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

How to change what webpage the new tab button opens.

more options

When I click the new tab button, it always opens to a certain search engine. I've tried to change this default to my preferred search engine, but haven't succeeded. Any hints?

When I click the new tab button, it always opens to a certain search engine. I've tried to change this default to my preferred search engine, but haven't succeeded. Any hints?

Chosen solution

Usually a new tab is blank, so you may have an add-on that has hijacked it. Your browser's identification string suggests maybe Babylon?

"Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.2.18) Gecko/20110614 BTRS28059 Firefox/3.6.18 ( .NET CLR 3.5.30729)"

You might need to disable or remove that before the next step will be useful...

Try this add-on to select the page that displays in a new tab: NewTabURL :: Add-ons for Firefox.

Read this answer in context 👍 2

All Replies (4)

more options

Seçilmiş Həll

Usually a new tab is blank, so you may have an add-on that has hijacked it. Your browser's identification string suggests maybe Babylon?

"Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.2.18) Gecko/20110614 BTRS28059 Firefox/3.6.18 ( .NET CLR 3.5.30729)"

You might need to disable or remove that before the next step will be useful...

Try this add-on to select the page that displays in a new tab: NewTabURL :: Add-ons for Firefox.

more options

I tried this add-on, and it worked for the first new tab I opened, but with the second, the hi-jacked page came up again. Thoughts?

more options

@zoesull, what hijacked page comes up?

If there is a "battle of the add-ons" about which one will control the new tab, you probably need to remove the one you don't want.

Most add-ons can be disabled or removed here:

orange Firefox button or Tools menu > Add-ons > on the left side click Extensions

If there is a disable button but no remove button, then you usually can use the Windows control panel to remove it. (Assuming you're on Windows.)

more options

Many, many thanx for this - A clear and consice answer.