Avatar for Username

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

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

How do I get Thunderbird to switch to a new tab immediately like I can with Firefox?

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 47 views
  • Last reply by swanbird7

Pa
Pa
more options

Every time I open a new tab in Thunderbird, no matter how I do it (menu, double-click, etc) it opens the content in a new tab, but remains focused on the current tab. How do I get Thunderbird to immediately switch to a new tab when I open one? It's quite annoying to have to mouse back to the tab list and click on the new one every time. This is SO simple to configure in Firefox, but seems to be totally missing in Thunderbird. Weird.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, 

   Scott Lindley
Every time I open a new tab in Thunderbird, no matter how I do it (menu, double-click, etc) it opens the content in a new tab, but remains focused on the current tab. How do I get Thunderbird to immediately switch to a new tab when I open one? It's quite annoying to have to mouse back to the tab list and click on the new one every time. This is SO simple to configure in Firefox, but seems to be totally missing in Thunderbird. Weird. Thank you for your attention to this matter, Scott Lindley

Chosen solution

  1. Press F10 or Alt to see the menu bar
  2. Click on Tools menu >> Options >> Advanced >> General
  3. Click on Config Editor button
  4. Look for mail.tabs.loadInBackground set its value to false
Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (3)

Diego Victor
Diego Victor
more options

Chosen Solution

  1. Press F10 or Alt to see the menu bar
  2. Click on Tools menu >> Options >> Advanced >> General
  3. Click on Config Editor button
  4. Look for mail.tabs.loadInBackground set its value to false
Pa
Pa Question owner
more options

YOU ARE MY HERO!

Now for another rhetorical question:

Why does Thunderbird make this so hard, especially when Firefox makes it so easy?

Thanks again! 

   Scott
swanbird7
swanbird7
more options

Because someone obviously didn't think it was important. In Firefox, the default should be to "switch immediately" and it should be default as well in T-Bird. Why would I open a link or an email, and not want it to display?

These kind of "overlooks" are why software is user-UNfriendly!

C'mon programmers---where's your thinking caps?