistent sessions. I don't understand how temporary containers are still not a built-in Firefox feature, it seems like such a no-brainer solution for privacy.", "context": "", "use_case": "browser privacy isolation", "switched_from": "", "story": "The privacy nightmare of browser fingerprinting"}, {"id": 733280066, "item_id": 45830004, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45830004", "by": "xenophonf", "date": "2025-11-05", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use Containerise plus Cookie AutoDelete plus Temporary Containers to give me what is effectively per-tab private browsing.", "excerpt": "Firefox profiles suck. Their UX is so bad. Containers are better but still have their issues. I use Containerise plus Cookie AutoDelete plus Temporary Containers to give me what is effectively per-tab private browsing. The major downside is that I have to copy containers.json (which enumerates all of the dedicated containers I have defined, e.g., for Facebook), my Containerise rules (which automatically puts certain ", "context": "", "use_case": "temporary browser containers", "switched_from": "", "story": "Firefox profiles: Private, focused spaces for all the ways you browse"}]}, {"text": ", for staying logged into one site with several accounts at once", "cites": [{"id": 733279264, "item_id": 45829954, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45829954", "by": "throwaway106382", "date": "2025-11-05", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I also use temporary containers to make it easier to be logged into the same site with multiple accounts at the same time between tabs", "excerpt": "Profiles for the typical Work/Personal separation with their own bookmarks, extensions, password manager accounts etc\u2026\u2026 Then I use containers for isolating sensitive accounts within those profiles (bank, work Google Drive, etc). I also use temporary containers to make it easier to be logged into the same site with multiple accounts at the same time between tabs - like admin and user accounts for our company\u2019s app - w", "context": "", "use_case": "multi-account sessions in tabs", "switched_from": "", "story": "Firefox profiles: Private, focused spaces for all the ways you browse"}]}, {"text": ", and as part of a setup with other container extensions.", "cites": [{"id": 780250993, "item_id": 48765687, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48765687", "by": "ddejohn", "date": "2026-07-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use the Firefox Multi-Account Containers, Temporary Containers, and Containerize extensions to manage my browsing and it's (mostly) a very nice experience.", "excerpt": "Great to see this feature being added to other browsers. I use the Firefox Multi-Account Containers, Temporary Containers, and Containerize extensions to manage my browsing and it's (mostly) a very nice experience. There are some rough edges for certain tasks, but I've not had any desire to go back to containerless browsing for a few years now.", "context": "", "use_case": "temporary browser containers", "switched_from": "", "story": "Brave's latest browser release offers Containers for better and easier workflow"}, {"id": 733280066, "item_id": 45830004, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45830004", "by": "xenophonf", "date": "2025-11-05", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use Containerise plus Cookie AutoDelete plus Temporary Containers to give me what is effectively per-tab private browsing.", "excerpt": "Firefox profiles suck. Their UX is so bad. Containers are better but still have their issues. I use Containerise plus Cookie AutoDelete plus Temporary Containers to give me what is effectively per-tab private browsing. The major downside is that I have to copy containers.json (which enumerates all of the dedicated containers I have defined, e.g., for Facebook), my Containerise rules (which automatically puts certain ", "context": "", "use_case": "temporary browser containers", "switched_from": "", "story": "Firefox profiles: Private, focused spaces for all the ways you browse"}, {"id": 785123472, "item_id": 49070217, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49070217", "by": "rationalist", "date": "2026-07-27", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use temporary containers (addon in Firefox) and keep my history locally.", "excerpt": "I use temporary containers (addon in Firefox) and keep my history locally.", "context": "", "use_case": "browser privacy", "switched_from": "", "story": "Ask HN: Do you delete your browsing history?"}]}, {"text": " The main caveat is that it has gone unmaintained, and one user says it corrupted their Firefox profile, possibly in combination with other extensions.", "cites": [{"id": 792954896, "item_id": 49559681, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49559681", "by": "scorpioxy", "date": "2026-09-04", "stance": "warn", "quote": "the extension at some point corrupted my firefox profile and has been unmaintained for a while", "excerpt": "For a while, I used a firefox extension called \"Temporary Containers\" which would, as the name implies, create a temporary container for each site you visit. Combined with specifying some custom rules for ones you want to open in a specific container, that was a very convenient setup. But the extension at some point corrupted my firefox profile and has been unmaintained for a while so I didn't try again. I am not sur", "context": "", "use_case": "per-site temporary Firefox containers", "switched_from": "", "story": "My practical approach to surfing the web safely"}]}], "praise": [{"label": "Privacy isolation", "summary": "Automatically gives each site or tab its own temporary container, which users treat as per-tab private browsing.", "quotes": [{"id": 736274176, "item_id": 46017136, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46017136", "by": "lipbetfox", "date": "2025-11-22", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use automatic temporary containers as a rule", "excerpt": "I still haven't found a method that can fingerprint simple Firefox containers. I use automatic temporary containers as a rule, and rules for specific sites where I want to keep persistent sessions. I don't understand how temporary containers are still not a built-in Firefox feature, it seems like such a no-brainer solution for privacy.", "context": "", "use_case": "browser privacy isolation", "switched_from": "", "story": "The privacy nightmare of browser fingerprinting"}, {"id": 733280066, "item_id": 45830004, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45830004", "by": "xenophonf", "date": "2025-11-05", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use Containerise plus Cookie AutoDelete plus Temporary Containers to give me what is effectively per-tab private browsing.", "excerpt": "Firefox profiles suck. Their UX is so bad. Containers are better but still have their issues. I use Containerise plus Cookie AutoDelete plus Temporary Containers to give me what is effectively per-tab private browsing. The major downside is that I have to copy containers.json (which enumerates all of the dedicated containers I have defined, e.g., for Facebook), my Containerise rules (which automatically puts certain ", "context": "", "use_case": "temporary browser containers", "switched_from": "", "story": "Firefox profiles: Private, focused spaces for all the ways you browse"}, {"id": 792954896, "item_id": 49559681, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49559681", "by": "scorpioxy", "date": "2026-09-04", "stance": "warn", "quote": "the extension at some point corrupted my firefox profile and has been unmaintained for a while", "excerpt": "For a while, I used a firefox extension called \"Temporary Containers\" which would, as the name implies, create a temporary container for each site you visit. Combined with specifying some custom rules for ones you want to open in a specific container, that was a very convenient setup. But the extension at some point corrupted my firefox profile and has been unmaintained for a while so I didn't try again. I am not sur", "context": "", "use_case": "per-site temporary Firefox containers", "switched_from": "", "story": "My practical approach to surfing the web safely"}]}, {"label": "Pairs with containers", "summary": "Works alongside Multi-Account Containers, Containerise and Cookie AutoDelete, with rules to keep chosen sites in persistent containers.", "quotes": [{"id": 780250993, "item_id": 48765687, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48765687", "by": "ddejohn", "date": "2026-07-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use the Firefox Multi-Account Containers, Temporary Containers, and Containerize extensions to manage my browsing and it's (mostly) a very nice experience.", "excerpt": "Great to see this feature being added to other browsers. I use the Firefox Multi-Account Containers, Temporary Containers, and Containerize extensions to manage my browsing and it's (mostly) a very nice experience. There are some rough edges for certain tasks, but I've not had any desire to go back to containerless browsing for a few years now.", "context": "", "use_case": "temporary browser containers", "switched_from": "", "story": "Brave's latest browser release offers Containers for better and easier workflow"}, {"id": 733280066, "item_id": 45830004, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45830004", "by": "xenophonf", "date": "2025-11-05", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use Containerise plus Cookie AutoDelete plus Temporary Containers to give me what is effectively per-tab private browsing.", "excerpt": "Firefox profiles suck. Their UX is so bad. Containers are better but still have their issues. I use Containerise plus Cookie AutoDelete plus Temporary Containers to give me what is effectively per-tab private browsing. The major downside is that I have to copy containers.json (which enumerates all of the dedicated containers I have defined, e.g., for Facebook), my Containerise rules (which automatically puts certain ", "context": "", "use_case": "temporary browser containers", "switched_from": "", "story": "Firefox profiles: Private, focused spaces for all the ways you browse"}, {"id": 736274176, "item_id": 46017136, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46017136", "by": "lipbetfox", "date": "2025-11-22", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use automatic temporary containers as a rule", "excerpt": "I still haven't found a method that can fingerprint simple Firefox containers. I use automatic temporary containers as a rule, and rules for specific sites where I want to keep persistent sessions. I don't understand how temporary containers are still not a built-in Firefox feature, it seems like such a no-brainer solution for privacy.", "context": "", "use_case": "browser privacy isolation", "switched_from": "", "story": "The privacy nightmare of browser fingerprinting"}]}, {"label": "Multiple logins", "summary": "Lets users stay logged into the same site with different accounts in different tabs.", "quotes": [{"id": 733279264, "item_id": 45829954, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45829954", "by": "throwaway106382", "date": "2025-11-05", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I also use temporary containers to make it easier to be logged into the same site with multiple accounts at the same time between tabs", "excerpt": "Profiles for the typical Work/Personal separation with their own bookmarks, extensions, password manager accounts etc\u2026\u2026 Then I use containers for isolating sensitive accounts within those profiles (bank, work Google Drive, etc). I also use temporary containers to make it easier to be logged into the same site with multiple accounts at the same time between tabs - like admin and user accounts for our company\u2019s app - w", "context": "", "use_case": "multi-account sessions in tabs", "switched_from": "", "story": "Firefox profiles: Private, focused spaces for all the ways you browse"}]}, {"label": "Easy cleanup", "summary": "Makes it easier to clear sessions and site data.", "quotes": [{"id": 733279264, "item_id": 45829954, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45829954", "by": "throwaway106382", "date": "2025-11-05", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I also use temporary containers to make it easier to be logged into the same site with multiple accounts at the same time between tabs", "excerpt": "Profiles for the typical Work/Personal separation with their own bookmarks, extensions, password manager accounts etc\u2026\u2026 Then I use containers for isolating sensitive accounts within those profiles (bank, work Google Drive, etc). I also use temporary containers to make it easier to be logged into the same site with multiple accounts at the same time between tabs - like admin and user accounts for our company\u2019s app - w", "context": "", "use_case": "multi-account sessions in tabs", "switched_from": "", "story": "Firefox profiles: Private, focused spaces for all the ways you browse"}]}], "caveats": [{"label": "Unmaintained", "summary": "One user notes the extension has been unmaintained for a while.", "quotes": [{"id": 792954896, "item_id": 49559681, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49559681", "by": "scorpioxy", "date": "2026-09-04", "stance": "warn", "quote": "the extension at some point corrupted my firefox profile and has been unmaintained for a while", "excerpt": "For a while, I used a firefox extension called \"Temporary Containers\" which would, as the name implies, create a temporary container for each site you visit. Combined with specifying some custom rules for ones you want to open in a specific container, that was a very convenient setup. But the extension at some point corrupted my firefox profile and has been unmaintained for a while so I didn't try again. I am not sur", "context": "", "use_case": "per-site temporary Firefox containers", "switched_from": "", "story": "My practical approach to surfing the web safely"}]}, {"label": "Profile corruption", "summary": "One user says it corrupted their Firefox profile, though other extensions may have been involved.", "quotes": [{"id": 792954896, "item_id": 49559681, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49559681", "by": "scorpioxy", "date": "2026-09-04", "stance": "warn", "quote": "the extension at some point corrupted my firefox profile and has been unmaintained for a while", "excerpt": "For a while, I used a firefox extension called \"Temporary Containers\" which would, as the name implies, create a temporary container for each site you visit. Combined with specifying some custom rules for ones you want to open in a specific container, that was a very convenient setup. But the extension at some point corrupted my firefox profile and has been unmaintained for a while so I didn't try again. I am not sur", "context": "", "use_case": "per-site temporary Firefox containers", "switched_from": "", "story": "My practical approach to surfing the web safely"}]}, {"label": "Rough edges", "summary": "A user of a container-extension setup that includes it reports rough edges for certain tasks.", "quotes": [{"id": 780250993, "item_id": 48765687, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48765687", "by": "ddejohn", "date": "2026-07-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use the Firefox Multi-Account Containers, Temporary Containers, and Containerize extensions to manage my browsing and it's (mostly) a very nice experience.", "excerpt": "Great to see this feature being added to other browsers. I use the Firefox Multi-Account Containers, Temporary Containers, and Containerize extensions to manage my browsing and it's (mostly) a very nice experience. There are some rough edges for certain tasks, but I've not had any desire to go back to containerless browsing for a few years now.", "context": "", "use_case": "temporary browser containers", "switched_from": "", "story": "Brave's latest browser release offers Containers for better and easier workflow"}]}, {"label": "Manual config sync", "summary": "A user of a multi-extension container setup that includes it must copy the other extensions' configs between browsers by hand.", "quotes": [{"id": 733280066, "item_id": 45830004, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45830004", "by": "xenophonf", "date": "2025-11-05", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use Containerise plus Cookie AutoDelete plus Temporary Containers to give me what is effectively per-tab private browsing.", "excerpt": "Firefox profiles suck. Their UX is so bad. Containers are better but still have their issues. I use Containerise plus Cookie AutoDelete plus Temporary Containers to give me what is effectively per-tab private browsing. 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Combined with specifying some custom rules for ones you want to open in a specific container, that was a very convenient setup. But the extension at some point corrupted my firefox profile and has been unmaintained for a while so I didn't try again. I am not sur", "context": "", "use_case": "per-site temporary Firefox containers", "switched_from": "", "story": "My practical approach to surfing the web safely"}, {"id": 785123472, "item_id": 49070217, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49070217", "by": "rationalist", "date": "2026-07-27", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use temporary containers (addon in Firefox) and keep my history locally.", "excerpt": "I use temporary containers (addon in Firefox) and keep my history locally.", "context": "", "use_case": "browser privacy", "switched_from": "", "story": "Ask HN: Do you delete your browsing history?"}, {"id": 780250993, "item_id": 48765687, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48765687", "by": "ddejohn", "date": "2026-07-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use the Firefox Multi-Account Containers, Temporary Containers, and Containerize extensions to manage my browsing and it's (mostly) a very nice experience.", "excerpt": "Great to see this feature being added to other browsers. I use the Firefox Multi-Account Containers, Temporary Containers, and Containerize extensions to manage my browsing and it's (mostly) a very nice experience. There are some rough edges for certain tasks, but I've not had any desire to go back to containerless browsing for a few years now.", "context": "", "use_case": "temporary browser containers", "switched_from": "", "story": "Brave's latest browser release offers Containers for better and easier workflow"}, {"id": 736274176, "item_id": 46017136, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46017136", "by": "lipbetfox", "date": "2025-11-22", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use automatic temporary containers as a rule", "excerpt": "I still haven't found a method that can fingerprint simple Firefox containers. I use automatic temporary containers as a rule, and rules for specific sites where I want to keep persistent sessions. I don't understand how temporary containers are still not a built-in Firefox feature, it seems like such a no-brainer solution for privacy.", "context": "", "use_case": "browser privacy isolation", "switched_from": "", "story": "The privacy nightmare of browser fingerprinting"}, {"id": 733280066, "item_id": 45830004, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45830004", "by": "xenophonf", "date": "2025-11-05", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use Containerise plus Cookie AutoDelete plus Temporary Containers to give me what is effectively per-tab private browsing.", "excerpt": "Firefox profiles suck. Their UX is so bad. Containers are better but still have their issues. I use Containerise plus Cookie AutoDelete plus Temporary Containers to give me what is effectively per-tab private browsing. The major downside is that I have to copy containers.json (which enumerates all of the dedicated containers I have defined, e.g., for Facebook), my Containerise rules (which automatically puts certain ", "context": "", "use_case": "temporary browser containers", "switched_from": "", "story": "Firefox profiles: Private, focused spaces for all the ways you browse"}, {"id": 733279264, "item_id": 45829954, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45829954", "by": "throwaway106382", "date": "2025-11-05", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I also use temporary containers to make it easier to be logged into the same site with multiple accounts at the same time between tabs", "excerpt": "Profiles for the typical Work/Personal separation with their own bookmarks, extensions, password manager accounts etc\u2026\u2026 Then I use containers for isolating sensitive accounts within those profiles (bank, work Google Drive, etc). I also use temporary containers to make it easier to be logged into the same site with multiple accounts at the same time between tabs - like admin and user accounts for our company\u2019s app - w", "context": "", "use_case": "multi-account sessions in tabs", "switched_from": "", "story": "Firefox profiles: Private, focused spaces for all the ways you browse"}]}