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Why no Alt-Tab functionality (true last active, not just up or down the line)?

  • 2 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by jerworrall

jerworrall
jerworrall
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I see the keyboard shortcuts for moving up and down the open tabs (ctrl-shift-tab and ctrl-tab) and the go direct to a numbered tab etc...

what I really want is a last tab function that if pressed repeatedly would simply take you back and forth between the last two tabs. Such that if I have 8 tabs open and am presently on tab 7 and then switch to tab 4, then I press this keyboard shortcut it would take me directly back to 7. If pressed again it would go back to 4. etc.

Take filling out a tax form or something as an example. I've got my browser open, several pages on tax help, tax code, and the like along with one with my paystub info and one that I am entering data into. I repeatedly need to bounce back and forth between the tab with the info on it (paystub) and the tab with the data entry on it.

I suppose one could workaround by only having the two desired tabs open in the browser window or by having two browser windows open with each needed page, but this is such ingrained function (alt-tab in windows goes directly between your last two open applications no matter how many you have open) that it just seems very natural to want browser tabs to only go back and forth between the last two as well.

really think this should be developed...seems simple (from an uneducated POV) and serves a definite purpose.

thanks.

I see the keyboard shortcuts for moving up and down the open tabs (ctrl-shift-tab and ctrl-tab) and the go direct to a numbered tab etc... what I really want is a last tab function that if pressed repeatedly would simply take you back and forth between the last two tabs. Such that if I have 8 tabs open and am presently on tab 7 and then switch to tab 4, then I press this keyboard shortcut it would take me directly back to 7. If pressed again it would go back to 4. etc. Take filling out a tax form or something as an example. I've got my browser open, several pages on tax help, tax code, and the like along with one with my paystub info and one that I am entering data into. I repeatedly need to bounce back and forth between the tab with the info on it (paystub) and the tab with the data entry on it. I suppose one could workaround by only having the two desired tabs open in the browser window or by having two browser windows open with each needed page, but this is such ingrained function (alt-tab in windows goes directly between your last two open applications no matter how many you have open) that it just seems very natural to want browser tabs to only go back and forth between the last two as well. really think this should be developed...seems simple (from an uneducated POV) and serves a definite purpose. thanks.

Chosen solution

You can toggle this pref on the about:config page and use Ctrl+Tab to cycle.

  • browser.ctrlTab.previews = true

You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. You can accept the warning and click "I'll be careful" to continue.

Read this answer in context 👍 2

All Replies (2)

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

You can toggle this pref on the about:config page and use Ctrl+Tab to cycle.

  • browser.ctrlTab.previews = true

You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. You can accept the warning and click "I'll be careful" to continue.

jerworrall
jerworrall Question owner
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Thanks, that works great.

FYI I came across that several times, however none of them made it clear that the desired behavior was understood and that this was the actual fix for it.

Thanks again and for those wondering - this does actually make ctrl-tab behave as normal windows alt-tab does....can't believe I've gone so long without this frustrated by every time I hit alt tab wanting to change tabs and changing applications instead.

this is great...thanks firefox (still think this should be default instead of the climb up and down the open list of tabs)

Modified by jerworrall