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browser.newtab.url set to google, new tabs open the default Firefox display with frequented sites etc.

dragonhunter2404
dragonhunter2404
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Hey, Today when I opened my browser my new tab page seems to have reverted back to the default display, which I don’t want. I’ve played around a bit with the newtab settings, none of which seem be able to change this, and have restarted Firefox with no success. Any advice would be awesome, also I’ve attached a screen of the settings under newtab, cheers

Hey, Today when I opened my browser my new tab page seems to have reverted back to the default display, which I don’t want. I’ve played around a bit with the newtab settings, none of which seem be able to change this, and have restarted Firefox with no success. Any advice would be awesome, also I’ve attached a screen of the settings under newtab, cheers

Chosen solution

There are a lot of posts about this so you might have found the answer in the past three hours, but just in case:

Firefox 41 no longer uses the browser.newtab.url setting in about:config because it was constantly attacked by malware. Starting in Firefox 41, you need an add-on to change the new tab page.

Here are some options (I learn of more all the time):

  • If you already use the Classic Theme Restorer extension: There is an option somewhere (!) in its extensive settings dialogs to select a different new tab page.

Please only use one of these methods at a time, otherwise there may be conflicts and dysfunctionality.

Setting up New Tab Override

After installing this extension, you need to use its Options page to set the desired new tab page (instead of using about:config).

Open the Add-ons page using either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Cmd+Shift+a)
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons

In the left column, click Extensions. Then on the right side, find New Tab Override and click its Options button. (See first screen shot attached.)

Depending on the height of your screen, you may need to scroll down to enter the desired address into the form. (See second screen shot attached.) For example:

  • Page thumbnails (default) => about:newtab
  • Blank tab => about:blank
  • Built-in Firefox home page => about:home
  • Any other page => full URL to the page

Then tab or click away from that form field and you can test using Ctrl+t.

Success?

Once you have it set the way you want, you can close the Add-ons page (or use the Back button to return to the Extensions list from that Options page).

Read this answer in context 👍 13

All Replies (3)

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

There are a lot of posts about this so you might have found the answer in the past three hours, but just in case:

Firefox 41 no longer uses the browser.newtab.url setting in about:config because it was constantly attacked by malware. Starting in Firefox 41, you need an add-on to change the new tab page.

Here are some options (I learn of more all the time):

  • If you already use the Classic Theme Restorer extension: There is an option somewhere (!) in its extensive settings dialogs to select a different new tab page.

Please only use one of these methods at a time, otherwise there may be conflicts and dysfunctionality.

Setting up New Tab Override

After installing this extension, you need to use its Options page to set the desired new tab page (instead of using about:config).

Open the Add-ons page using either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Cmd+Shift+a)
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons

In the left column, click Extensions. Then on the right side, find New Tab Override and click its Options button. (See first screen shot attached.)

Depending on the height of your screen, you may need to scroll down to enter the desired address into the form. (See second screen shot attached.) For example:

  • Page thumbnails (default) => about:newtab
  • Blank tab => about:blank
  • Built-in Firefox home page => about:home
  • Any other page => full URL to the page

Then tab or click away from that form field and you can test using Ctrl+t.

Success?

Once you have it set the way you want, you can close the Add-ons page (or use the Back button to return to the Extensions list from that Options page).

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Classic Theme Restorer includes this feature as well. In CTR version 1.3.9 you can find the "New tab page url" in the Tabs (1) window.

https://support.cdn.mozilla.net/media/uploads/images/2015-09-24-19-25-43-71a1f9.png

There are other things that need attention.

Your System Details List shows multiple Flash plugins.

  1. Shockwave Flash 18.0 r0
  2. Shockwave Flash 19.0 r0

You can find the installation path of all plugins on the about:plugins page.

You can check the Flash player installation folder for multiple Flash player plugins and remove older version(s) of the plugin (NPSWF32) and possibly (re)install the latest Flash player.

  • (32 bit Windows) C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash\
  • (64 bit Windows) C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash\
dragonhunter2404
dragonhunter2404 Question owner
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Thanks heaps! Decided to use the homepage add-on in the end, kudos guys