Tabs allow you to open and organize multiple websites inside a single window. This keeps your screen from getting cluttered and makes it easy to switch between sites. This article covers the basics of using tabs.

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. To open a new tab, click on the plus sign + on the right side of the last tab. The cursor will appear in the address bar so you can start typing in your search or URL.

Opening links in a new tab

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 on the x on the tab itself.

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

  

Bringing back a closed tab

• 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 position 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.

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. A new window will open.
• If you want 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.

Seeing all of your tabs

If you've opened more tabs than will fit on the tab strip, tab scroll buttons appear at each end. Clicking on them will scroll the tab strip left or right.

You can also click the "List All Tabs" button and select the tab you want from the drop-down menu.

Pinned Tabs

Pinning a tab allows you to keep your favorite sites open and just a click away. Pinned tabs open automatically when you start Firefox. For more information about Pinned Tabs, see Pinned Tabs - keep favorite websites open and just a click away.

• To pin a tab, just right-clickcontrol-click on it and select Pin Tab.

Creating Tab Groups

Tab Groups (also known as Panorama) are an easy way to visually organize a lot of tabs. You can put your tabs into groups, switch between those groups and quickly search through all of your open tabs. For information about creating and using Tab Groups, see Use Tab Groups to organize a lot of tabs.

Tab tips

• To customize your tab settings, see PreferencesOptions window - Tabs panel.
• To set what tabs show when you start Firefox, see How to set the home page.
• To bookmark a set of tabs all at once use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Dcommand + Shift + D.
  • For more information on bookmarks, see Bookmarks in Firefox.
• To learn keyboard and mouse shortcuts that speed up browsing tasks, see Keyboard shortcuts - Perform common Firefox tasks quickly and Use mouse shortcuts to perform common tasks in Firefox.

Troubleshooting tab problems

To fix problems with tabs, see:

• Home page with pipe character opens extra tabs when Firefox starts
• Firefox says it's just updated every time it starts - how to fix
• Basic troubleshooting