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If I want to open the same website in a second tab and press Ctrl+T and start typing the website title or URL, why does Firefox 4 insist on switching to the first tab? Is it possible to turn this off?

  • 6 replies
  • 9 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by sixtiek

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I regularly need to open the same website in two tabs, to be able to view changes made between opening the first and second tabs. In Firefox 3.x I could press Ctrl+T and start typing the website title or URL, which would be auto-completed by Firefox. This enabled me to quickly open the same website in a second tab. Firefox 4 does not do this, instead it wants me to switch to the existing tab. This is not what I need.

Of course it is possible to open the same website in a second tab via e.g. a bookmark, but this takes more time and effort. It would be great if I could select Firefox's behavior in this situation.

I regularly need to open the same website in two tabs, to be able to view changes made between opening the first and second tabs. In Firefox 3.x I could press Ctrl+T and start typing the website title or URL, which would be auto-completed by Firefox. This enabled me to quickly open the same website in a second tab. Firefox 4 does not do this, instead it wants me to switch to the existing tab. This is not what I need. Of course it is possible to open the same website in a second tab via e.g. a bookmark, but this takes more time and effort. It would be great if I could select Firefox's behavior in this situation.

Chosen solution

If you've opened that page already in another tab then then you get a switch to tab to appear in the location bar drop down list.

You can look at this extension to stop that from happening:

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (6)

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Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the add-ons is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Tools > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).

  • Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.

See:

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Thank you for your reply, cor-el! Unfortunately it did not help: when I open a new tab in Safe Mode with default theme and start typing the page title I still get the "Switch to tab" suggestion.

Any other ideas?

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Bump... anyone?

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To create a duplicate of an existing tab in Firefox 4, do one of the following:

  • middle-click the icon on the left end of the URL/Location/Address Bar
  • hold down the Ctrl key and drag the tab until a small arrow appears at the border between tabs, then release the mouse button, then release the Ctrl key.




You have multiple Java Console extensions because Java did not clean up after itself when updating; Firefox button > Add-ons > Extensions OR, using the Menu Bar, Tools > Add-ons > Extensions:

  • Java Console 6.0.17, Java Console 6.0.19, Java Console 6.0.20, Java Console 6.0.21, Java Console 6.0.22, Java Console 6.0.23

Using the instructions here:

you can delete the following folders:

  • {CAFEEFAC-0016-0000-0017-ABCDEFFEDCBA}
  • {CAFEEFAC-0016-0000-0019-ABCDEFFEDCBA}
  • {CAFEEFAC-0016-0000-0020-ABCDEFFEDCBA}
  • {CAFEEFAC-0016-0000-0021-ABCDEFFEDCBA}
  • {CAFEEFAC-0016-0000-0022-ABCDEFFEDCBA}
  • {CAFEEFAC-0016-0000-0023-ABCDEFFEDCBA}

You can leave {CAFEEFAC-0016-0000-0024-ABCDEFFEDCBA}




You need to update the following:

  • Adobe Shockwave for Director Netscape plug-in, version 11.5
  • Adobe PDF Plug-In For Firefox and Netscape "9.3.3"
  • Shockwave Flash 10.2 r152
  1. Check your plugin versions on either of the following links':
  2. Update Shockwave for Director
    • NOTE: this is not the same as Shockwave Flash; this installs the Shockwave Player.
    • Use Firefox to download and SAVE the installer to your hard drive from the link in the article below (Desktop is a good place so you can find it).
    • When the download is complete, exit Firefox (File > Exit)
    • locate and double-click in the installer you just downloaded, let the install complete.
    • Restart Firefox and check your plugins again.
    • Download link and more information: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using+the+Shockwave+plugin+with+Firefox
  3. Update Adobe Reader (PDF plugin):
    • From within your existing Adobe Reader (if you have it already installed):
      • Open the Adobe Reader program from your Programs list
      • Click Help > Check for Updates
      • Follow the prompts for updating
      • If this method works for you, skip the "Download complete installer" section below and proceed to "After the installation" below
    • Download complete installer (if you do NOT have Adobe Reader installed):
    • After the installation, start Firefox and check your version again.
  4. Update the Flash plugin to the latest version.
    • Download and SAVE to your Desktop so you can find the installer later
    • If you do not have the current version, click on the "Player Download Center" link on the "Download and information" or "Download Manual installers" below
    • After download is complete, exit Firefox
    • Click on the installer you just downloaded and install
      • Windows 7 and Vista: may need to right-click the installer and choose "Run as Administrator"
    • Start Firefox and check your version again or test the installation by going back to the download link below
    • Download and information: http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/
      • Use Firefox to go to the above site to update the Firefox plugin (will also install plugin for most other browsers; except IE)
      • Use IE to go to the above site to update the IE ActiveX
    • Download Manual installers.
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Chosen Solution

If you've opened that page already in another tab then then you get a switch to tab to appear in the location bar drop down list.

You can look at this extension to stop that from happening:

more options

Thank you Helper7677 and cor-el! Helper7677's solution still involves use of a mouse while I was looking for a keyboard-only solution. The cleanup and update tips were useful though.

My first impressions of Switch to Tab no more, as suggested by cor-el, are positive: I installed it just now and it seems to do just what it says: no more Switch to Tab. Exactly what I wanted :o) !