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How to stop firefox from switching to new tab?

  • 4 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

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The issue I am dealing with is that I want Firefox to open all links in a new tab but not to switch to them automatically. I have checked all the settings in the Tools >> Options >> Tab menu and I have them all checked except for the last two. I am on Firefox version 36.0.1 and I have refreshed Firefox several times and have deleted and recreated a new profile. Is there a setting somewhere that I'm missing or are there some settings in the About:Config that can be changed to make this happen?

The issue I am dealing with is that I want Firefox to open all links in a new tab but not to switch to them automatically. I have checked all the settings in the Tools >> Options >> Tab menu and I have them all checked except for the last two. I am on Firefox version 36.0.1 and I have refreshed Firefox several times and have deleted and recreated a new profile. Is there a setting somewhere that I'm missing or are there some settings in the About:Config that can be changed to make this happen?

All Replies (4)

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Hi, there are a couple of Add-ons that might do it for you -

Open Link in New Tab.

Tab Mix Plus.

Hope that works for you.

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Type about:preferences#general<enter> in the address bar.

Check the settings under Tabs

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Firefox doesn't have a built-in feature to divert ALL links to a new tab, only the choice of diverting links coded to open in a new window to a new tab instead.

What you are describing in your Tab Options is correct for the built-in feature. Some sites that use scripts instead of normal links might not be handled correctly, so if this is site-specific, we could look at the site and give you suggestions for workarounds.

I think you will need an add-on to handle other links. Hopefully one of the ones in the earlier post will help: https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1052093#answer-704101

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There are these prefs, accessible via the about:config page, to control the focus if you click a link.

  • browser.tabs.loadInBackground (normal links)
  • browser.tabs.loadDivertedInBackground (javascript)