Hi, this is mostly based on how the page set up the links.

• If the page directs the links to a new window, you can use the checkbox in settings to control whether a separate new window opens, or the link is diverted to a new tab in the same window instead.
• If the page does not specify opening the links outside of the tab, they should replace the current page. To override this, you would need to use either a site setting or an add-on.

Site Settings

Search engines like Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo have settings/preferences for whether to direct results to new window/tab or just open them in the same tab. If you have trouble finding those, let us know which one you use.

Add-ons

You could take a look at https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/open-link-with-new-tab/ (make sure to go into its settings to specify what you want to happen when clicking a link).

If those aren't relevant to what you're seeing, could you describe the problem in more detail?

Then why even bother to have those settings shown in the FireFox Settings????

Then why even bother to have those settings shown in the FireFox Settings????

That setting controls whether sites can pop up links in new separate windows, or whether those links are sent to a new tab instead. It's one piece of the puzzle.

What workaround are you using currently? For example:

• Ctrl+Click link to send it to a new tab
• Shift+Click link to send it to a new window
• middle-click the link with the mouse scroll wheel to send it to a new tab
• right-click the link and choose from the menu

If the problem is with external links -- links from other programs that Window sends to Firefox to open -- there is a hidden setting for that. Here's how to check:

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button accepting the risk.

More info on about:config: Configuration Editor for Firefox. The moderators would like us to remind you that changes made through this back door aren't fully supported and aren't guaranteed to continue working in the future.

(2) In the search box in the page, type or paste open_newwindow and pause while the list is filtered. Firefox should list several preferences:

browser.link.open_newwindow => when a link in a tab in Firefox is targeted to a new window, send it to:

• 3 = new tab [DEFAULT]
• 2 = new window
• 1 = same tab => you definitely do not want this one

browser.link.open_newwindow.override.external => when Firefox receives a link to open from the system, send it to:

• -1 = apply the setting for in-tab links to external links [DEFAULT]
• 3 = new tab in the last active window
• 2 = new window
• 1 = the last active tab replacing the current page => you definitely do not want this one

(3) To edit a preference value, double-click it to display an editing field, change the value as desired, then press Enter or click the blue check mark button to save the change.