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Tab detaches to a separate window by itself

  • 3 replies
  • 3 have this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by heyjoe

BillyBuerger2
BillyBuerger2
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For years, I've dealt with the occasional (seemingly random) thing where sometimes a tab detaches from my main Firefox window into a new window. I finally appear to have found out what causes it and can replicate the behavior. I captured a video of the issue and posted it here...

http://www.billybuerger.com/pub/FirefoxDetachesTab.avi

It seems to happen when you first open Firefox and have it restore your previous tabs. In this case, the tabs don't load until you click on them. If one of these tabs requires authentication and you have a master password, it will pop up a window requesting your password when you click on the tab. Enter this information and the page loads. Now move your cursor back over the tab and BAM, it acts like you just dragged the tab off into a new window.

My guess on what is happening is this... It would seem that the mouse down event on the tab activates it and causes the dialog box to open requesting the master password. It never gets the mouse up event as it was stolen by the dialog. After the dialog goes away and your cursor move back over the tab, it gets the mouse move event and thinks you still have the mouse button down and that you've moved the mouse away from the tab causing it to invoke the feature where it tears off the tab into its own window.

For years, I've dealt with the occasional (seemingly random) thing where sometimes a tab detaches from my main Firefox window into a new window. I finally appear to have found out what causes it and can replicate the behavior. I captured a video of the issue and posted it here... http://www.billybuerger.com/pub/FirefoxDetachesTab.avi It seems to happen when you first open Firefox and have it restore your previous tabs. In this case, the tabs don't load until you click on them. If one of these tabs requires authentication and you have a master password, it will pop up a window requesting your password when you click on the tab. Enter this information and the page loads. Now move your cursor back over the tab and BAM, it acts like you just dragged the tab off into a new window. My guess on what is happening is this... It would seem that the mouse down event on the tab activates it and causes the dialog box to open requesting the master password. It never gets the mouse up event as it was stolen by the dialog. After the dialog goes away and your cursor move back over the tab, it gets the mouse move event and thinks you still have the mouse button down and that you've moved the mouse away from the tab causing it to invoke the feature where it tears off the tab into its own window.

All Replies (3)

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
  • Moderator
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Try Firefox Safe Mode to see if that problem goes away. Firefox Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode that turns off some settings and disables most add-ons (extensions and themes).

(If you're using an added theme, switch to the Default theme.)

If Firefox is open, you can restart in Firefox Safe Mode from the Help menu by clicking on the Restart with Add-ons Disabled... menu item:
FirefoxSafeMode

If Firefox is not running, you can start Firefox in Safe Mode as follows:

  • On Windows: Hold the Shift key when you open the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
  • On Mac: Hold the option key while starting Firefox.
  • On Linux: Quit Firefox, go to your Terminal and run firefox -safe-mode
    (you may need to specify the Firefox installation path e.g. /usr/lib/firefox)

Once you get the pop-up, just select "'Start in Safe Mode" Safe Mode Fx 15 - Win

If the issue is not present in Firefox Safe Mode, your problem is probably caused by an extension, and you need to figure out which one. Please follow the Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems article to find the cause.

To exit Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before opening Firefox for normal use again.

When you figure out what's causing your issues, please let us know. It might help others with the same problem.

Thank you.

BillyBuerger2
BillyBuerger2 Question owner
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I tried in safe mode with the add-ons disabled and was not able to replicate the issue. So it may very well be related to an add-on. I haven't had the time to go through each add-on and see which is causing the issue yet. Or if there's something else special about safe mode that stops it from happening.

heyjoe
heyjoe
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I still have this problem (FF 28 for now). It happens right after successful basic authentication (closing dialog). Not each but most of times does. I did tried safe mode and it didn't helped. This extension (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/bug489729-disable-detach-and-t/) also doesn't change anything.

EDIT: Hmm... Disabling Hardware acceleration seems helping. How is this can be related? I'm running 2nd generation Intel HD Graphics, but can reproduce the bug in Remote Desktop session from my laptop with 1st-gen Intel HD. Hope this helps.

Modified by heyjoe