How to disable tab tear-off in code?
A friend frequently ends up with a screen littered with Firefox windows. I told him a couple of time how to drag tabs back, but it’s too confusing. In the old Firefox there was an add-on that allowed disabling tab tear-off, but that doesn’t work anymore. I am aware of the “Disable Tab Detach” add-on <https://addons.mozilla.org/en-GB/firefox/addon/disable-tab-detach/>. However, that’s unstable and stops working during long browsing sessions.
Tab tear-off is an antifeature. There should be a way to disable it.
Can tab tear-off be easily disabled by modifying the code?
In the worst case, I’d build a custom Firefox without the tear-off.
All Replies (5)
I don't have such problems like that are you sure they aren't trying to open multiple FF browser windows or pulling the tabs out constantly?
WestEnd said
pulling the tabs out constantly?
Indeed, but unintentionally.
It’s super easy to click on a tab then move the mouse slightly, and the tab pops out into a separate window. Once the window is out, the user does not know how to put it back on the tab bar. The result is that he creates new tabs in the new window with stuff that is already open in the other window, etc.
IMHO tearing off of tabs is a feature for advanced users. If it has to be enabled by defaults, then it should be possible to turn it off.
Anyhow, what do I need to change in the source code to disable tab tear-off?
I assume setting the drag threshold from 15px to a large value should do the trick.
It seems you know more than us. I have no idea in about:config where you are to want to make that change. Can you let us know.? Yes make the change, can always reverse it.
Do do this though before playing under the hood :
feklee said
I am aware of the “Disable Tab Detach” add-on https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/disable-tab-detach/ . However, that’s unstable and stops working during long browsing sessions.
In light testing, I discovered if you restore a session, right-click a tab you have not yet viewed (pending status) and click Move to New Window, very strange things happen. But I digress.
feklee said
Anyhow, what do I need to change in the source code to disable tab tear-off? I assume setting the drag threshold from 15px to a large value should do the trick.
Where is that set?
Would you consider an Autoconfig approach? On the plus side, this will not be disturbed by Firefox updates, unlike editing code in the omni.ja file. On the minus side, you need to set up files in multiple folders, and the instructions are in German.
https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/7qmr56/disable_detach_and_tear_off_tab/dsqidrw/
The 15px come from a bug related to tab drag, although they seem to refer to visible padding in the UI (so not useful):
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=450915
Anyhow, somewhere around there it should be possible to find the code that needs to be changed. This week I’m traveling, but maybe next week I can try to find a patch.
BTW I’m not alone:
https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/search?q=disable+tear+off&restrict_sr=on&sort=relevance&t=all https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/new/desktop/tabs?search=disable+tear-off+tab#summarize-question
Other search terms find even more affected users!