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How do you disable a new tab from opening when a search link is clicked?

  • 7 cavab
  • 97 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by widnas

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It seems like every time I click a link in a search page, whatever the provider, it opens a new tab. I've gone into "about:config" changed the browser.search.tab to "true" without any change. What is with this? The earlier versions of FF allowed me to click a link in Google or where ever and it opened in the same tab. I need help with this issue. Is there a bug no one knows about? I've followed all suggestions on the forums and nothing seems to change. I did find however that "Youtube" links do open in the same tab. Strange!

Please help, getting overloaded with too many tabs.

Erik Ater

It seems like every time I click a link in a search page, whatever the provider, it opens a new tab. I've gone into "about:config" changed the browser.search.tab to "true" without any change. What is with this? The earlier versions of FF allowed me to click a link in Google or where ever and it opened in the same tab. I need help with this issue. Is there a bug no one knows about? I've followed all suggestions on the forums and nothing seems to change. I did find however that "Youtube" links do open in the same tab. Strange! Please help, getting overloaded with too many tabs. Erik Ater

All Replies (7)

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  1. In the Location bar, type about:config and press Enter. The about:config "This might void your warranty!" warning page may appear.
  2. Click I'll be careful, I promise!, to continue to the about:config page.

Search this string "browser. link. open_newwindow". Change the value and insert 1. Press ok and restart firefox. Solved?

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You can also check the Google Search Settings page.

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In my case setting the digit to -1 works. Setting it to 1 does not solve the problem and still gives me a new tab.

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Only 1, 2, and 3 are valid values for the browser.link.open_newwindow pref.

  • 1: current tab; 2:new window; 3:new tab;

This pref applies to links opened via JavaScript:

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I know this, however when I change back to 1 it does not solve the tab problem. I still get a new tab for every link clicked.

The -1 solution worked for only a few minutes yesterday.

How to solve this problem?

Firefox 27. on Mid-2012 Macbook Pro running OS X 10.9.1

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If the link specifies a target window or a generic _blank then Firefox will open the link in a new tab.

For the Google website you can change this behavior in the Google search settings.

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Not sure if you will see this but THANK YOU! I was going nuts!