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 can I set the browser to "top sites only" in a new tab, since choosing that option doesn't work?

  • 5 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

When I click on the "new tab" plus sign, the next screen shows all the sites I've visited, instead of just the "top sites." I only want the sites I visit most frequently, so I selected the "top sites only" option. But this doesn't work for some reason. I still get all the sites I've visited, regardless of how long I was there or how infrequently I use them.

When I click on the "new tab" plus sign, the next screen shows all the sites I've visited, instead of just the "top sites." I only want the sites I visit most frequently, so I selected the "top sites only" option. But this doesn't work for some reason. I still get all the sites I've visited, regardless of how long I was there or how infrequently I use them.

All Replies (5)

more options

Hi theines.

Can you please verify this in Firefox safe mode? As the Firefox new tab cannot show you all pages from your history.

more options

I changed to "safe mode" successfully, then re-clicked on the option for "top sites only." Then I did several searches on obscure URLs, then closed them. Finally, when I clicked on the "+" to add a new window, the new, unwanted tile where there, just like before.

Help!

more options

You can try to adjust the number of rows and column or drag the globe/padlock of a page like about:home to tiles that you do not to use. Drag the padlock of the about page to the tab with the about:newtab page to open this tab and drop it in a tile. See about:about for addresses of other built-in about pages to use if you do not want to pin an internet page.


  • browser.newtabpage.columns
  • browser.newtabpage.rows
  • browser.newtabpage.pinned stores websites that you have pinned to a tile.
  • browser.newtabpage.blocked stores websites that you have removed by clicking the X button in a tile.

You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. You can accept the warning and click "I'll be careful" to continue.

Modified by cor-el

more options

Sorry, your explanation is too technical for me. I don't understand it. Please try again.

Thanks.

more options

Firefox normally shows the most visited websites in tiles on the about:newtab page. If you want specific web page to appear there then you can click the pin button to pin an existing website and possibly drag a tile to a different position to reorder them. You can also open the history sidebar (Ctrl+H) and drag an history item to a tile. The same for bookmarks with the bookmarks sidebar (Ctrl+B).

If there are more tiles than websites that you want to see then you either have to fill the remaining tiles with other websites or adjust the number of rows and columns. The latter can be done by modifying prefs on the about:config page.