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How to open page in new tab (but not to be taken to the new tab)

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 52 views
  • Last reply by kiedis

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Let's say I'm reading a Wikipedia article which usually contains many links to other articles.

When I click a mouse-wheel button, a new website opens in a new tab. That's great. But by default, the browser makes the newly opened tab as the main window, so basically I am being presented with the newly opened website immediately.

What I want to do, is to be able to open links in a new tab, but remain on the original website and then navigate to the newly opened website in the new tab whenever I want. How can I do this?

Let's say I'm reading a Wikipedia article which usually contains many links to other articles. When I click a mouse-wheel button, a new website opens in a new tab. That's great. But by default, the browser makes the newly opened tab as the main window, so basically I am being presented with the newly opened website immediately. What I want to do, is to be able to open links in a new tab, but remain on the original website and then navigate to the newly opened website in the new tab whenever I want. How can I do this?

Chosen solution

Hi kiedis, could you check the preferences here:

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

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

You should see at least 4 preferences, two of which would be most relevant to your scenario. To switch between true and false, double-click.

  • browser.tabs.loadInBackground (default is true) -- this should cover your scenario if it's a regular link that would have opened in the same page tab anyway.
  • browser.tabs.loadDivertedInBackground (default is false) -- this should cover links coded to launch a new window that Firefox diverts to a new tab instead.

Can you find a combination that works for you?

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All Replies (2)

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Chosen Solution

Hi kiedis, could you check the preferences here:

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

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

You should see at least 4 preferences, two of which would be most relevant to your scenario. To switch between true and false, double-click.

  • browser.tabs.loadInBackground (default is true) -- this should cover your scenario if it's a regular link that would have opened in the same page tab anyway.
  • browser.tabs.loadDivertedInBackground (default is false) -- this should cover links coded to launch a new window that Firefox diverts to a new tab instead.

Can you find a combination that works for you?

Modified by jscher2000 - Support Volunteer

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Thank you very much, Jefferson