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

Opening new tabs takes me to the tab instead of staying on the current page.

  • 7 replies
  • 78 have this problem
  • 102 views
  • Last reply by BK_Malik

more options

It used to be that I could be on a page, let's say Tab A, and control click or mouse-wheel click a link on that page to bring up a link in a new tab, Tab B, while remaining on Tab A. Now, with each new tab that is opened by control-clicking or mouse-wheel clicking, I am taken to that new tab and away from Tab A. This is not good at all. I am used to the previous setting, which was highly beneficial for school projects where I was searching for multiple sources, and would not need to go to the new tabs until after I found a few. Now, I am required to click back to the original page from the new tab, which is a major inconvenience when I have upwards of ten tabs open.

Is there anyway, settings-wise and preferably without downloading yet another add-on, to change this so that opening a link in a new tab doesn't automatically take me to that tab?

It used to be that I could be on a page, let's say Tab A, and control click or mouse-wheel click a link on that page to bring up a link in a new tab, Tab B, while remaining on Tab A. Now, with each new tab that is opened by control-clicking or mouse-wheel clicking, I am taken to that new tab and away from Tab A. This is not good at all. I am used to the previous setting, which was highly beneficial for school projects where I was searching for multiple sources, and would not need to go to the new tabs until after I found a few. Now, I am required to click back to the original page from the new tab, which is a major inconvenience when I have upwards of ten tabs open. Is there anyway, settings-wise and preferably without downloading yet another add-on, to change this so that opening a link in a new tab doesn't automatically take me to that tab?

Chosen solution

This issue can be caused by the GoodSearch Toolbar (Tools > Add-ons > Extensions)

Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the add-ons is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Tools > Add-ons > Themes).

  • Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.

See:

Read this answer in context 👍 2

All Replies (7)

more options

In the Options dialog go to the Tabs panel, make sure the setting "When I open a link in a new tab, switch to it immediately" is not selected.

more options

I just checked and that's always been unchecked. Here's an interesting note. What I just described only happens on Facebook links as far as I've noticed. I just got out of school, so I've only really been using multiple tabs for facebook notifications (video games take up the rest of my computer time hoorah!). My problem doesn't occur on other websites. It also doesn't occur when you control click the Facebook image that takes you to your Facebook home page. It's just something about the scripting on facebook links.

more options

Chosen Solution

This issue can be caused by the GoodSearch Toolbar (Tools > Add-ons > Extensions)

Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the add-ons is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Tools > Add-ons > Themes).

  • Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.

See:

more options

I'll try it in Safe Mode and see what happens. I think it's interesting that I'm only noticing it in Facebook. It probably occurs in other websites. It's probably a problem with the websites' scripting how the links open. I'll get back to you on this Safe Mode.

more options

Problem solved. I removed all the DivX add-ons that were installed to Firefox. I had to go through Windows Add/Remove Software, but now I'm not having an issue.

more options

Just disabling the DivX add-ons works as well.

more options

Had to disable all the Divx add-ons AND plug-ins, then it worked. It wouldn't work just disabling the add-ons.