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Single click highlights all text in browser (not just URL)

AK_fireweed
AK_fireweed
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After recently returning to using Firefox browser as my default, I'm finding, when editing an email reply message or other form, that a single click on the body of the message, i.e., placing the cursor somewhere in order to edit, typically auto-highlights all the text. If I start typing quickly because I am accustomed to just placing a cursor in a message body and typing, I can accidentally overwrite what I have, and then must use the Windows convention Ctrl+Z to undo the error. I have to remember to click again on the auto-highlighted text to remove the highlighting first. Aggravating.

This happens on multiple computers, running Windows 7 (desktop and laptop) and Windows 10 (another laptop). Same problem on all. Solution?

I have researched online, and learned how to change settings in about:config for the selects-all-text true|false settings, but this is typically the config change for auto-highlight/click behavior in the URL field. How to stop FF from doing this in a message body?

After recently returning to using Firefox browser as my default, I'm finding, when editing an email reply message or other form, that a single click on the body of the message, i.e., placing the cursor somewhere in order to edit, typically auto-highlights all the text. If I start typing quickly because I am accustomed to just placing a cursor in a message body and typing, I can accidentally overwrite what I have, and then must use the Windows convention Ctrl+Z to undo the error. I have to remember to click again on the auto-highlighted text to remove the highlighting first. Aggravating. This happens on multiple computers, running Windows 7 (desktop and laptop) and Windows 10 (another laptop). Same problem on all. Solution? I have researched online, and learned how to change settings in about:config for the selects-all-text true|false settings, but this is typically the config change for auto-highlight/click behavior in the URL field. How to stop FF from doing this in a message body?

All Replies (2)

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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This shouldn't happen in a multi-line text area, but can happen with a single line input field. I don't know if there is an auto-select CSS property os attribute that can cause this.

Does this happen with all input fields and text areas or only on some specific website?

Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.

  • switch to the DEFAULT theme: "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Themes
  • do NOT click the "Refresh Firefox" button on the Safe Mode start window
AK_fireweed
AK_fireweed Question owner
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>>>Does this happen with all input fields and text areas or only on some specific website?

This happens primarily with Gmail and with another webmail provider, although it does not happen if I am using webmail in the Chrome browser (or any other), which led me to believe that the problem is in a Firefox browser setting.

Thanks for the quick reply and solution possibilities... I will check those and report back.