Hello richalfj,

Hopefully I get this right : you want links to open in a new tab, but in the background ....

If so, would you try this please :

Type in the address bar about:config and press Enter (promise to be careful, if asked)

Type in the search bar browser.tabs.load

Look for the preference browser.tabs.loadInBackground

and set its value to true

Maybe you'd like to change the values of the other two preferences as well (?)

After you've changed a value (or values), close and restart Firefox.

Hello and thanks!

The setting you referred to was already set to "true". That's when I realized it was my bookmarks that switched immediately when opening those in a new tab. Changed that value instead and now it's working the way I want! Thanks! :)

I'm glad you got things working the way you wanted to - well done  !

I have the same problem. My browser.tabs.loadInBackground was already set to true.

I open new links I find on a page (not bookmarked links) in new tabs. I'm on an older PC and things take a while to load, so I'd prefer to load new tabs in the background and continue reading current tab.

what's the next troubleshooting step?

Hello needsleep,

Assuming that your OS is Windows, would you please go to :

3-bar menu => Options => General => under "Tabs"

uncheck : "When you open a link in a new tab, switch to it immediately"

Then reload the page or close and restart Firefox.

Does that make a difference  ?

Yes I am using Windows (sorry about not mentioning that). Windows 7 pro, 64-bit.

That option was already unchecked. This is what my post is about - this option, when unchecked, should not shift focus to the tab where the new link is being opened. Instead, it should open the tab in the background and allow me to continue reading on the original tab.

This is weird - the value of that preference is set to true and yet .... You didn't have to change that value, did you  ? It already was set to true  ? Otherwise I would ask you if you closed and restarted Firefox after you changed the value ....

A complete stab in the dark, but would you check the value of this preference on the "about:config" page, please :

browser.tabs.loadDivertedInBackground

If that makes no difference either, then change the value back (and don't forget to close and restart Firefox after each change)

No I did not have to remove the check mark for "When you open a link in a new tab, switch to it immediately". When I observed the value of browser.tabs.loadInBackground, it was showing status=default, value=true.

Since I did not change anything, I did not close/restart.

When I looked at browser.tabs.loadDivertedInBackground, it showed status=default, value=false This is the initial value for me. Changing it: status=modified, value=true

After restarting firefox, it was my turn to be surprised.

Before testing the new value, I wanted to confirm it was still the same value I had changed it to after the restart. It was not! browser.tabs.loadDivertedInBackground had reverted to status=default, value=false.

I couldn't believe it, so I tested it a second time. And this time it held: status=modified, value=true. I then tested the browser and it works as intended: I can "open in new tab" and not be interrupted reading the current tab.

Not satisfied it would stay changed, however, I tested it 2 more times and it did not waver: status=modified, value=true, both times.

A big thank you for delivering me from this annoyance. And fun working with you, McCoy.

needsleep said

A big thank you for delivering me from this annoyance.
And fun working with you, McCoy.

The pleasure is all mine ......

Now, you go get some sleep  !