What changed from how you remember it in earlier versions of Firefox? I think the general procedure for adding and removing sites has been the same for a very long time.

The main issue users have mentioned in recent versions is that the layout got taller so for users with some screen dimensions, the last row of site tiles no longer fit on the page, and this can be fixed using either zoom+settings change, or using an add-on.

Since pages from your history appear based both on recency AND frequency of use, unless you regularly clear your history, it's not uncommon for pages to take a while to appear on the page. To add them NOW, just bookmark the page and then drag and drop the bookmark into the desired location.

Also, a lot of users do encounter problems with malware hijacking the new tab page. So if it no longer works the way you remember, you may want to take a closer look to see whether it's really Firefox's page or is something generated by an add-on. I'd be happy to make suggestions for investigating if you want to dig into it.

All the link windows on the NEW TAB page got really small compared to how they were. Some of my old links don't show up. I used to be able to remove a link and one of my previous/other links would take its place. Now, when i remove a link, there are none replacing it. It is as if many of my links are no longer stored in its memory or history or whatever. I do not have my PC set up to delete browsing history upon log off. At least I don't recall changing my settings for it to do that myself, but so far, no new web sites I have visited are being stored on the TAB page. SO not sure what is up with that, cause it used to store them automatically. Even Facebook doesn't show up on the tab page, and I visit it fairly regularly. Though I can access that from my home page, so not a big deal, but basically it's as if my TAB page is turned off or something. Only a whole bunch of Mozilla links of various kinds had appeared and I clicked X on those cause I don't need all that extra junk. I just want to be able to click on recently visited page links not create a Picasso style web browsing experience. AND if somehow my browser got hacked with malware, well...that totally defeats the reason I switched from IE to Firefox, so i might as well go back to IE which I liked better anyway. I only switched to Firefox cause of security risks to IE that told users to stop using it till it was patched. So I hope it isn't malware or FIREFOX has just lost it's best reason for people to use it.

I also hate the new tab crap in 38.0.5!?

opening a new tab if you need it with speed is much better all you have to do is write about:config newtab in the search box and and to delete what the newtab value has as you see in the image i did upload.

Hi DeathDfyD, most people complain that the tiles on the new tab page have gotten larger, not smaller, so that seems odd. Let's check the setting and see whether that needs to be fixed:

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. 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:

• Page thumbnails (default) => about:newtab
• Blank tab => about:blank
• Built-in Firefox home page => about:home
• Any other page => full URL to the page

Press Ctrl+t to open a new tab and verify that it worked. Fixed?

If problems persist, some potential diagnoses and remedies:

If Firefox won't let you edit this setting: you may have something called SearchProtect on your system. This needs to be removed from the Windows Control Panel. If the status says "locked" we will need to help you investigate an "autoconfig" file.

If Firefox lets you save your change but ignores it: one of your extensions may be overriding it. You can review, disable, and/or remove extensions on the add-ons page. Either:

• Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Command+Shift+a)
• "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons

In the left column, click Extensions. Then cast a critical eye over the list on the right and disable (or remove) anything unknown.

If the change works during your session, but at the next startup is back to the unwanted page: you might have a user.js file in your personal Firefox settings folder (your Firefox profile folder). This article describes how to track down and remove the file: How to fix preferences that won't save.

Any luck?

Got to about:newtab after doing step 3 Double-click the browser.newtab.url preference and enter your preferred page: hit enter and tried the CTRL T to open a new tab and it does that, BUT that isnt my problem. I can open a new tab just fine. it is that no links that I went to are showing up on the tab page at all. Not a link to facebook or anything I recently went to. I'm not to literate when it comes to tampering with settings like the one you had me go into and would rather not do that again. Not sure if I might be doing it wrong even after treading the instructions you provided. Mostly I have no idea what to do cause your instructions .....If Firefox won't let you edit this setting: you may have something called SearchProtect on your system. This needs to be removed from the Windows Control Panel. If the status says "locked" we will need to help you investigate an "autoconfig" file.

If Firefox lets you save your change but ignores it: one of your extensions may be overriding it. You can review, disable, and/or remove extensions on the add-ons page. Either:

   Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Command+Shift+a)
   "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons 

In the left column, click Extensions. Then cast a critical eye over the list on the right and disable (or remove) anything unknown.

make no sense to me. lol I shouldnt have to do all this when Forefox was working fine before the latest update that added the new features. I think I would rather just leave it alone, and only use the BLANK TAB instead of enhanced and classic since they arent working right now. Thanks anyway but IE is looking real good about now.

If your new tab page has the gear control offering enhanced, classic, and blank, then that is the correct page. I haven't used Firefox 38 for a couple months because I've upgraded to Firefox 39 and now Firefox 40, so I am not able to experiment with what the problem might be.

I should mention that version 38.0-38.0.5 is not secure; Mozilla discloses security flaws after each new release. Is something holding you back from upgrading to Firefox 40? Please let us know so we can suggest solutions or workarounds.

If you are using the Extended Support Release (ESR) version of Firefox instead of the regular release, then 38.2.0 is current.

Looks like I am using the ESR version 38.2.0, though I do not know why? or what the difference is between that and the latest 40 version you say is the newest. Which is better? which has the least amount of buggy issues? etc.. Like I said before the NEW TAB works fine it is just that nothing is showing up on it no matter what setting i use. Before pages would appear on the list there automatically when i went to a page frequently. Now it just sits there completely blank.

Okay, your new tab page is completely blank with no "gear" control on it? But in about:config you used the default setting of about:newtab ?

In that case, could you test in Firefox's Safe Mode? That's a standard diagnostic tool to deactivate extensions and some advanced features of Firefox. More info: Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode.

If Firefox is not running: Hold down the Shift key when starting Firefox.

If Firefox is running: You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:

• "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
• Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

and OK the restart.

Both scenarios: A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Refresh).

Does the new tab page look normal in Safe Mode?

Regarding ESR vs. regular: ESR was developed for businesses that need maximum stability and it doesn't get any major feature changes until the next major update, at which time there is a huge "catch-up". The previous ESR was Firefox 31 + security fixes, and the current ESR is Firefox 38 + security fixes. ESR is also good for individuals who can't live without a particular extension or other add-on that stopped working in Firefox 39 or later. Otherwise, the regular release is recommended.

No No No. lol I have the little gear icon but no matter what I set the new tab page for... meaning Classic or Enhanced.... no links to pages are showing up in the boxes on the page. If I go to a web page and exit it, then later open a new tab (using either the classic or enhanced) the tab page has no history of any page I went to previously. All the boxes that used to hold pages I could click on and go to....are blank

Okay, I think I finally get it. And this isn't a problem with Firefox deleting all your history, you still have history.

The update might have corrupted the program files folder. It's rare, but this seems to happen from time to time and the resulting breakage is quite random.

To address that and stay with the ESR series:

Clean Reinstall

We use this name, but it's not about removing your settings, it's about making sure the program files are clean (no inconsistent, corrupted, or alien code files). As described below, this process does not disturb your existing settings. Do NOT uninstall Firefox, that's not needed.

(A) Download a fresh installer for Firefox 38.2.0esr from https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/organizations/all/ to a convenient location. (Scroll down to your preferred language.)

(B) Exit out of Firefox (if applicable).

(C) Rename the program folder, either:

(64-bit Windows folder names)

C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox

to

C:\Program Files (x86)\OldFox

(32-bit Windows folder names)

C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox

to

C:\Program Files\OldFox

Note: If the ESR version uses a different folder, rename that folder instead. I haven't installed it myself.

(D) Run the installer you downloaded in (A). It should automatically connect to your existing settings.

Note: Some plugins may exist only in that old folder. If something essential is missing, look in these folders:

• \OldFox\Plugins
• \OldFox\browser\plugins

Your not going to believe this but....I just lgged back onto Firefox and went to a new tab after my home page loaded, and low and behold...one of the pages I recently visited is now showing up on the new tab page. Maybe after they got wiped clean they had to start from scratch again, adding page links. Figures after i cant get it working. it suddenly starts to function after contacting tech support. lol I will keep in mind the reinstall option for the ESR version if I have another issue. I'm guessing I originally started using the ESR version cause the regular version was conflicting with something else I use. Maybe my Norton antivirus, but cant recall since it was long ago when i switched to Firefox from IE. Thanks for sticking with me through my issue. I can build a gaming PC, but when it comes to software and programming it isn't my area.

OH but the tiles on the new tab are still smaller than the old ones were. Pretty positive that I only had the zoom at 100% before the update too. So not sure why the tiles are smaller. Seems like there are more of them though. so I guess that would be ok. I just prefer them larger since my eyes are not the best for looking at tiny things. but not going to tinker anymore with the tab page. lol. I did like the older ESR version better than this new version though. All the new features seem rather unnecessary considering how fast and easy to use the browser was before to search and load a bookmark etc.. Just some feedback on it. Keep the Firefox browser simple. It's what I liked about it before the latest update. Worked like IE only better. If it ain't broke...don't fix it. Just because it's been unchanged for a while, doesn't make it a negative thing if it works well. let the other Browsers make their stuff more complicated and fancy and slower to load up etc.. keep Firefox the the browser that caused everyone to rave about it in the first place. :)

Currently the maximum tiles are set to 3 rows of 5. Perhaps in earlier versions it was 3 rows of 4? I can't remember. It's easy to change here:

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. 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.newtabpage.columns preference and edit from 5 to 4 (or your preferred value) and click OK.

Then press Ctrl+t to open a new tab and check the sizes. Better?

Nope. It just reduces the number of tiles to 4 per row. Size doesn't get any larger.

Do you have any "new tab" related extensions? If you have any older ones, you should try disabling them to see whether that helps. One extension that seems to be kept up-to-date which gives you more control over the page is: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/new-tab-tools/

Not a big deal, If I zoom in to 120% I get 4 tiles and 3 rows at a tile size that I like. Just would rather have 4 tiles and 3 rows this big at 100% . but guess I am just being picky.

No. I have no extensions other than a Norton toolbar I keep disabled. Don't need another search box which is all it really is. I don't mod things or want extra features active on my browser. I like it clean and simple with no worries about lag due to too many features running.

If you turn off this preference, you may have better luck with Firefox remembering your preferred zoom level on the new tab page:

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. 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.preload preference to switch its value from true to false

Apparently the preloading bypasses your zoom setting, so turning that off should at least help a tiny bit.