We're calling on all EU-based Mozillians with iOS or iPadOS devices to help us monitor Apple’s new browser choice screens. Join the effort to hold Big Tech to account!

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

Even though I don't have it selected every time I open a new tab Firefox switches to it

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 6 views
  • Last reply by Figureguy

more options

Good evening. I have Firefox set to NOT switch to a new tab when it opens from a link but it does anyway. I clicked the box and unclicked it but it still switches over. Any help would be appreciated.

Also, how can I stop the address bar from searching the web and just search bookmarks and history? I have a separate bar for searching and prefer my web searches show up there.

Thanks in advance.

Good evening. I have Firefox set to NOT switch to a new tab when it opens from a link but it does anyway. I clicked the box and unclicked it but it still switches over. Any help would be appreciated. Also, how can I stop the address bar from searching the web and just search bookmarks and history? I have a separate bar for searching and prefer my web searches show up there. Thanks in advance.

All Replies (4)

more options

You can set keyword.enabled = false on the about:config page to disable searching via the location bar, Also see the settings for the location bar in "Settings -> Search".

You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. You can click the button to "Accept the Risk and Continue".

Modified by cor-el

more options

Thanks for responding, Cor-El. That did the trick for searches as I am now only getting bookmarks and history. Anything to stop switching to the new tab when opened? I didn't have any trouble before but my computer had a major hiccup and I had to reset windows. Firefox needed some adjusting while things had worked fine before.

more options

There are a couple different scenarios for opening a link in a new tab:

(A) Manual method -- opening it yourself, for example:

  • right-click > Open Link in New Tab
  • Ctrl+click
  • Middle-click with the mouse wheel

Usually the checkbox on the Settings page handles these

(B) Diversion method -- Firefox diverts a new window to a new tab instead

This is not covered by the checkbox, you need to go under the covers:

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button accepting the risk.

(2) In the search box in the page, type or paste inback and pause while the list is filtered

Firefox should list several preferences:

  • browser.search.context.loadInBackground -- for searching selected text from the right-click context menu
  • browser.tabs.loadBookmarksInBackground -- for bookmarks
  • browser.tabs.loadDivertedInBackground -- for scenario (B) above
  • browser.tabs.loadInBackground -- checkbox on the Settings page

(3) Double-click any preference to switch its value between false and true

Can you get it working the way you want?

More info on about:config: Configuration Editor for Firefox.

more options

jscher200,

Thanks to you as well. That seems to be working great. I believe that is all the problems I am having now but I will check throughout the day as I didn't finish getting everything set until late last night and haven't had much time to try it out today. But these two seem to make a big difference.

I appreciate your time, everyone.