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Why does the 'reopen last closed window' keyboard shortcut (shift cmd N) not work when there is no window open?

  • 15 replies
  • 6 have this problem
  • 6 views
  • Last reply by SimonVB

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When all Firefox windows are closed (I can see my desktop) but Firefox is still the application with 'focus', the shortcut 'Shift-Cmd-N' doesn't have any effect. It should re-open the last closed window. This function does work when going to History -> Recently Closed Windows, but not with the keyboard shortcut when there's no window open.

When all Firefox windows are closed (I can see my desktop) but Firefox is still the application with 'focus', the shortcut 'Shift-Cmd-N' doesn't have any effect. It should re-open the last closed window. This function does work when going to History -> Recently Closed Windows, but not with the keyboard shortcut when there's no window open.

All Replies (15)

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Troubleshooting extensions and themes

Check and tell if its working.

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Nope, sorry! I have the default theme selected, and disabled all extensions. Also tried Safe Mode (which is practically the same). Still, same result: with no window open, the shortcut won't work. Oh and by the way: this problem exists on my older system (OSX 10.4, FF3) aswell.

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Try to switch focus to the Firefox application via Command + Tab to make sure that Firefox has focus.

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As I originally posted, Firefox still has focus. For example: I have one FF window open, I hit cmd + w to close it, and then I try shift + cmd + n --> nothing happens, last window is not re-opened. Switching focus away and back doesn't change a thing either.

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-> Create a New Profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems. See:

Basic Troubleshooting: Make a New Profile

-> If that New Profile works then you can recover your Bookmarks and Passwords from the Old Profile. See this:

Recovering important data from an old profile

Check and tell if its working.

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It may be a bug or an unsupported feature on Mac if all windows are closed.
I'm not on a Mac, so can't test it.

Do other shortcuts like Ctrl + N to open a new window work?

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mha007: I'm sorry, I won't make a new profile just for this problem. I'm on a brand new system anyway - the problem happened on my old computer, and on this one alike (also before I imported my bookmarks).

cor-el: All other shortcuts (that I use regularly) work just fine. I use cmd + n or cmd + t all the time.

Ok, update: Just now I tried something. I have one open window. When I close it, the shortcut does not work. Then I go to History -> Recently closed windows and click the top one. Then I close it again, and then the shorcut to re-open it DOES work. From then on, it works fine, also when I browse, use tabs etc., until Firefox is quit and restarted, then it doesn't work anymore.

So, to restate: Everytime Firefox starts, I need to re-open the last window through the menu once, before the shortcut shift + cmd + n works when there's no open window.

Modified by SimonVB

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Any more input on this?

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Since you refuse to Create a New Profile, Do this - Troubleshooting plugins

Check and tell if its working.

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mha007 - I have followed your advice and the whole guide, without result. I had previously tried the safe mode aswell, like I said after your first reply.

To be sure, I even made a new profile. Still, no difference.

Just wondering: can any of you recreate this problem? Quit FF, open one window and surf somewhere, then close that window and press Shift + Cmd (/ctrl) + N. Does this open that last window? Not for me it doesn't.

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There have been similar problems reported in the past with opening a window via the keyboard when all windows were closed and only the menu bar is visible, so it is quite possible that this isn't working properly.

You would need someone with a Mac to confirm that or try to ask on a Mac oriented forum.

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cor-el - Thanks for the info. I asked the question on one of my regular forums with a Mac section.

However, maybe Windows users can try and recreate the same behaviour? That is, when some report that it DOES work on Windows, we've narrowed down the problem... Could you try it out, for starters?

I'll keep you posted on the Mac reactions.

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You can't close all open windows on the Windows and the Linux platform without closing the Firefox program.
You can only do that on the Mac platform, so it is not possible to reproduce this problem.

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Right. Ok, just Mac users then!

Modified by SimonVB

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So far I got two reactions, both were able to reproduce this problem. Yay, it's not just me! So ... what happens now?