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How can I stop links opening if I merely hover the pointer over them, rather than clicking them?

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  • 5 have this problem
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  • Last reply by cor-el

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If I inadvertently leave the mouse pointer hovering over a link, Firefox follows that link after a few seconds. This can cause major problems like sending incomplete emails, leaving pages on which one has entered data and losing that data, etc. The problem is particularly annoying when using the notebook's mousepad as one has to let go long enough to move one's finger across the pad. If the pointer is pointing at a link (as it often will be) Firefox opens the link, regardless of whether I want it.

I want Firefox to follow a link only if I click on it. I can't find a setting under Tools to achieve this. Is it in about:config? I don't want to play with that unless I know what I'm doing.

If I inadvertently leave the mouse pointer hovering over a link, Firefox follows that link after a few seconds. This can cause major problems like sending incomplete emails, leaving pages on which one has entered data and losing that data, etc. The problem is particularly annoying when using the notebook's mousepad as one has to let go long enough to move one's finger across the pad. If the pointer is pointing at a link (as it often will be) Firefox opens the link, regardless of whether I want it. I want Firefox to follow a link only if I click on it. I can't find a setting under Tools to achieve this. Is it in about:config? I don't want to play with that unless I know what I'm doing.

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Did you check for problems with the moue driver or other software that is running in Windows?

In Firefox only an extension would be able to do this and your System Details List doesn't show extensions apart from the one of this forum.

Boot the computer in Windows Safe mode with network support (press F8 on the boot screen) as a test to see if that helps.