Hi DPGrant, Firefox does not have a built-in setting for this.

Some websites such as Google's or Yahoo's search results page have a setting for this.

I don't have a specific add-on to recommend to you at the momentm but I did find a new-ish extension in a search that you could try:

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/open-link-with-new-tab/

It appears you may need to use the Add-ons page to set your preferred behavior. Either:

• Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Command+Shift+a)
• "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
• type or paste about:addons in the address bar and press Enter/Return

In the left column of the Add-ons page, click Extensions. Then find the extension on the right side and click its Options button or More link. That should take you to the panel where you can adjust its settings.

If you try it, let us know if it works for you.

I appreciate your response but this is an upsetting and untenable situation.

One of the only reasons I dislike Chrome is exactly this problem -- there is no way to open a link with one left click. In fact, that user-unfriendly behavior was one reason that I hesitated to abandon Firefox in the first place -- although I ultimately did when Firefox became too slow to stomach.

In prior versions of FF, the incredibly useful Tabmix Plus took care of this. Unfortunately Tm+ is not compatible with Quantum and there are no other extensions that do the same thing.

I have never understood why Mozilla didn't provide an option/config setting for this itself.

BTW, I did look at the extension you suggested, but it requires you to set a new preference for every website you visit. I appreciate the suggestion, but it is not a viable solution.

At any rate, thank you again for your response.

Hi, right click and open in a new tab.

DPGrant said

BTW, I did look at the extension you suggested, but it requires you to set a new preference for every website you visit. I appreciate the suggestion, but it is not a viable solution.

I did not test in Firefox 57, but in "Nightly" (Firefox 59), the setting is global. Does it work differently on Firefox 57??

(I'm attaching of screenshot of what I mean by "the setting.")

You are absolutely right! Not sure how I missed it.

It works so long as you are going to a different site, but not to a different page on the current site.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for following up!

SOLUTION! OK, so... I was having problems with Firefox Quantum not opening links in a new tab. I hated the new tab/page control where every link was opening in a new page. I couldn't see what was open behind the page. With links opening in a new tab I can see what's sitting there open beside the next tab. Here is the solution! When you want to open a new link to a new tab, push down on your scroll wheel. Pushing down on the scroll wheel opens a link in a new tab. I discovered this by accident out of frustration. Problem solved.

Hello,

Can you tell me why my bookmarks open in a new tab ? I DO NOT WANT THIS !

browser.tabs.loadBookmarksInTabs IS SET TO FALSE and browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.enabled IS SET TO FALSE

What can be the reason for y bookmarks to open in a new tab ?

Thank you for your help.

Hi buythiscomputer, could you describe how you are opening your bookmarks? Normally if you click a bookmark on the Bookmarks Toolbar or Bookmarks Menu, not holding down any keys, it will open in the same tab. If Firefox seems confused about whether you are holding down the Ctrl key, try tapping it several times in a row, or restart your system.

In case you don't have that menu button:

The optional new bookmarks menu button () should work the same way as the old bookmarks menu button (), which was the "right-half" of the inseparable star+book duo.

To add that button, either:

(A) Use the Customize panel (Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars) to drag the icon to the desired spot on the toolbar

(B) Use the method from Bookmarks in Firefox - section entitled: How do I add the Bookmarks Menu button to the toolbar?

• Click the "Library" button:
• Click "Bookmarks"
• Click "Bookmarking Tools"
• Click "Add Bookmarks Menu to Toolbar"

hello, thank you for your reply.

When I click a bookmark on the Bookmarks Toolbar or Bookmarks Menu, not holding down any keys, it will NOT open in the same tab, it opens in a new tab !

Could it be a bug ?

Thank you.

buythiscomputer said

When I click a bookmark on the Bookmarks Toolbar or Bookmarks Menu, not holding down any keys, it will NOT open in the same tab, it opens in a new tab !

buythiscomputer said

browser.tabs.loadBookmarksInTabs IS SET TO FALSE

That is definitely not how it is designed to work.

Do you use an ordinary two-button mouse?

While I am not aware of any add-ons that change the behavior in Firefox 57, it's probably worth testing in Firefox Safe Mode. In its Safe Mode, Firefox temporarily deactivates extensions, hardware acceleration, and some other advanced features to help you assess whether these are causing the problem.

If Firefox is not running: Hold down the Shift key when starting Firefox. (For Mac, hold down the option/alt key instead of Shift.)

If Firefox is running: You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:

• "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
• Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

and OK the restart.

Both scenarios: A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Refresh).

Any improvement?

I have disabled all my addons: still the same problem.

Then I tried in SAFE MODE: same problem !

so weird, I can try REFRESHING firefox, but will I lose all my open tabs where I am actually working ? Thanks again.

Mkll said

Hi, right click and open in a new tab.

That works but in past versions of FF it would automatically open in a new tab. This adds one more step but it's better than nothing. Thanks

I wish a single click of my Bookmarks would open in a new tab.... Before, I would use Tab Mix Plus to accomplish this. Still looking for an Add-On that will do this in FF 58.0.1 (64 bit) Windows 10.

Hi cr125honda, bookmarks are covered in other threads, but I'll add this here to save you the further searching:

Bookmarks

Firefox 57 has a new preference to automatically direct bookmarks to a new tab:

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

(2) In the search box above the list, type or paste book and pause while the list is filtered

(3) Double-click the browser.tabs.loadBookmarksInTabs preference to switch the value from false to true

(4) If desired, switch these as well if you think you might want to open more than one bookmark at a time:

• Open the tab in the background (don't immediately switch to the bookmarked page): browser.tabs.loadBookmarksInBackground => true

• Keep the bookmarks menu open until you close it: browser.bookmarks.openInTabClosesMenu => false

Success?

Hot Diggity!!

Great advice and you didn't even give me a brow beating for not searching. I did search for a resolution a couple times back when TabMixPlus stopped working on 57. Probably spent a couple hours or so back then and gave up when I couldn't find a solution. Been "right clicking" bookmarks ever since.

Just followed your instruction and it worked like a charm!

Thanks so much jscher2000