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

How to open search results in same window in Firefox 22 Always did before last update

  • 8 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by triple1

more options

Before the last update I would do a search on let say google and when I found what I wanted and clicked on it the window would switch to the result in that window, now it opens a new window. Another issue is I noticed when I have gmail open in a window and open another window that result comes up then switches back to the original window that was open last and the new window stays minimized on the bottom taskbar and I have to go back to open it again. If there are steps that need to be taken please list them.

Before the last update I would do a search on let say google and when I found what I wanted and clicked on it the window would switch to the result in that window, now it opens a new window. Another issue is I noticed when I have gmail open in a window and open another window that result comes up then switches back to the original window that was open last and the new window stays minimized on the bottom taskbar and I have to go back to open it again. If there are steps that need to be taken please list them.

Chosen solution

Hi triple1, Flash is used by many sites to play videos and audio. It also is used by some sites for menu systems or overall presentation. A few sites also use Flash for file uploaders.

Firefox typically will let you know if a site needs a plugin to display all of the content, but you also may see a message from the site. These messages aren't always specific to Flash, but may sometimes say that JavaScript is disabled or something else hinting at the problem.

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (8)

more options

Type about:config in Address bar and search browser.search.openintab and change the value to false

Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions (Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance).

To Enable SafeMode

  • You can open Firefox 4.0+ in Safe Mode by holding the Shift key when you open the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
  • Or open the Help menu and click on the Restart with Add-ons Disabled... menu item while Firefox is running.
  • Once you get the pop-up, just select "'Start in Safe Mode"

If it works in Safe Mode and in normal mode with all extensions (Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) disabled then try to find which extension is causing it by enabling one extension at a time until the problem reappears.

Close and restart Firefox after each change via "Firefox > Exit" (Windows: Firefox/File > Exit; Mac: "Firefox > Quit Firefox"; Linux: "Firefox/File > Quit")

more options

For the Google website you can set your preferences on the Google.com page via the gear icon at the top right, click that button to open the menu list and select Search settings.

Where results open: Open search results in a new browser window.

Such settings are stored in a cookie, so make sure that you keep (allow) this cookie.


In case you are using "Clear history when Firefox closes":

  • do not clear the Cookies
  • do not clear the Site Preferences

Note that clearing "Site Preferences" clears all exceptions for cookies, images, pop-up windows, software installation, and passwords.

Clearing cookies will remove all specified (selected) cookies including cookies with an allow exception.

more options

The windows switching focus sounds like a problem caused by the Flash player plugin's protected mode. However, it was reported to start with Windows 7 and not Windows Vista. Still, might be worth checking: Opening New Windows and Shockwave Flash.

more options

disabled shock wave flash and issue went away.

more options

Hi triple1, disabling Flash proves Flash is the problem, but because Flash is pervasive on the web, you'll probably have to re-enable it pretty soon. Check out the workarounds in the other thread for how to tame it.

more options

what will I experience if it is disabled, can you give an example please.

more options

Chosen Solution

Hi triple1, Flash is used by many sites to play videos and audio. It also is used by some sites for menu systems or overall presentation. A few sites also use Flash for file uploaders.

Firefox typically will let you know if a site needs a plugin to display all of the content, but you also may see a message from the site. These messages aren't always specific to Flash, but may sometimes say that JavaScript is disabled or something else hinting at the problem.

more options

Thank you for the incite, hopefully the next update will fix these issues. They usually do when I had issues in the past after an update.