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how to open new tab without leaving old one using mouse wheel

  • 5 ŋuɖoɖowo
  • 6 masɔmasɔ sia le wosi
  • 10 views
  • Nuɖoɖo mlɔetɔ cor-el

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Up until yesterday I was able to click on a link using my wheel. It would open a new tab without leaving the tab I was in. Now when I click on the wheel it leaves the old tab and goes to the new one. Just as if I'd used my left button. I do hope I can get that option back. It is very handy.

Up until yesterday I was able to click on a link using my wheel. It would open a new tab without leaving the tab I was in. Now when I click on the wheel it leaves the old tab and goes to the new one. Just as if I'd used my left button. I do hope I can get that option back. It is very handy.

Ŋuɖoɖo si wotia

Hi Vicky, could you check the setting in Options to make sure it is what you want:

"3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Options > Tabs

Uncheck this box: "When I open a link in a new tab, switch to it immediately"

Xle ŋuɖoɖo sia le goya me 👍 2

All Replies (5)

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Have you checked these settings in about:config?

  • middlemouse.openNewWindow - should be true
  • middlemouse.contentLoadURL - should be false
  • middlemouse.paste - should be false
  • middlemouse.scrollbarPosition - should be false


Can you open a new tab if you hold down the Ctrl key and left-click the link?

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

  • Do NOT click the Refresh button on the Safe Mode start window.

Also make sure that all mouse buttons have the default action.

  • Windows Control Panel > Mouse

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Are you saying:

  • middle-click loads the link in the same tab
  • middle-click loads the link in a new tab and switches to it immediately

The first one is clearly wrong, but some sites intercept clicks with a script that forces the new page to open in the same tab. If you only see this issue on one or a couple sites, that could be the problem. Or it might be one of the settings in the above first reply.

The second one is in the Options dialog Tab panel:

"3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Options > Tabs

Uncheck this box: "When I open a link in a new tab, switch to it immediately"

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What I need and I had for awhile is for the middle wheel when pressed on a link will open that link without leaving the page I'm currently on.

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Ɖɔɖɔɖo si wotia

Hi Vicky, could you check the setting in Options to make sure it is what you want:

"3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Options > Tabs

Uncheck this box: "When I open a link in a new tab, switch to it immediately"

more options

That is the current setting in Options/Preferences > Tabs?

  • [] "When I open a link in a new tab, switch to it immediately"

Note that you can toggle (override) this choice by holding down the Shift key when middle-clicking the link.


There are three prefs, accessible via the about:config page, to control the focus if you click a link.

  • browser.tabs.loadInBackground (normal links)
  • browser.tabs.loadDivertedInBackground (javascript)

You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. You can accept the warning and click "I'll be careful" to continue.

cor-el trɔe