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Firefox not opening new URL when told to do so while not being active

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  • Last reply by zeroknight

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I am trying to solve a problem with opening a URL from an external app when Firefox is not already active. The issue appeared a couple of years ago. I found it using LaunchBar, but I can reproduce it from a terminal (at least LaunchBar is not to blame).

1) If Firefox is active (I mean, has been launched) and I type the following in a terminal window open 'http://www.mozilla.org' then Firefox opens a new tab with mozilla.org (same with any other site).

2) However, if Firefox is not active (for instance, it has just been quit) and I type the same command in terminal, then Firefox launches, reopens previous tabs, but opens no new tab, thus failing to open mozilla.org (which is what I want).

I tried refreshing (could not try safe mode because the activation of Firefox should be triggered by the terminal command). I also tried uninstalling + fresh copy of Firefox, but as soon as the sync with my mozilla account occurs the problem comes back. I even tried to delete my Mozilla account and recreating a new one, that did not solve the issue.

Note that when I try (2), I sometimes very briefly (1/10 sec) see a new Firefox window open with the right site (mozilla.org) and this window disappears.

The setting for browser.startup.page is 3 and no plugins at all (fresh install, account wiped).

Any help is welcome...

I am trying to solve a problem with opening a URL from an external app when Firefox is not already active. The issue appeared a couple of years ago. I found it using '''''LaunchBar''''', but I can reproduce it from a '''''terminal''''' (at least LaunchBar is not to blame). 1) If Firefox is active (I mean, has been launched) and I type the following in a terminal window ''open 'http://www.mozilla.org''' then Firefox opens a new tab with mozilla.org (same with any other site). 2) However, if Firefox is not active (for instance, it has just been quit) and I type the same command in terminal, then Firefox launches, reopens previous tabs, but opens no new tab, thus failing to open mozilla.org (which is what I want). I tried refreshing (could not try safe mode because the activation of Firefox should be triggered by the terminal command). I also tried uninstalling + fresh copy of Firefox, but as soon as the sync with my mozilla account occurs the problem comes back. I even tried to delete my Mozilla account and recreating a new one, that did not solve the issue. Note that when I try (2), I sometimes very briefly (1/10 sec) see a new Firefox window open with the right site (mozilla.org) and this window disappears. The setting for browser.startup.page is 3 and no plugins at all (fresh install, account wiped). Any help is welcome...

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This sounds like Bug 1850828, a recent regression in 117.0 that should have been fixed in 117.0.1. Are you sure it is up to date?