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Why always a new tab?

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Why must a new tab/window open when I click a link? In settings I see to "open new tab instead of new window" but instead of having a bunch of tabs I am done using (like from a google search to an actual webpage) I would rather just have my current tab switch to the link I am choosing. Am I missing a setting?

Why must a new tab/window open when I click a link? In settings I see to "open new tab instead of new window" but instead of having a bunch of tabs I am done using (like from a google search to an actual webpage) I would rather just have my current tab switch to the link I am choosing. Am I missing a setting?

Chosen solution

That is controlled by settings in about:config. If you have never used that before, open a new tab and enter about:config in the address bar. You will be warned about the risks of changing anything so you will need to choose to proceed. Find and check or edit these settings: browser.link.open_newwindow a value to 1 will open in the current tab browser.link.open_newwindow.restriction ditto See the answer by cor-el here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1328185

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Chosen Solution

That is controlled by settings in about:config. If you have never used that before, open a new tab and enter about:config in the address bar. You will be warned about the risks of changing anything so you will need to choose to proceed. Find and check or edit these settings: browser.link.open_newwindow a value to 1 will open in the current tab browser.link.open_newwindow.restriction ditto See the answer by cor-el here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1328185

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If the problem is mainly with Google search results, check your setting here:

https://www.google.com/preferences

Under "Where results open" make sure you do NOT have a check in the box to send each result to a new window. (A new window that Firefox diverts to a new tab isntead.)