Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

The tabs now automatically stretch out to cover the app width; how can I change this?

  • 10 cavab
  • 1 has this problem
  • 58 views
  • Last reply by KenwardV

more options

The tabs used to be a specific width (estimated at 1/8th the window width). When I closed multiple tabs by constantly clicking on their "X" they would even maintain width as the number decreased, allowing me to finish closing without having to move the mouse.

Now, the tabs automatically stretch out across the window. This kills the above behavior, and it's irritating. But I can't find a way to revert the behavior.

(

Firefox 26.0/Linux (Uberstudent)

The tabs used to be a specific width (estimated at 1/8th the window width). When I closed multiple tabs by constantly clicking on their "X" they would even maintain width as the number decreased, allowing me to finish closing without having to move the mouse. Now, the tabs automatically stretch out across the window. This kills the above behavior, and it's irritating. But I can't find a way to revert the behavior. :( Firefox 26.0/Linux (Uberstudent)

Chosen solution

Normally tabs would only resize if you move the mouse away from the Tab bar.

Are you using a Firefox build from the official Mozilla server or a version from the Ubuntu repositories?


Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problem.

See "Creating a profile":

If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over the problem

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (10)

more options

Hi KenwardV, I would recommend updating to the latest version of Firefox. If you have any issues with this please post back.

Any new window opened will take the size of the previous window open. There are add ons for new window sizes as well.

more options

Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link}

Open a lot of tabs, then remove them. Is the problem still there?

more options

Does it matter if you start closing the tab at the far right or one in the middle or does this happen regardless of the position of the tab?

more options

guigs2-

I could do that if things were failing outright, but they aren't. I am working with a distribution that I would rather not tamper with since it's specialized (UberStudent), and working with the packaging system is definitely preferable.

The thing is, at times I do have a number of windows open and want to close a bunch to clean up stuff as I finish with those particular sites. Once upon a time, Firefox would keep the size of the tabs constant as one closed tabs "rapidly," and would only resize themselves after a noticable delay. They never stretched all the way across the top, either.

Now neither of these behaviors holds. I don't know if there is a setting I can change, or if it's simply the build, or what...

Modified by KenwardV

more options

FredMcD-

Did that, no change.

more options

Cor-el-

If done from the right I will always close the furthest right window. Since the tabs automatically resize immediately now, that would be fine if I wanted to close all the windows on the right side.

As a more general situation, one may want to close a number of tabs starting somewhere in the middle, and keep on clicking until the "chosen ones" are finished. But this can't happen on my setup since the tabs change size immediately, causing the X icon to shift. You end up chasing the icons to the right.

more options

In case you get nowhere, here is an alternative for the tabs

Go to the Mozilla Add-ons Web Page {web link} (There’s a lot of good stuff here) and search for what you want.

Many of us are using Classic Theme Restorer (Customize Australis) {web link} Restore squared tabs, appmenu, add-ons bar, small button view and more on Australis UI (Windows/MacOSX/Linux + Fx 29+).

This will restore many of the things the last upgrade took away.

It also has controls for tab displaying

more options

Seçilmiş Həll

Normally tabs would only resize if you move the mouse away from the Tab bar.

Are you using a Firefox build from the official Mozilla server or a version from the Ubuntu repositories?


Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problem.

See "Creating a profile":

If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over the problem

more options

FredMcD - Thanks for the idea. I have found that resetting the profile fixed the issue, but will keep this in mind if it will get another solved. Thanks again!

more options

Cor-el,

This worked. Thank you!

I initially created a new user, signed in and found that Firefox worked as expected (tabs normal). Knowing this, I checked my own account again by following the directions to add a new profile, and yes it worked.

Deleted the new profile. Backed things up with FEBE, then simply reset the profile a ssuggested by your online link. Things are normal now.

Many thanks to you and the others for the help!