The browser.newtab.url pref is no longer supported in Firefox 41 and later.

You can look at this extension to set the new tab page::

• New Tab Override: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/new-tab-override/

You can set the new tab URL setting via the Options/Preferences of the extension on the about:addons page.

Hi Richard, were you able to get this working the way you want?

In case it wasn't obvious from the Add-ons site page, after installing the 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).

firstly - apologies for my tone of question - it was directed at Mozilla, not the forum and its members. The answer works as a workaround - but I am furious that Fire fox or Mozilla feels the need to dictate what users should see when they open a new tab. Why on earth would I want a new tab to be any different to my home page? I just want a very simple option - new tab - use home page !!!

My favourites cover the places I go regularly and the rest of the time I want a search engine.

After 12 yrs using FF, I am going to switch to chrome. Perhaps I am getting too old and no longer fit the "target audience" profile.

The "new tab page" was introduced in Firefox 13 and since then, numerous users have had difficulty figuring out how to set it and protect it from malware. I don't think age was a factor in having problems with browser hijacking...

Requiring users to install an extension to override the page was meant to address problems with the old system. Soon extensions not reviewed and cleared by Mozilla will be blocked, so you can see how these measures work together to prevent the frustration evident every day on this forum.

Coincidentally, having users install an extension to modify/override the standard new tab page is the same approach taken by Google in Chrome. However, Mozilla won't limit you to extensions on its own Add-ons site as long as extensions installed from other sites are properly signed.

I can appreciate that you feel no need for such measures personally, but that doesn't mean you are not part of the target audience for Firefox. The fact that Firefox is easily modified with extensions is part of the overall design and allows Mozilla to innovate with its small core team AND tap its extended community of developers for extra features. With available resources, there just isn't a way to build in and maintain everything.