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

can't get browser.newtab.url to work; have it set to my preferred search tool but new tab opens to blank page

  • 8 cavab
  • 2 have this problem
  • 7 views
  • Last reply by ideato

more options

browser.newtab.url is set to https://www.google.com but new tabs open to blank screen with New Tab Controls icon in upper right.

See attached image for browser.newtab settings

browser.newtab.url is set to https://www.google.com but new tabs open to blank screen with New Tab Controls icon in upper right. See attached image for browser.newtab settings

Chosen solution

Hello, ONLY because you have the New Tab Override (browser.newtab.url replacement) add-on, try the next :

  1. In the Location bar, type about:config and press Enter. The about:config "This might void your warranty!" warning page may appear.
  2. Click I'll be careful, I promise! to continue to the about:config page.
  3. Copy the next bold extensions.newtaboverride@agenedia.com.url and paste it in the search area of about:config tab
  4. double-click the preference and now you can see the Enter string value pop-up box
  5. type your url : https://www.google.com click OK to save it, close the about:config tab, exit firefox and restart firefox again.

Any luck ?

thanks again

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (8)

more options

Image didn't upload first try but second attempt worked; see attached list of browser.newtab settings

more options

See the homepage for that New Tab Override (browser.newtab.url replacement) extension that you have installed. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/new-tab-override/ And view the screenshot of how to set the "Options" for that extension.

IMO, silly to have "Options" hidden in "More", but I have a few other extensions that do it that way, too.

Sorry, I don't use that extension so I'm not 100% sure - but I don't think setting the URL in about:config is the way that is done. That did work prior to the Firefox 41 release; I suspect that preference is just "hanging around" and isn't used any longer. Sorry in advance if I am wrong about that, as I said I don't use that extension, I use New Tab Tools - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/new-tab-tools/ - which has far more features.

more options

Hello, try the extensions.newtaboverride@agenedia.com.url in the url you want (always in about:config).

thanks

more options

Thanks for the suggestion, but I need just a little more detail on the steps you're suggesting. I don't really understand exactly what, "try the extensions..." means I should actually do. I looked at those lines in about:config, but the course of action wasn't obvious.

And after all, I did promise to "Be Careful" before it let me play around. ;-)

Maybe tell me what steps that entails?

more options

The browser.newtab.url pref is no longer supported in Firefox (41+), so it is no longer possible to set the new tab page via this pref.

You can look at this extension to set the new tab page:

You can set the new tab URL via the Options/Preferences of the extension on the about:addons page.

You can look at this extension if you use the home page as the new tab page.

Classic Theme Restorer includes this feature as well. You find "New tab page url" in the Tabs (2) section.

You can use pages like these:

  • the default new tab page with the tiles is about:newtab
  • the default home page is about:home
  • for a blank page use about:blank
  • for Super Start use about:superstart
  • use the URL of a web page

See the about:about page for available about pages.

more options

Seçilmiş Həll

Hello, ONLY because you have the New Tab Override (browser.newtab.url replacement) add-on, try the next :

  1. In the Location bar, type about:config and press Enter. The about:config "This might void your warranty!" warning page may appear.
  2. Click I'll be careful, I promise! to continue to the about:config page.
  3. Copy the next bold extensions.newtaboverride@agenedia.com.url and paste it in the search area of about:config tab
  4. double-click the preference and now you can see the Enter string value pop-up box
  5. type your url : https://www.google.com click OK to save it, close the about:config tab, exit firefox and restart firefox again.

Any luck ?

thanks again

Modified by ideato

more options

Thanks ideato, that solved it.

Your lead-in, "ONLY because you have the New Tab Override (browser.newtab.url replacement) add-on, try the next" leads me to ask, is there a better way for me to have accomplished this?

I only installed that override as a pretty uninformed shot in the dark to modify the newtab properties.

more options

You are welcome, i'm using the New Tab Override add-on from the first day of the release, for me it is excellent add-on, a must-have for firefox, since the browser.newtab.url pref is no longer supported in Firefox 41+ for security reasons.

thanks again