Firefox repeatedly opens empty tabs or windows after you click on a link

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  • Revision id: 722
  • Created:
  • Creator: AliceWyman
  • Comment: Start a new Firefox session: This is only the first step towards fixing the problem.
  • Reviewed: No
  • Ready for localization: Yes
  • Readied for localization by: AnonymousUser
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Firefox may repeatedly open new, empty tabs or windows after you click on a link, forcing you to close Firefox. The same untitled tabs or blank windows may open the next time you start Firefox, if the previous session is restored.

This usually happens because you chose Firefox as the program to always use for a particular action, such as opening a certain type of file or launching an application to send mail.


Start a new Firefox session

You may be forced to close Firefox if it is repeatedly opening multiple tabs or windows. Firefox includes a Session Restore feature that can restore your windows and tabs from the previous session after a crash or unexpected close.

The same multiple tabs or windows may start opening when you next start Firefox, forcing you to close Firefox again. If you see a Restore Session (i.e. "Well this is embarrassing") page when you restart Firefox, click Start New Session.

If you see a Restore Previous Session dialog when you next start Firefox, click Start New Session.

Once you start a new Firefox session, follow the instructions given below to fix the problem.

Change the action for a content type

You may be able to fix the problem by finding the content type that is set to use Firefox and then changing the action, using these steps:

  1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and then select Preferences or Settings, depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button Fx89menuButton and select Settings.
  2. Select the Applications panel.
  3. If you know which item in the Content Types column is causing the problem, select it. Otherwise, in the Search box, type Use Firefox. The list will display only items that are set to "Use Firefox".

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  4. For each problematic content type, select a new action from the menu in the Action column. If you're not sure which action to pick, choose Always ask.
  5. Close the Settings page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved. .

For general information on content types, see Manage file types and download actions in Firefox.


Reset actions for all content types

If the preceding steps didn't fix the problem, or if you can't find the problematic item in the Applications list, you will have to reset the actions for all content types, by manually deleting the file that stores these settings.

This will remove all customized content type actions, not just the one that is causing the problem. You will have to make those changes over again after taking these steps.

  1. Open your profile folder:

    • Click the menu button Fx89menuButton, click Help and select More Troubleshooting Information.From the Help menu, select More Troubleshooting Information. The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
    • Under the Application Basics section next to Profile FolderDirectory, click Open FolderShow in FinderOpen Directory. A window will open that contains your profile folder.Your profile folder will open.
    Note: If you are unable to open or use Firefox, follow the instructions in Finding your profile without opening Firefox.

  2. Close Firefox. Click the Firefox menu Fx89menuButton and select Exit.Click the Firefox menu at the top of the screen and select Quit Firefox.Click the Firefox menu Fx89menuButton and select Quit.
  3. Delete the file named mimeTypes.rdf.
  4. Restart Firefox.

Check for malware

If the problem is still not solved, or if Firefox is opening multiple tabs or windows with unwanted content, consider that your system may be infected by malware. For more information, see Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware.