Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

A url in an email opens in the then open firefox window not a new one ( thus replacing original window.

  • 2 replies
  • 3 have this problem
  • 12 views
  • Last reply by Hstahr

more options

Using Safari, when I click on a url in an email, it opens in a new window. Using Firefox, clicking on an url in an email replces the open firefox window with the new one. I want them both open.

Using Safari, when I click on a url in an email, it opens in a new window. Using Firefox, clicking on an url in an email replces the open firefox window with the new one. I want them both open.

Chosen solution

Is the email message in Firefox, and that page is navigating to the linked page, or is the email message in a separate program, and it's launching the URL in the last active Firefox window?

If the problem is an external link, could you check your setting for the following preference:

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter. Click the button promising to be careful.

(2) In the filter box, type or paste link.open and pause while the list is filtered. Then look for this and if its value is not 2, change it to 2.

browser.link.open_newwindow.override.external

-1 = open_newwindow applies to external links (default)
3 = open external links in a new tab
2 = open external links in a new window
1 = open external links in active tab

Edit: Probably a good idea to check this one, too, and set it to 2 or 3, as you prefer.

browser.link.open_newwindow

3 = divert new window to a new tab (default) (checked*)
2 = allow link to open a new window (unchecked*)
1 = force new window into same tab

* First checkbox in Options > Tabs (on Mac, Preferences > Tabs)

Read this answer in context 👍 5

All Replies (2)

more options

Chosen Solution

Is the email message in Firefox, and that page is navigating to the linked page, or is the email message in a separate program, and it's launching the URL in the last active Firefox window?

If the problem is an external link, could you check your setting for the following preference:

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter. Click the button promising to be careful.

(2) In the filter box, type or paste link.open and pause while the list is filtered. Then look for this and if its value is not 2, change it to 2.

browser.link.open_newwindow.override.external

-1 = open_newwindow applies to external links (default)
3 = open external links in a new tab
2 = open external links in a new window
1 = open external links in active tab

Edit: Probably a good idea to check this one, too, and set it to 2 or 3, as you prefer.

browser.link.open_newwindow

3 = divert new window to a new tab (default) (checked*)
2 = allow link to open a new window (unchecked*)
1 = force new window into same tab

* First checkbox in Options > Tabs (on Mac, Preferences > Tabs)

Modified by jscher2000 - Support Volunteer

more options

Thanks jscher2000,

This solved my problem.