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middle-click to open a frequent visit link from URL bar switches to new tab

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i click the arrow to bring down the list of the most frequent links in the URL bar, then i middle click one of the links to open it to a new tab, then it will automatically switch to that new tab. is there a way to stop FF from switching to the new tab (when i middle click links from the URL bar) via the config settings?

https://youtu.be/Uyym0ddUOaw

i click the arrow to bring down the list of the most frequent links in the URL bar, then i middle click one of the links to open it to a new tab, then it will automatically switch to that new tab. is there a way to stop FF from switching to the new tab (when i middle click links from the URL bar) via the config settings? https://youtu.be/Uyym0ddUOaw

Modified by user258952873857570727496676336801149933546

Chosen solution

It works when I hold down the Shift key and middle-click the link, so that works in this case, but I can't seem to change the default action via a pref.

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All Replies (4)

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Chosen Solution

It works when I hold down the Shift key and middle-click the link, so that works in this case, but I can't seem to change the default action via a pref.

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I cannot get anything opened from the address bar to open in the background. For example:

  • Alt+Enter in the current URL to open it in a new tab (switches immediately)
  • Ctrl+click a match in the autocomplete drop-down to open it in a new tab (switches immediately)
  • Middle-click a frequently visited site on the history/triangle drop-down (switches immediately)

If you want to access one of your Most Visited sites, there is a smart bookmark folder for that and you can set a preference to launch bookmarks in the background. But the history drop-down adjusts for recency and therefore is not strictly speaking your most visited sites.

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cor-el said

It works when I hold down the Shift key and middle-click the link, so that works in this case, but I can't seem to change the default action via a pref.

Oh, I see, Shift switches the foreground/background behavior of middle-click. Ctrl+Shift+click works, too. Not sure which is more/less awkward.

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thank you all for your replies, they were really helpful