How can I get Firefox to open a link in a new tab?

[cinque8]

Hello,

I am running Mozilla Firefox on Windows 7. If I click on a link in a site that I have opened, the new link opens up on the same screen. How can I adjust my Firefox settings so that the new link opens up in a different tab?

Thank you.

 

[MoxieMomma]

Hi:

It would help to know what version of Fx you are running (current version is 49.0.2).

But the first thing to check is the general settings (see screen shot).

Does that help?

MM

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
If you use a mouse you can use mouse wheel click too

I'd also check the box in yellow highlight too otherwise it will be as silly as using Chrome with the new tabs opening behind the original tab

 

[cinque8]

Hi MoxieMomma,

I am not quite sure which version of FireFox that I have so I logged onto the Mozilla webpage and they say I have the latest version. I even clicked on their "Refresh FireFox" button but it didn't seemed to help. And have clicked in settings to have a page open up in a new tab. I guess I may have to re download FireFox.

free screen capture

 

[Callender]

If I click on a link in a site that I have opened, the new link opens up on the same screen.

Does that happen for all sites or just a few particular sites?

 

[Callender]

Well anyway try this:

Type about:config in Firefox address bar rhen press Enter. Accept the warning.

In the search box type: browser.link.open_newwindow and press Enter

Change values for entries as shown in this screenshot. If they don't match double click an item to manually change the value.

​

 

[Roderunner]

Hi cinque8, There is no way to the best of my knowledge to tell if a link will open in a new tab or not.
All I do is right click on the link then:-

 

[MoxieMomma]

Hi, @cinque8:

To determine what version of Firefox you have, click the Firefox Menu Button > Help > About Firefox.


Getting back to the problem:

Most problems with Firefox originate in the user's Firefox profile, not in the program itself.
So reinstalling Fx may not solve the issue.

Before you do that...
...Do you have the same problem in Mozilla Safe Mode (not to be confused with Windows Safe Mode)?

This explains how to use Safe Mode to help troubleshoot (it's not a fix, just a debugging tool):

Troubleshoot Firefox issues using Safe Mode

Please tell us if the problem goes away in Safe Mode, or if it remains.

Thanks,
MM

 

[Callender]

Most problems with Firefox originate in the user's Firefox profile, not in the program itself.
So reinstalling Fx may not solve the issue.

Agree with that. Especially if you've auto-updated Firefox every time a new version is released or installed new versions over the top of the old one.

 

[MoxieMomma]

Hi cinque8, There is no way to the best of my knowledge to tell if a link will open in a new tab or not.
All I do is right click on the link then:-

View attachment 393180

Yes, the context menu offers different options.

But if Fx is configured to open links in a new tab (whether or not the option to "switch to it immediately" is selected), then it ought to do so.
There's no need to routinely use the context menu to open new tabs.
I've never had to do so on any system under any OS, as long as I have that setting enabled.

Having said that, the interaction of add-ons (especially those that relate to/control tabs) and multiple other factors may lead to different behavior on different machines.

That's why I suggest trying Mozilla Safe Mode to help isolate the problem.

Cheers,
MM

 

[cinque8]

Hey everyone,

Thanks for all of the great info!

I will work on this.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
The only time I might right click a link is to open it in a new private window

 

[cinque8]

MoxieMamma

I am running FireFox version 49.0.2. I go back to work tomorrow so I probably won't have an update until next Saturday.

Thanks everybody!