TabLogger

A Firefox extension that automatically archives tabs you haven't used recently into one accessible, searchable log — freeing memory and decluttering your tab bar. Archived tabs are saved (URL, title, favicon, timestamps) and then closed; you can reopen any of them from the log with one click.

The log groups archived tabs by website first, then by date — both configurable.

Features

• Auto-archive stale tabs on a schedule (default: tabs inactive ≥ 1 day, swept hourly).
• Never archives pinned tabs, the active tab in each window, audio-playing tabs, or any domain on your allowlist. It also never closes a window's last remaining tab.
• Accessible log page: grouped by website → date, searchable, with Restore / Delete / Copy-URL per entry, "Restore all" per group, JSON export, and Clear log.
• Popup with live stats and an "Archive stale tabs now" button.
• Settings for the inactivity threshold, sweep frequency, exclusions, allowlist, and grouping order.

Install into Firefox (temporary add-on)

1. Open Firefox and go to about:debugging#/runtime/this-firefox.
2. Click Load Temporary Add-on….
3. Select the manifest.json file in this folder.
4. Click the puzzle-piece toolbar icon and pin TabLogger so its button is always visible.

A temporary add-on stays loaded until you restart Firefox. After a restart, repeat the steps above to reload it. (A permanent install requires signing the add-on through addons.mozilla.org, which is out of scope here.)

Usage

• Click the toolbar icon to see how many tabs are archived and how many are currently stale, and to archive on demand.
• Open the log from the popup (or Settings → Open log) to browse, search, and restore tabs.
• Adjust behavior in Settings (popup → Settings, or about:addons → TabLogger → Preferences).

Tip: testing it quickly

To see archiving immediately, open Settings and set "Archive tabs inactive for at least" to 0 days and 0 hours, then click Archive stale tabs now in the popup. Every non-excluded tab becomes eligible at once. Set it back to 1 day (or your preferred days + hours) for normal use.

Development

Optional — validate the extension with Mozilla's tooling:

npx web-ext lint        # check manifest + code
npx web-ext run         # launch a dev Firefox with the extension auto-loaded (separate profile)

Project layout

manifest.json            Manifest V3, non-persistent background event page
background/background.js  alarm sweep, archive/close logic, messaging
lib/storage.js           settings defaults + archive storage helpers
lib/grouping.js          group archive entries by website / date
popup/                   toolbar popup (stats + actions)
log/                     the archive log page
options/                 settings page
icons/icon.svg           toolbar/extension icon