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How do I open a link from a document or email in a private window?

  • 3 biyano
  • 10 eza na bankokoso oyo
  • 5 views
  • Eyano yasuka ya Peter V

Peter V
Peter V
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In previous versions, when I selected private browsing, and then clicked on a link from a document or email the link opened in the private window. In the new version, even though the private window is open, it goes to the non-private window. How do I open a link in the private window from a email or document, as neither Thunderbird or any of my document editors provide the "Open Link in New Private Window" option in their menus?

In previous versions, when I selected private browsing, and then clicked on a link from a document or email the link opened in the private window. In the new version, even though the private window is open, it goes to the non-private window. How do I open a link in the private window from a email or document, as neither Thunderbird or any of my document editors provide the "Open Link in New Private Window" option in their menus?

All Replies (3)

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Two thoughts, but currently no time to test them:

(1) Open the external link in a new tab in an existing window.
(2) Set Firefox to start up in "permanent private browsing" mode. That's described in the help article: Private Browsing - Use Firefox without saving history.

For #1:

(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 filter box, type or paste link.open and pause while the list is filtered. These should appear. The third one is of primary interest at the moment.

(A) browser.link.open_newwindow

3 = divert new window to a new tab (default) (checked*)
2 = allow link to open a new window (unchecked*)
1 = force new window into same tab

* First checkbox in Options > Tabs

(B) browser.link.open_newwindow.restriction

0 = open_newwindow preference honored for all new windows
2 = open_newwindow preference honored for all new windows except script windows with features (default)
1 = open_newwindow preference ignored completely (same effect as open_newwindow=2)

By default, popups that specify a particular window size or turn off certain window features will appear in a new window. If you set this preference to 0 then all popups are forced to a new tab.

(C) browser.link.open_newwindow.override.external

-1 = open_newwindow applies to external links (default)
3 = open external links in a new tab
2 = open external links in a new window
1 = open external links in active tab

On this third one, try choosing 3 to force externally launched pages into a new tab in an existing window.

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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You can drag the link to empty space on the tab bar in a Firefox Private Browsing window or paste the link in the location bar.

  • Bug 829180 - Externally opened urls may open in private browsing windows

(please do not comment in bug reports: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/page.cgi?id=etiquette.html)

Peter V
Peter V Nkolo motuna
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cor-el: This is a usable workaround, although not really convenient to use, as I have to highlight the whole link (and none of the text either side of it), rather than just clicking somewhere in it.