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

Why is Facebook allowed to hijack back button?

  • 6 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Gidge

more options

When searching on Google I sometime click on a link that takes me to Facebook. As soon as this happens the back button is greyed out and I have to close the window and restart my search. Why are Facebook allowed to have this annoying feature and is there a way to stop it?

When searching on Google I sometime click on a link that takes me to Facebook. As soon as this happens the back button is greyed out and I have to close the window and restart my search. Why are Facebook allowed to have this annoying feature and is there a way to stop it?

Modified by firefox492

Chosen solution

Hi Folks, OK problem now solved and it was to do with a specific "Facebook Container" Add On that I had forgotten installing. It is designed to minimise Facebook tracking which I am in favour of but also has the effect of not allowing the back button to work when you enter a Facebook page. C

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (6)

more options

I don't use FaceBook, but; When I find a link I want to check out, I open it in a new tab/window. Then when I am done, I close it and am back where I started.

more options

Thanks Fred, I have Firefox set to open links in new tabs but they seem to be able to do that and prevent you using the back button. I use Facebook rarely and it is usually an accident that I click on a link but is seems quite devious of them to try and hook you into their site. (Facebook devious, who would have thought?).

If I can set it to open a new window but that would be as annoying as it would occur everytime I make any search.

Chris

more options

Do you not have a key (e.g., middle mouse click on sane mice) which always opens a clicked link in the new tab?

I can't seem to not open a link in a new tab from Google, but if i click through from DuckDuckGo, i have no problem using the back button to go from FB back to the search.

Are you sure the back button isn't greyed out because it did open another tab, and therefore there is nowhere to go back to?

I'm sure you know what happens when you are browsing, only i can't seem to be able to replicate this behavior, so i had to ask.

more options

Chosen Solution

Hi Folks, OK problem now solved and it was to do with a specific "Facebook Container" Add On that I had forgotten installing. It is designed to minimise Facebook tracking which I am in favour of but also has the effect of not allowing the back button to work when you enter a Facebook page. C

Modified by firefox492

more options

Hey, that's great!

Can you mark your own last post above as "the solution"? That way other people with a similar problem can find it easily. Should be a link to the right of the post near "report abuse". Thanks.

Edit: Oh, unless you cannot as you marked my previous post.

Modified by crankygoat

more options

I had this issue as well and I have "Facebook Container". I am testing it to see if it has the same results. I was able to see what it was doing the last time. It opened a new window and shut down what I currently had opened. Doing a search should not force other windows to close. Mkay, it seems to be working now. :D