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Can I stop Thunderbird from switching to Firefox when an e-mail link is clicked?

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I often get e-mails listing a multitude of articles with links to them. Whenever I click on one, Firefox jumps to the front opening the link on a new tab and I have to point and click Thunderbird to get back to finish reading the e-mail. I just want Firefox to load the pages on separate tabs in the background while I finish going through the e-mail, then switch to Firefox when I'm ready. Is there a way I can stop Thunderbird from switching to Firefox when an e-mail link is clicked?

I often get e-mails listing a multitude of articles with links to them. Whenever I click on one, Firefox jumps to the front opening the link on a new tab and I have to point and click Thunderbird to get back to finish reading the e-mail. I just want Firefox to load the pages on separate tabs in the background while I finish going through the e-mail, then switch to Firefox when I'm ready. Is there a way I can stop Thunderbird from switching to Firefox when an e-mail link is clicked?

Todas las respuestas (7)

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I tried the suggestions here, but none of them worked, maybe because I have TabMixPlus installed.

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=762374

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"Take a look at these pages to familiarize yourself with about:config http://kb.mozillazine.org/About:config http://kb.mozillazine.org/About:config_entries"

Both above links say "no text on this page".

"There are three preferences that control background loading of tabs. They are: browser.tabs.loadBookmarksInBackground browser.tabs.loadDivertedInBackground browser.tabs.loadInBackground "

I have no idea on how to get to "browser.tabs.loadInBackground" .

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Hi cookiejar, to edit Firefox preferences in the about:config editor:

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter. Click the button promising to be careful.

(2) In the search box above the list, type or paste tabs and pause while the list is filtered

Of the preferences you listed:

  • browser.tabs.loadBookmarksInBackground (default is false)
  • browser.tabs.loadDivertedInBackground (default is false)
  • browser.tabs.loadInBackground (default is true)

I'm not sure they will affect links launched from an external application.

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I followed your clear directions and the three browser tabs mentioned are in the default positions (the settings change when one double clicks on them).

Now if I only knew what loadBookmarksInBackground and loadDivertedInBackground meant.

What would you suggest I try to stop Thunderbird from switching to Firefox when an e-mail link is clicked, without running the risk of "voiding my warranty"?

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Sorry, I don't know of any solution within Firefox. Maybe there are Windows utilities which can manage when applications come to the fore?

My own habit is just to use Alt+Tab to switch back to my mail application the instant Firefox, or Adobe Reader, or whatever other application it might be, appears. Certainly beats waiting for pages and documents to load while I can keep reading emails...

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Would it be possible to add this "feature" to future Mozilla software?

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Hi cookiejar, that might be possible. I am not familiar with the programming involved.

One way that suggestions eventually make their way into product is by using the "Feedback" site: https://input.mozilla.org/en-US/feedback

Another is through the bug tracking system. (It's possible someone already has filed this, it seems to have been controversial in the past.)