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 do I stop switching to a new tab when I highlight something and right click "search google"

  • 3 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by Spacewalker

more options

So whenever a highlight a word and right click it to "Search Google for..." it switches to the new tab that just opened. How can I stop it? I've already tried going to Tools > Options > and disabling the thingie, but that only works for links that I open in new tabs. Not for the google searching.

So there any way to stop it?

Thanks!

So whenever a highlight a word and right click it to "Search Google for..." it switches to the new tab that just opened. How can I stop it? I've already tried going to Tools > Options > and disabling the thingie, but that only works for links that I open in new tabs. Not for the google searching. So there any way to stop it? Thanks!

Chosen solution

hello, here's how to change that behaviour: enter about:config into the firefox address bar (confirm the info message in case it shows up) & search for the preference named browser.search.context.loadInBackground. double-click it and change its value to true.

Read this answer in context 👍 7

All Replies (3)

more options

Chosen Solution

hello, here's how to change that behaviour: enter about:config into the firefox address bar (confirm the info message in case it shows up) & search for the preference named browser.search.context.loadInBackground. double-click it and change its value to true.

more options

Great that worked! Thanks!

more options

Thanks - but I find it strange that so many options in Firefox that affect usability (sometimes it's the little things that matter) require us to ask in Mozilla Support, then find some hard-to-find setting in about:config!

While I'm glad this worked it's definitely NOT user friendly.