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How do I open links in a new tab from my Earthlink Web Mail page with Mozilla Firefox?

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Whenever I try to open an email message from my Earthlink WebMail page, it always opens in the same Tab but I want the link to open in a new Tab so I don't have to keep hitting the back arrow to come back to my email message page.

Whenever I try to open an email message from my Earthlink WebMail page, it always opens in the same Tab but I want the link to open in a new Tab so I don't have to keep hitting the back arrow to come back to my email message page.

All Replies (9)

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All the other web browsers are set to open messages in a different tab. Thanks for trying but I shouldn't have to use keystrokes or shortcuts to view my email messages.

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Generally speaking, browsers follow the cues given in the web page. Sites can direct links to a new tab using either of two approaches:

(1) target="_blank" in the link

(2) script generating a pop-up window that the browser diverts to a new tab

I don't see why Earthlink would code its links differently depending on the browser, so I wonder whether you might have an add-on that overrides whichever method (#1 or #2 above) Earthlink in using in their page.

In case one of your extensions is involved, could you test the page in Firefox's Safe Mode? That's a standard diagnostic tool to deactivate extensions and some advanced features of Firefox. More info: Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode.

You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
  • Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

Not all add-ons are disabled: Flash and other plugins still run

After Firefox shuts down, a small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Reset).

Any difference?

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I tried exactly what you said and even in safe mode, it did the same thing. I even clicked on "View this email in web browser" and it opened in the same tab as my webmail. Any other ideas? I'm about to stop using Mozilla Firefox completely because of this.

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I don't use Earthlink, but my Comcast-Zimbra web mail account has a user setting in preferences in the Zimbra software to open each email in a new window, and when you have Firefox set to "Open new windows in a new tab instead" - it works for me.

You should check your Earthlink Web Mail account user preferences for that new window setting and then verify your Firefox setting in Options > Tabs = the first pref in that tab.

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Hi jtrg, have you submitted a support request to Earthlink about this? I would be curious how they explain the discrepancy.

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Hi jscher2000,

I did contact Earthlink support and of course, they said it's not their issue. Instead, the technical rep tried changing all of my web browser settings remotely, which didn't work either. I had already done that, but they never listen. Earthlink doesn't offer any way to change or alter how one looks at their email messages in windows or tabs. My problem is still unresolved in all web browsers. (Firefox, Explorer and Chrome)

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Right click on the link then click open in new tab! What computer type are you using? This should work with a windows computer? With a mac the options should be on the top corner? Please give more info so that we can help you even more!

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Hi jtrg, when you say "My problem is still unresolved in all web browsers" that seems different than your earlier comment that "All the other web browsers are set to open messages in a different tab." I might have misunderstood that to mean that you only had this problem in Firefox, so I was trying to understand why Firefox was behaving differently than your other browsers.

If the messages open in the same tab in all browsers, and there's no option in EarthLink to change that, then I would suggest using an add-on to change how the links behave. There might be an existing Add-on for this site, or that lets you change links on any site, or you might need something new custom-written. You could search on the Add-ons site and see what you find there: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/

In the meantime, you know the built-in options for directing a standard link to a new tab: Ctrl+click, middle-click with the scroll wheel, or right-click > Open Link in New Tab.