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Middle-click on Link not opening new tab

  • 6 replies
  • 76 have this problem
  • 2701 views
  • Last reply by jsnjack

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Yesterday Middle-click on Link stopped working to open a link in a new tab (or close a tab if I Middle-click on the tab).

V. 27.0 (Auto updates turned on) Window 7, 64 Bit, Home Edition

Was running no add-ons outside extensions for Java, SilverLight, and Adobe and Wacom, and Norton (Disabled as of about 2 months ago)

I HAVE tried starting in FireFox Safe mode with all add ons disabled, problem still persisted. I uninstalled Firefox, cleared my preferences, and reinstalled, same issue.

I have check the configuration files (I found the command for it in other help topics) and the command line for it is Enabled (I disabled and enabled it again just to check).

Under options, I have it also set to open new windows, as a tab

The ONLY thing that I had done that could have changed anything, was I ran Mal-ware Bytes, and Spybot S&D, before the problem started. However I have run both programs in the past and they have never caused this issue to start after a scan.

Yesterday Middle-click on Link stopped working to open a link in a new tab (or close a tab if I Middle-click on the tab). V. 27.0 (Auto updates turned on) Window 7, 64 Bit, Home Edition Was running no add-ons outside extensions for Java, SilverLight, and Adobe and Wacom, and Norton (Disabled as of about 2 months ago) I HAVE tried starting in FireFox Safe mode with all add ons disabled, problem still persisted. I uninstalled Firefox, cleared my preferences, and reinstalled, same issue. I have check the configuration files (I found the command for it in other help topics) and the command line for it is Enabled (I disabled and enabled it again just to check). Under options, I have it also set to open new windows, as a tab The ONLY thing that I had done that could have changed anything, was I ran Mal-ware Bytes, and Spybot S&D, before the problem started. However I have run both programs in the past and they have never caused this issue to start after a scan.

All Replies (6)

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Does the middle-click work at all in Firefox?

Did you try to reboot the computer and possibly check the settings in the mouse driver software?

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Middle click does nothing in firefox, but it works outside of it.

I have done several restarts, over the course of trouble shooting already. I will try it again just so I can say I did.

The Scroll Wheel (middle click, same button) works just fine for both scrolling down pages, and between tabs.

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Start Firefox in Safe 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 Reset button on the Safe Mode start window.

You can try to delete a possible user.js file and numbered prefs-##.js files and rename (or delete) the prefs.js file to reset all prefs to the default value including prefs set via user.js and prefs that are no longer supported in the current Firefox release.

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As stated in the start, there was no change in Safe-Mode with no add-ons

I deleted the linked file, but still having the same issue.

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My middle click stops working if I show the menu bar. Middle click works as expected if the menu bar is off and just the Firefox button is at the top. Windows 8.1 and Firefox 28.

Hope this helps

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I have the same problem on Linux. Suddenly middle button click stopped to work at all. I did reset, but it won't help. I managed to fix it by increasing mouse speed in device preferences. But it doesn't trig every click. Sometimes I have to click 2 or 3 times to open link in new tab.