Message tabs enable messages, folders, search results and even some web content to be displayed in tabs within a single Thunderbird window. Similar to Firefox's tabbed browsing, multiple messages can be displayed without opening multiple Thunderbird message windows. [[Image:5865fbc8be82c8d18c2d1714a3cc838a-1259271160-696-1.png]] = How to change tab behavior = The message tab behavior depends on a preference setting. Thunderbird gives you the option to make messages open in new tabs, new windows or an existing Thunderbird window. You can change this preference in the {for win}'''Options'''{/for}{for linux,mac}'''Preferences'''{/for} window: # [[Template:OptionsPreferences TB]] # Click the {menu Display} panel. # Click the {menu Advanced} tab. {for win} {for not tb31}[[Image:options-open-tabs-win-tb17]]{/for} {for tb31}[[Image:options-open-tabs-win-tb31]]{/for} <!-- needs new screenshot --> {/for} {for linux,mac}[[Image:Pref for Changing Tab Behavious when opening Messages]]{/for} <!-- needs new screenshot --> By default, when Thunderbird is opened it creates a single tab. This displays all of the mail accounts and folders in a panel on the left, and a message list and selected message on the right. (The messages displayed depend on which folder and message is selected.) [[Image:Default Tab Screenshot]] = Using tabs = When you double-click a message, press {key Enter} when a message is highlighted, or right-click a message in the message list and select {menu Open Message in New Tab}, the message will be displayed in a new tab: [[Image:Open Message in a New Tab 2]] To open a folder in a tab in the background, right-click the folder and select {menu Open in New Tab}. {for win,linux}You can also middle-click a message or folder to open it in a tab in the background (that is, to keep focus on the current tab while opening a new tab that contains the selected item).{/for} When you perform a search, the results are displayed in a tab: [[Image:Search Results in a Tab]] When you double-click a newsgroup message or a blog post in the message list, the message or post is displayed in a new tab: [[Image:Double Click New Tab]] Use the {key Ctrl+Tab} (and {key Ctrl+Shift+Tab}) keystrokes to move to the right or left tab respectively. To move to a specific tab, use {key Ctrl+<number>}, where "<number>" is a digit that represents the desired tab's position from left to right. (For example, to jump to the fourth tab from the left, use {key Ctrl+4}.) You can reposition tabs by clicking and dragging individual tabs into the desired position. Certain kinds of web content can also be displayed in a tab in Thunderbird. For example, if you click {menu Help} and select {menu What's New}, Thunderbird opens a tab and displays content from the web. However, as a user, you can't select web content to display in a tab - it only happens when the function is invoked from within the Thunderbird program or from within a Thunderbird extension. To close a tab, either click the close symbol or use the {key Ctrl+W} keyboard shortcut.

Message tabs enable messages, folders, search results and even some web content to be displayed in tabs within a single Thunderbird window. Similar to Firefox's tabbed browsing, multiple messages can be displayed without opening multiple Thunderbird message windows.

How to change tab behavior

The message tab behavior depends on a preference setting. Thunderbird gives you the option to make messages open in new tabs, new windows or an existing Thunderbird window. You can change this preference in the OptionsPreferences window:

1. The template "OptionsPreferences TB" does not exist or has no approved revision.
2. Click the Display panel.
3. Click the Advanced tab.

By default, when Thunderbird is opened it creates a single tab. This displays all of the mail accounts and folders in a panel on the left, and a message list and selected message on the right. (The messages displayed depend on which folder and message is selected.)

Using tabs

When you double-click a message, press Enter when a message is highlighted, or right-click a message in the message list and select Open Message in New Tab, the message will be displayed in a new tab:

To open a folder in a tab in the background, right-click the folder and select Open in New Tab. You can also middle-click a message or folder to open it in a tab in the background (that is, to keep focus on the current tab while opening a new tab that contains the selected item).

When you perform a search, the results are displayed in a tab:

When you double-click a newsgroup message or a blog post in the message list, the message or post is displayed in a new tab:

Use the Ctrl + Tab (and Ctrl + Shift + Tab) keystrokes to move to the right or left tab respectively. To move to a specific tab, use Ctrl + <number>, where "<number>" is a digit that represents the desired tab's position from left to right. (For example, to jump to the fourth tab from the left, use Ctrl + 4.)

You can reposition tabs by clicking and dragging individual tabs into the desired position.

Certain kinds of web content can also be displayed in a tab in Thunderbird. For example, if you click Help and select What's New, Thunderbird opens a tab and displays content from the web. However, as a user, you can't select web content to display in a tab - it only happens when the function is invoked from within the Thunderbird program or from within a Thunderbird extension.

To close a tab, either click the close symbol or use the Ctrl + W keyboard shortcut.