Use tabs to organize lots of websites in a single window

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  • Creator: Michael Verdi
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You can use a single Firefox window to hold multiple websites for viewing. Each website is displayed in its own tab.
Tab - Win114d655966b77272ea0571900f4b4d7a8-1258843513-721-1.png

How do I make a new tab?

To make a new tab, click the New Tab button on the right side of the last tab.

You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + TCommand + T.

Tab - Win2
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When you create a new tab, the Location bar will be focused so you can just start typing the name or address of the website you want to go — see Address bar autocomplete suggestions in Firefox for information on how to use the Location bar to get where you want to go quickly.

Normally, when you click a link, it opens in the current tab. If you want to open a link in a new tab instead, just right-clickcontrol-click on the link and select Open Link in New Tab from the context menu.

How do I close tabs?

To close a tab, just click it's close button.

You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + WCommand + W to close the current tab.


Tab - Win3
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Bringing back a closed tab

To bring back a tab you've accidentally closed, go to the top of the Firefox window, click the Firefox button, go over to the History menu (click the History menu in Windows XP), down to Recently Closed Tabs and then select the tab you want to restore.the top of the Firefox window,the menu bar, click the History menu, go down to Recently Closed Tabs and then select the tab you want to restore.the top of the Firefox window,the menu bar, click the History menu, go down to Recently Closed Tabs and then select the tab you want to restore.

You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + TCommand + Shift + T to bring back the most recently closed tab.

How can I organize my tabs?

Changing the order of tabs

To move a tab to a different place on the tab strip, just drag it there using your mouse. While you're dragging the tab, a small indicator shows you where the tab will land.
Tab - Win4
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Moving a tab to a new window

To move a tab to its own window, click on the tab and drag it below the tab strip.

To move a tab from one Firefox window to another, click on the tab and drag it to the tab strip of another Firefox window.

Creating Tab Groups

Firefox Panorama is an easy way to visually organize a lot of tabs. It allows you to put your tabs into Tab Groups, switch between those groups and quickly search through all of your open tabs. For more information, see Use Tab Groups to organize a lot of tabs

Creating App Tabs

Ever wanted to have your favorite websites open whenever you launch Firefox? A new feature in Firefox 4 called App Tabs allows you to do just that. They are placed at the left side of the tab strip and are the most convenient way of accessing your frequently visited websites. To pin a tab as App Tab:

  • Right-clickHold down the Control key while you click on the tab you want to close and select Pin as App Tab.
    Tab - Win5

For more information on creating and using App Tabs, see Pinned Tabs - keep favorite websites open and just a click away


Tab settings

To customize your tab settings in Firefox, see PreferencesOptions window - Tabs panel.


Tips and tricks

Bookmark a set of tabs

If you have multiple tabs open, you can bookmark that set of tabs in a folder:

  1. Hold down the Ctrlcommand and Shift keys and press D. The New Bookmarks window will appear.
  2. In the Name: field, type a name for your set of bookmarks.
  3. In the Folder: field, select the folder in which you want to store your set of bookmarks.
  4. Click Add Bookmarks.

To open that set of tabs again, click the Bookmarks menu, select the folder you created, and then select Open All in Tabs.

For more information on bookmarks, see the Bookmarks in Firefox article.

Make a set of tabs your home page

If you have multiple tabs open, you can make that set of tabs open up when you start Firefox:

  1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and select Settings (select Preferences on older macOS versions).Click the menu button Fx89menuButton and select Settings.
  2. Select the General panel (Main panel in Firefox 3.5).
  3. In the Startup section, click Use Current Pages.
  4. Close the Settings page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.

For more information on setting the home page, see How to set the home page.

Shortcuts

There are keyboard and mouse shortcuts that can be used to speed up tabbed browsing tasks. See:


Troubleshooting

For problems with tabbed browsing, see: