Why are tabs opening in the background all of a sudden?
Since the last upgrade Firefox opens tabs in the background instead of the foreground. I want to change it back, both when clicking links in Web pages with the target set to open a new window, and when opening Firefox via another program that wants to open a link in a browser. How do I set it to only open tabs in the foreground again?
Running Firefox 43.0.4 on a Mac
Chosen solution
Download Firefox For All languages And Systems {web link} Save the file. Then;
Using your file browser, open the Programs Folder on your computer.
Windows: C:\Program Files C:\Program Files (x86) Mac: Open the "Applications" folder. Linux: Check your user manual.
Look for, and rename any Mozilla or Firefox folders by adding .old to them.
After rebooting the computer, run a registry scanner. Then run the installer. If all goes well, remove the OLD folders when you are done.
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Are these tabs you are opening, or do they open themselves?
They are tabs I open myself.
Some by clicking on links where target is set to _blank Some by using another program that opens the default browser with a link, such as 1password.
In these cases a new tab is opened in the background.
Before the the Firefox update they would open as foreground tabs, and if Firefox was minimized, it would come back into view. Now they oipen in the background and Firefox remains minimized.
Type about:preferences#general<enter> in the address bar. Under Tabs, turn on When Open New Link, Switch To It.
Thanks fr your answer. Unfortunately that option was already checked.
After reading your suggestion I unchecked that option and closed Firefox. Then I reopened it and checked the option again. Closed Firefox again, then restarted it and tried again. It didn't change the browser behavior.
Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web Link} by holding down the <Shift>
(Mac=Options) key, and then starting Firefox. Is the problem still there?
You have two add-ons that look to do the same thing.
New Tab Override (browser.newtab.url replacement) 2.2.1 (newtaboverride@agenedia.com) NewTabURL 2.2.3.1-signed (newtaburl@sogame.cat)
Yes, though I thought NewTabUrl was disabled because it stopped working after the upgrade. I just disabled both, but again, with no result.
I don't want to, but do you think uninstalling Firefox and reinstalling from scratch would fix this?
I forgot to say I tried your recommendation of starting in safe mode, but the problem was still there.
Chosen Solution
Download Firefox For All languages And Systems {web link} Save the file. Then;
Using your file browser, open the Programs Folder on your computer.
Windows: C:\Program Files C:\Program Files (x86) Mac: Open the "Applications" folder. Linux: Check your user manual.
Look for, and rename any Mozilla or Firefox folders by adding .old to them.
After rebooting the computer, run a registry scanner. Then run the installer. If all goes well, remove the OLD folders when you are done.
Fred, thanks very much! Removing the profile (on a Mac: library/Application Support/Firefox) gave be a new installation. Signing back into my sync account restored add-ons (which I culled -- good time for it). So I don't seem to have lost much, but the tabs are now opening in the foreground where I want them.
Thanks again for sticking with me and getting this solved.
Dan
Glad to help. Safe Surfing.
BTW, the profile is separate from the program files that were replaced.
I don't want Facebook automatically opening when I open Firefox. It is thus lurking and observing what I am doing and showing that I am on FB constantly. I am going to delete all of FB if I cannot clear this up easily. Thanks.