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how to open new link in a new tab browser

  • 4 replies
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  • Last reply by cor-el

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For years I have been using Firefox. If I clicked on a hyperlink in any of my programs, Outlook messages, websites etc, Firefox opened a new tab. That behaviour has suddenly stopped for websites including this one occasionally. It seems to still work for Outlook. Has Firefox changed its policy?

The advice on https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1283295 is to edit browser.link.open_newwindow (3) 1:current tab; 2:new window; 3:new tab; But that is already set to 3.

What other settings might work? And why has this been changed?

For years I have been using Firefox. If I clicked on a hyperlink in any of my programs, Outlook messages, websites etc, Firefox opened a new tab. That behaviour has suddenly stopped for websites including this one occasionally. It seems to still work for Outlook. Has Firefox changed its policy? The advice on https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1283295 is to edit browser.link.open_newwindow (3) 1:current tab; 2:new window; 3:new tab; But that is already set to 3. What other settings might work? And why has this been changed?

All Replies (4)

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Hi cvhorie,

All settings via Options/Preferences or directly via about:config apply only to links that specify a target window. You can divert such a link to a new tab or new window. Links that do not specify a target window will always open in the same tab and you need to override this yourself via Ctrl plus left-click or a middle-click or via the right-click context menu. Or you can make it default by using these addons

Open Link in New Tab https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/open-new-tab/ Open Link with New Tab https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/open-link-with-new-tab

Thank You.

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You may need to set this preference to 0: browser.link.open_newwindow.restriction refer https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1328185#answer-1396449

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This used to be an option in settings. Now you want me to be a programmer??? This is crazy. I just want the link to open in a new tab. It is cumbersome to right click the link and use the option "open link in new tab". I like the old version.

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The setting in "Settings -> General -> Tabs" is about diverting a new window to a new tab in cases where the website specifies a target window. There are profs to control this behavior like explained in the linked questions.

You can middle-click a link (or hold Ctrl and left-click) to force Firefox to open the link in a new tab for cases where the website doesn't specify a target window.