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How to remove "move tabs to the side" button?

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I recently upgraded to FF 56.0 For Linux. On my tab bar, there is now a "Move tabs to the side" button. I don't want to move my tabs to the side. And more importantly, this new button is where the "close tabs" button should be (as I've customized it). How do I remove this new button? I tried going into the customization screen, but the tab isn't editable there. I can add a new "Close Tab" button, but a) I can't remove the current "Close Tab" button, so I end up with two buttons, and b) the "Move tabs to the side" button sometimes (unpredictably, so far) asserts itself and moves to the right of even the new "Close Tab" button. UI predictability is a major consideration, so why is any button allowed to move itself? But more importantly, how do I remove the "Move tabs" button altogether? Is there an about:config setting that does this?

I recently upgraded to FF 56.0 For Linux. On my tab bar, there is now a "Move tabs to the side" button. I don't want to move my tabs to the side. And more importantly, this new button is where the "close tabs" button should be (as I've customized it). How do I remove this new button? I tried going into the customization screen, but the tab isn't editable there. I can add a new "Close Tab" button, but a) I can't remove the current "Close Tab" button, so I end up with two buttons, and b) the "Move tabs to the side" button sometimes (unpredictably, so far) asserts itself and moves to the right of even the new "Close Tab" button. UI predictability is a major consideration, so why is any button allowed to move itself? But more importantly, how do I remove the "Move tabs" button altogether? Is there an about:config setting that does this?

Chosen solution

Could you check whether you have a user interface experiment?

Type or paste about:studies in the address bar and press Enter (or Return) to load that page.

If you are enrolled in a user interface experiment, it should be listed on this page and there should be a way to uninstall/remove or to opt out.

Can you find it there?

More info about SHIELD studies and how to opt out globally if you prefer: About Studies.

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All Replies (3)

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Seçilmiş Həll

Could you check whether you have a user interface experiment?

Type or paste about:studies in the address bar and press Enter (or Return) to load that page.

If you are enrolled in a user interface experiment, it should be listed on this page and there should be a way to uninstall/remove or to opt out.

Can you find it there?

More info about SHIELD studies and how to opt out globally if you prefer: About Studies.

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I was apparently 'enrolled' in something called Tab-Center. Removing it removed the annoying "Move to side" button.

It is rather disturbing to hear that FF has this "studies" function turned on by default. I do not ever want my browser to install functions by itself, certainly not without explicitly getting my permission first. I got into Firefox (Phoenix, originally) because I wanted a browser that would leave me in control and not usher in a pile of junk. This "studies" thing being enabled by default without explicit user notification is a huge step in the wrong direction.

Not blaming you for the studies thing, just mentioning how disturbing it is to hear about that. Thank you for your help.

Modified by jiawen

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I'm not sure how it happened. I think it is an outgrowth of having the "Health Report" feature enabled in earlier versions of Firefox. You may occasionally see a bar along the bottom of the window about Firefox sharing data, which for most people doesn't sound like Firefox installing extensions that change your experience. Hopefully the people responsible for the studies are looking into that going forward.