If you want to open a tab into a new window you'll need to right click on the tab in question, click 'move to' and select 'move to new window'

There's also a setting which allows links that you open to be opened in new windows instead of new tab if that's what you're looking for.

You can look at browser.link.open_newwindow prefs on the about:config page.

• browser.link.open_newwindow = 3 [1:current tab; 2:new window; 3:new tab]

For JavaScript window.open() links:

• browser.link.open_newwindow.restriction = 0 [0:divert always; 1:divert never; 2:divert w/o features]

You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. You can accept the warning and click "I accept the risk!" to continue.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/about-config-editor-firefox

thanks, but where do I find this? I don't have an about on mine (under the 3 bar tab ) it just seems to be a mine field to make a simple change which was so easy before

To access the config page, just write 'about:config' in your search bar at the top, and click "I accept the risk!" to continue.

Ah ok thanks, I think I'm also confusing myself and all, the part I'm referring to is my search engine (duckduckgo) which of course is nothing to do with Firefox

If you're using the duckduckgo search engine on firefox, then changing the config should give the same result.

Yes thanks, all sorted now I've given myself a severe reprimand and thanks to all for your help

No problem! Make sure to mark a solution so this thread gets resolved, and happy browsing!

Out of interest is there anywhere a list of those about:config references for my future reference? or is it just a copy and paste?

This might be what you're looking for: http://kb.mozillazine.org/About:config_entries

The message that was posted above was just a copy/paste though

If you are using the DDG web page then you probably need to check the DDG settings to make sure you open results in a new tab (Google has such a setting and I don't know whether DDG has this as well). The prefs I mentioned above should divert this window to a tab.

If you need a reference for about:config entries or want to know more about a specific pref then best is to browse the Firefox source code and look at comments as there are too many prefs and changes to prefs to keep docs up to date.

• https://searchfox.org/mozilla-release/source/browser/app/profile/firefox.js
• https://searchfox.org/mozilla-release/source/modules/libpref/init/all.js
• https://searchfox.org/mozilla-release/source/modules/libpref/init/StaticPrefList.yaml