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Ctrl+Tab stopped working in last few weeks?????

  • 5 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 10 views
  • Last reply by harryajh

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I have 2 win 7 (32 bit and 64 bit) pcs both with FF 16.0.2 and plugins synced

32 bit one Ctrl+Tab switches between 2 tabs as expected but 64 bit cycles thru all tabs from left to right.

Both have exactly same version of FF, tried disabling all plugins and add-on and still no difference. Even clean re-installed and still doesn't alternate - any ideas what else could be causing this?

This used to work fine on 64 bit so doubt it's anything to do with that!

thanks in advance

I have 2 win 7 (32 bit and 64 bit) pcs both with FF 16.0.2 and plugins synced 32 bit one Ctrl+Tab switches between 2 tabs as expected but 64 bit cycles thru all tabs from left to right. Both have exactly same version of FF, tried disabling all plugins and add-on and still no difference. Even clean re-installed and still doesn't alternate - any ideas what else could be causing this? This used to work fine on 64 bit so doubt it's anything to do with that! thanks in advance

All Replies (5)

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Try the Firefox SafeMode to see how it works there.
A troubleshooting mode, which disables most Add-ons.
Troubleshoot Firefox issues using Firefox SafeMode

When in Safe Mode...

  • The status of plug-ins is not affected.
  • Custom preferences are not affected.
  • All extensions are disabled.
  • The default theme is used, without a persona.
  • userChrome.css and userContent.css are ignored.
  • The default toolbar layout is used.
  • The JIT Javascript compiler is disabled.
  • Hardware acceleration is disabled.


  • You can open the Firefox 15.0+ SafeMode by holding the Shft key when you use the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
  • Or use the Help menu item, click on Restart with Add-ons Disabled... while Firefox is running.


To exit the Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before using the Firefox shortcut (without the Shft key) to open it again.


If it is good in the Firefox SafeMode, your problem is probably caused by an extension, and you need to figure out which one.
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes

When you figure out what is causing that, please let us know. It might help other user's who have that problem.

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hi, thanks for that, tried it in safe mode but still the same, anything else to try?

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Ctrl+Tab will always cycle through all the tabs in Firefox from left to right (Ctrl+Shift+Tab will reverse the direction).

If that isn't the case on the 32 bit Windows computer then you must have an extension installed in Firefox that has a setting to switch between the last two tabs.

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not sure how an extension can still be running in safe mode? - think I'll have to live with it and hopefully it'll start working again one day - if it does and I know why I'll post back here.

What I meant about CTRL+TAB was when you press them in quick succession FF toggles between current and last tab viewed - a really useful feature (and for some reason Google refused to implement in Chrome)

thanks for you help anyway!

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hang on think I got this wrong, thought CTRL+TAB was a feature of FF but just found a setting for it in Tab Mix Plus - now does what I expected

cheers