Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Firefox has suddenly started opening a new tab when I refresh an existing tab. How can I stop this from happening and get Firefox to not do this?

more options

Without explanation Firefox is now opening a new tab when I try to refresh an existing one. Worse still I have to click on the new tab to get the updated window. This happened after I downloaded the latest Nightly download (64 bit). Hope somebody out there can let me know how to fix this issue as it will force me to another browser if I cannot resolve it.

Without explanation Firefox is now opening a new tab when I try to refresh an existing one. Worse still I have to click on the new tab to get the updated window. This happened after I downloaded the latest Nightly download (64 bit). Hope somebody out there can let me know how to fix this issue as it will force me to another browser if I cannot resolve it.

Chosen solution

Thanks for the suggestions ideato and co-el.

I found a blog which suggested typing "about:config" into the address bar and then changing "browser.link.open-external" from 3 to 1. It worked but then some links did not open in a new window when they were supposed to. So I changed the value back to 3 and rebooted the computer. All now works so not sure what the real issue was.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (3)

more options

see if this happen in Safe Mode

If it does work in Safe-mode then disable all extensions and then try to find which is causing it by enabling one at a time until the problem reappears.

Use "Disable all add-ons" on the Safe Mode start window to disable all extensions.

Close and restart Firefox after each change via File > Exit

see also : https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes


sorry but "force me to another browser if I cannot resolve it" remember you install Firefox 15.0a1, it is in central and no stable. If you like try the latest stable from :

http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all.html



thank you

Please mark "Solved" the answer that really solve the problem, to help others with a similar problem.

more options

Does this also happen with the 32 bit version of the Nightly build?

The 64 bit version is only compiled to assure that the compilation succeeds without errors and aren't tested like the 32 bit version.

Modified by cor-el

more options

Suluhisho teule

Thanks for the suggestions ideato and co-el.

I found a blog which suggested typing "about:config" into the address bar and then changing "browser.link.open-external" from 3 to 1. It worked but then some links did not open in a new window when they were supposed to. So I changed the value back to 3 and rebooted the computer. All now works so not sure what the real issue was.