This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Natao arisiva ity resaka mitohy ity. Mametraha fanontaniana azafady raha mila fanampiana.

How do I set Thunderbird so when I click on a link, it opens in the current tab in Firefox, NOT a new tab and NOT a new window?

more options

On my old laptop with Windows 7 when I click on a hyperlink in an email message it opened the link in the currently selected tab in Firefox. My new laptop with Windows 10 opens it in a new Firefox window. I figured how to open it in a new Firefox tab, but I want it to just open in the current tab. How do I do this?

On my old laptop with Windows 7 when I click on a hyperlink in an email message it opened the link in the currently selected tab in Firefox. My new laptop with Windows 10 opens it in a new Firefox window. I figured how to open it in a new Firefox tab, but I want it to just open in the current tab. How do I do this?

All Replies (3)

more options

That's a Firefox setting, actually, and would be for all programs, not just for Thunderbird (possibly a consideration if you have "rude" programs or updaters sending pages to your default browser at random times).

(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.

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

(3) Double-click the browser.link.open_newwindow.override.external preference and enter the desired value:

  • -1 = apply your general window vs. tab preference to external links (default)
  • 1 = open external links in the last active tab replacing the current page (what I think you're looking for)
  • 2 = open external links in a new window
  • 3 = open external links in a new tab in the last active window

Does that sound familiar?

more options

Yes that did it. Thanks.

I have used the about:config just a couple of times. I can usually solve my own problems, but I don't know enough about the inner workings and config files to go there without help. Our son Jeff works for Mozilla and has helped me, but tonight I figured I would get a faster reply here.

more options

This is a pretty obscure one. Great quiz question.