This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

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

How do I stop cursor focus defaulting to Address bar?

  • 8 cavab
  • 5 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by OurJud

more options

I've tried all the answer given so far, and none of them work. I've tried various 'new tab' add-ons that include options to control cursor focus, and none of these work either.

I'll keep this simple:

Is there ANY way to stop the cursor defaulting to the address bar when opening a new tab? It's infuriating! I just want to open a new tab and start typing my search... like I used to do.

Thanks in advance.

I've tried all the answer given so far, and none of them work. I've tried various 'new tab' add-ons that include options to control cursor focus, and none of these work either. I'll keep this simple: Is there ANY way to stop the cursor defaulting to the address bar when opening a new tab? It's infuriating! I just want to open a new tab and start typing my search... like I used to do. Thanks in advance.

All Replies (8)

more options

What is the website that you want to use as the new tab page?

Did you try the Custom New Tab extension

more options

I use google.co.uk as my homepage, cor-el. And as I said in my OP, I've tried the 'new tab' add-ons.

The one you link to has an option for cursor focus, but it makes no difference as it still defaults to the address bar, even when I've unchecked the relevant box in the options.

Modified by OurJud

more options

An alternative is to use a bookmark on the Bookmarks Toolbar and middle-click that bookmark to open it in a new tab. That should work unless another extension is interfering.

more options

I've just tried the bookmark option and it does work - in as much as the cursor is placed in the google search box.

But this method takes even longer than having to remember to click in the search box before I begin typing, as I have dozens of bookmarks and would have to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the list before I reach it.

I'm on the latest version of Firefox and this only started happening about a week ago (after one of those auto updates, I think).

I suppose I'll just have to hope Mozilla are taking note, and patch it on the next update, as it seems there's no fix.

more options

Best in such a case is to place the bookmark on the Bookmarks Toolbar and have this toolbar on display. When you use the new tab page then the outcome is not guaranteed.

You could install the search engine for this Google site and use the built-in about:home page to use its search bar. The about:home page uses the currently set default search engine.

more options

Thanks for your continued help, cor-el, but I'm not sure what you mean. I followed the link you provided and installed the google.co.uk engine. This changed the little search box to the right of the address bar to google, but I want to be able to use tabs.

I don't know what you mean when you say 'use the built-in about:home page to use its search bar.'

Modified by OurJud

more options

Make the bookmarks toolbar visible by using View > Show/Hide > Bookmarks Toolbar.

more options

Okay, got that now. Thanks to you both. This is probably the best workaround for now. I can middle-click the google bookmark and it opens in a new tab, with the cursor focus placed in the search box.

I don't like the fact that I now have even less screen size in my browser, with the extra bookmarks toolbar, but I don't suppose this can be helped.