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

Opening a link outside firefox that opens via firefox does not switch to the tab that has been opened most recently

more options

This is annoying, if you open a file or link using firefox via other means outside of firefox when firefox is already opened:

  • Open a file using via explorer.exe (right-click a file, "open with..." -> "Firefox")
  • Open a link via a command prompt or batch file, like this:

"C:/Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" "https://example.com"

Then firefox will open the links in a new tab, but without switching to that most recent tab, even if you have the setting "When you open a link, image, or media in a new tab, switch to it immdiately" checked.

I was thinking either have that also apply to opening files outside of firefox, or have another setting just for that.

This is annoying, if you open a file or link using firefox via other means outside of firefox when firefox is already opened: * Open a file using via explorer.exe (right-click a file, "open with..." -> "Firefox") * Open a link via a command prompt or batch file, like this: "C:/Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" "https://example.com" Then firefox will open the links in a new tab, but without switching to that most recent tab, even if you have the setting "When you open a link, image, or media in a new tab, switch to it immdiately" checked. I was thinking either have that also apply to opening files outside of firefox, or have another setting just for that.

Modified by archivist113

All Replies (2)

more options

Start Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) or if hardware acceleration or userChrome.css is causing the problem.

  • switch to the DEFAULT theme: "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Themes
  • do NOT click the "Refresh Firefox" button on the Troubleshoot Mode start window
more options

Doesn't work, also: “do NOT click the "Refresh Firefox" button on the Troubleshoot Mode start window”

Once the menu appears, the only other option, is to cancel.

Modified by archivist113