New tab unwanted url opens tried about:config cant see browser.newtab.url
When I first open Firefox, it opens to Google, which is my preferred homepage. Whenever I open a tab in the existing window, it opens to an unwanted URL. It is one of my favourites so I deleted it from favourites but it keeps happening. The site (a bank) changed to a new website a while ago and has been happening ever since. I tried to follow the solution as suggested but cuold not see the choice ' browser.newtab.url
(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 search box above the list, type or paste newtab and pause while the list is filtered (3) Double-click the browser.newtab.url preference and enter your preferred page:
Chosen solution
Hi, for security reasons, from Firefox 41, you need to use an add-on to make changes to the New Tab page - browser.newtab.url is no longer available.
Since an old site is coming up, try this first: Delete all references to the website in question, as shown under the heading 'How do I remove a single website from my history?' in this article - Delete browsing, search and download history on Firefox.
If that doesn't fix it; to change the new tab page to one of your choice, you can try New Tab Override (browser.newtab.url replacement). Once installed, open the Add-ons Manager (Ctrl+Shift+A) > Extensions, then look for New Tab Override and click on Options to set your preference.
An alternative is Custom New Tab
Note, if you only want the New Tab to be the same as your home page, you can use the add-on New Tab Homepage instead.
You may need to restart Firefox for any changes to take effect.
If the new tab page continues to open to a site that you haven't set, you may have malware that is changing it, so you can try these free programs to scan for malware, which work with your existing antivirus software:
- Microsoft Safety Scanner
- MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware
- Anti-Rootkit Utility - TDSSKiller
- AdwCleaner (for more info, see this alternate AdwCleaner download page)
- Hitman Pro
- ESET Online Scanner
Note that not all removal programs will detect all malware, so you may need to run several or all of them.
Further information can be found in the Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware article.
If your question is resolved by this or another answer, please take a minute to let us know. Thank you!
Read this answer in context 👍 0All Replies (4)
Chosen Solution
Hi, for security reasons, from Firefox 41, you need to use an add-on to make changes to the New Tab page - browser.newtab.url is no longer available.
Since an old site is coming up, try this first: Delete all references to the website in question, as shown under the heading 'How do I remove a single website from my history?' in this article - Delete browsing, search and download history on Firefox.
If that doesn't fix it; to change the new tab page to one of your choice, you can try New Tab Override (browser.newtab.url replacement). Once installed, open the Add-ons Manager (Ctrl+Shift+A) > Extensions, then look for New Tab Override and click on Options to set your preference.
An alternative is Custom New Tab
Note, if you only want the New Tab to be the same as your home page, you can use the add-on New Tab Homepage instead.
You may need to restart Firefox for any changes to take effect.
If the new tab page continues to open to a site that you haven't set, you may have malware that is changing it, so you can try these free programs to scan for malware, which work with your existing antivirus software:
- Microsoft Safety Scanner
- MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware
- Anti-Rootkit Utility - TDSSKiller
- AdwCleaner (for more info, see this alternate AdwCleaner download page)
- Hitman Pro
- ESET Online Scanner
Note that not all removal programs will detect all malware, so you may need to run several or all of them.
Further information can be found in the Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware article.
If your question is resolved by this or another answer, please take a minute to let us know. Thank you!
Modified by Scribe
Hi Cassandra, Well done for finding a potential solution, but unfortunately that option was removed a while ago because it was getting abused by malware and causing problems. The pref browser.newtab.url is no longer available. There is an addon that you may use to restore a similar feature
- New Tab Override (browser.newtab.url replacement)
https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/new-tab-override/
There are also already built in options to customise the newtab page
I am slightly concerned that you have an old bank website showing up when you open a new tab. Make sure you use genuine and secure sites, and possibly you need to check for malware.
- How do I tell if my connection to a website is secure?
- How does built-in Phishing and Malware Protection work?
- How to stay safe on the web
- Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware
Please post back to say how you get on.
thanks very much. I both removed the site from history and the New Tab Override (browser.newtab.url replacement). It seems to have worked, so thanks heaps- its been driving me mad.
HI It did work I think because I deleted the history of the bank webpage by in this article - Delete browsing, search and download history on Firefox.
I also followed the link you put inth previous post and used options to set preferences. hat is, if that doesn't fix it; to change the new tab page to one of your choice, you can try New Tab Override (browser.newtab.url replacement). Once installed, open the Add-ons Manager (Ctrl+Shift+A) > Extensions, then look for New Tab Override and click on Options to set your preference.
The bank is same bank and is secure- its just a new website for the bank. Thanks for the concern and suggestions. Have a good one. Cheers