There is a lengthy discussion on this here - http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=1977593

The upshot of that thread was somebody created an add-on to disable the feature, Switch to Tab no more - https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/switch-to-tab-no-more/

Once again the guys behind firefox messed up.

Use the cursor Right key to select such a marked as Switch to tab item from the drop down list instead of clicking the mouse. If you need to open such an URL in a new tab then use Alt + Enter or middle click the Go button.

where it says "switch to tab" as your typing the url in, hover over the "switch to tab" and middle mouse click the url/link/switch to tab and it will open in a new tab instead of switching to the already open tab.

Why do we need an add-on for that. This is nonsense. I don't want add-ons for every feature. I want simple and logical usable features. I want the old firefox back :( The firefox that just worked. Remember? And I don't want to open in a new tab. I just want it to open in the current tab.

Use the cursor Right key to select an item marked as Switch to Tab in the drop down list to copy the URL to the location bar.

I've just installed this neat add-on and it works like a charm

Switch to Tab no more

simple solution: when you start typing the address/keywords in the location bar, and you're offered switch to tab press your down arrow key to highlight it, then press space and enter.

This makes Firefox think you're modifying the address, rather than switching to the other tab and loads the "new" address. However the extra space at the end is trimmed, so you end up with the same address. If you find the extra added space did not get trimmed, then change your sequence to space, backspace and enter.

This allows you to keep the switch to tab feature as well as get the page you want in the tab you want without installing any add on.

You can also use the cursor Right key to copy a highlighted entry in the drop down list to the location bar and use Alt + Enter to open it in a new tab if needed.

@cor-el Even better. I'll be using your method now (down, right, enter for other readers). Don't know why people would mark that as Not Helpful, what fools.

Edit: this doesn't work for me in more recent versions of firefox, using my previous method.

I should not have to register with a forum or put in add-ons to have my browser work correctly. I understand you get what you pay for but this is ridiculous.

I'm really wondering what developer has never had to have two or more tabs open of the same page.

This is still a problem in Firefox 7 and probably every version between that one and 4.

• Press the Shift key while an entry in the drop down list is highlighted to disable "Switch to Tab" and see the URL.
• Use the cursor Right key to select an item marked as Switch to Tab in the drop down list and copy the URL to the location bar.
• Open the URL in a new tab by using Alt + Enter on the highlighted entry.
• Open the URL in the current tab by using Shift + Enter on the highlighted entry.