That sounds like Firefox's normal behavior. Some comments:

Google Search results There is an option you can set on Google so that results open in a new windows. Firefox will normally divert that into a new tab instead. If you cleared your cookies for Google, you may have lost that setting. More information: https://support.google.com/websearch/.../425.

Tab-related extensions If you were using Tab Mix Plus or another tab-related extension, could you check to see whether it got disabled? You can do that on the Add-ons page. Either:

• Ctrl+Shift+a
• orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons

In the left column, click Extensions. Disabled extensions are sorted at the bottom on a gray background.

Sometimes you may need to update extensions manually. Use the "gear" button above the list and choose "Check for Updates".

Any luck?

Very strange. In google settings page I cheked the option to open search results in a new window. But, still results open inside the current window, what is really frustrating. As for Add-ons, I see there are no such extensions which are somehow connected with tabs.

I should have said "inside the current tab", not "inside the current window". So, I guess, what I experience now is not normal for Firefox.

Hmm, could you test in Firefox's Safe Mode? That's a standard diagnostic tool to bypass interference by all extensions (and some custom settings). More info: Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode.

You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using

Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

In the dialog, click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Reset)

Any difference?

I checked it right now. It makes no difference.

The version of FF, that I use, is 25.0.1

Okay, this is a little nerdy, but...

If you right-click a link in Google -- avoid the bolded part -- and choose Inspect Element (Q), a display should open in the lower part of the page with some HTML highlighted, usually starting with <a.

You can see if Google is properly setting the links to open in a new window because target="_blank" will appear somewhere in the <a> tag line. You might need to use the bottom horizontal scroll bar.

I've attached a screen shot as an example.

• If the target is missing, either Google is not inserting it or something is stripping it off.

• If the target is there, Firefox is at fault for not opening the link in a new window or tab. But why??

P.S. The block buttons are from an add-on, you can ignore those.

Hm. There is no "target" property. This is what I get

Hi vicvolk87, that would explain why Firefox just opens it in the same tab...

In case your Google cookies are corrupted and no longer update correctly, you might want to clear them. If you have any work pending in your Google account (Gmail, Google Docs, etc.), be sure to save that first.

While viewing a page on the site, try either:

• right-click and choose View Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"
• Tools menu > Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"
• click the padlock on the address bar > More Information > "View Cookies"

In the dialog that opens, you can remove the site's cookies individually.

Then try reloading the page and going back into Search Settings to turn on "new window" again. Any luck?

Thank you, jscher2000. I followed your advice step by step and got a desired result. Now links open in new tabs.