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The "new tab" matrix funtion (on/off toggle) has disappeared and new tab results in a Firefox google sign in - how do I restore the "new tab" matrix option?

  • 3 replies
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  • Last reply by cor-el

wwmonroe
wwmonroe
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After some kind of update, the "new tab" grid button has disappeared and "new tab" results in:

www.google.com/firefox and the resulting google search bar with the notation: " You're not on the latest version of Firefox. Upgrade today to get the best of the Web! "

I have Firefox Beta: "20.0 You are currently on the Beta update channel."

"Check for updates" returns "Firefox is up to date"

I've reset the home page to about:blank and open new tab with "blank page", but the google link persists. How do I get rid of it? 

I hate google and don't use it because of lack of security and unwarranted invasiveness.
After some kind of update, the "new tab" grid button has disappeared and "new tab" results in: www.google.com/firefox and the resulting google search bar with the notation: " You're not on the latest version of Firefox. Upgrade today to get the best of the Web! " I have Firefox Beta: "20.0 You are currently on the Beta update channel." "Check for updates" returns "Firefox is up to date" I've reset the home page to about:blank and open new tab with "blank page", but the google link persists. How do I get rid of it? I hate google and don't use it because of lack of security and unwarranted invasiveness.

All Replies (3)

cor-el
cor-el
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  • Top 10 Contributor
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The http://www.google.com/firefox page is the home page of old Firefox 3 versions and is no longer maintained and shows a hard coded message that Firefox is outdated, so do not use this page in current Firefox versions.
The default home page is the build-in about:home page.

You can set the browser.newtab.url to about:newtab to get the new tab page with the 3x3 grid.
Also make sure that the new tab page is enabled and click the grid icon in the top right corner if necessary.

See also this article about the New Tab page (about:newtab):

wwmonroe
wwmonroe Question owner
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Thanks for the reply.

OK, the "about:newtab" was part of the missing link. After setting the startup home page to "about:newtab" - I can get the grid by clicking the home page button on the tool bar. Hooray!

However, the "www.google.com/firefox" persists when I click the new tab "+" (or CTL-T).

I've read the kb pages before, but I haven't found a solution to the persistence of old start page - what am I missing?

cor-el
cor-el
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  • Top 10 Contributor
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Did you check the value of the browser.newtab.url pref on the about:config page?

Type about:config in the location (address) bar and press the "Enter" key to open the about:config page, just like you open a website by typing the URL in the location bar.

  • If you see a warning message then you can confirm that you want to access the about:config page.

See this article about the New Tab page (about:newtab):