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How do I make middle click open a link in a new tab?

  • 4 uphendule
  • 12 zinale nkinga
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  • Igcine ukuphendulwa ngu cor-el

Dani_W
Dani_W
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Previously, when I clicked a link using the wheel click on my mouse, it opened the link in a new tab. I recently updated firefox, and now if I middle click (wheel click) on a link in Firefox, nothing happens. I just want this feature back. I tried looking in my mouse settings but could not find a relevant setting there. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Previously, when I clicked a link using the wheel click on my mouse, it opened the link in a new tab. I recently updated firefox, and now if I middle click (wheel click) on a link in Firefox, nothing happens. I just want this feature back. I tried looking in my mouse settings but could not find a relevant setting there. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

All Replies (4)

Dani_W
Dani_W Umnikazi wombuzo
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I should add: I have also lost the ability to middle click on a tab to close it.

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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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
  • Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe Mode start window
Dani_W
Dani_W Umnikazi wombuzo
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Thank you.

I restarted firefox in safe mode, and went into tools -> add ons -> appearance. The only theme I have is the default theme. While in firefox safe mode, I still could not use the middle wheel click to open links or close tabs.

I came out of firefox safe mode, re-checked my appearance settings, and am still in the default theme. The problem with the middle wheel click persists.

Any other suggestions?

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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You can check the settings in the mouse driver in the Windows control panel for the middle mouse button.

Boot the computer in Windows Safe Mode with network support (press F8 on the boot screen) as a test.

Otherwise you can try a clean reinstall and make sure to delete the Firefox program folder to remove all files.

If possible uninstall your current Firefox version to cleanup the Windows registry and settings in security software.

  • Do NOT remove "personal data" when you uninstall your current Firefox version, because this will remove all profile folders and you lose personal data like bookmarks and passwords including data in profiles created by other Firefox versions.

Remove the Firefox program folder before installing that newly downloaded copy of the Firefox installer.

  • (32 bit Windows) "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\"
  • (64 bit Windows) "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\"

Your bookmarks and other personal data are stored in the Firefox profile folder and won't be affected by an uninstall and (re)install, but make sure NOT to remove personal data when you uninstall Firefox as that will remove all Firefox profile folders and you lose your personal data.

If you keep having problems then also create a new profile.