Avatar for Username

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

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Some programs open new window instead of new tab in open window

  • 3 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 7 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

diegoq
diegoq
more options

Firefox 17.0.1. I have the option "Open new windows in a new tab instead" set, I use the Tree Style Tab 0.14.2012111201 addon (and others unrelated to tabs or windows), and I have multiple profiles. It seems that since I started using multiple profiles some programs (MediaMonkey's help, for example) insist on opening a new Firefox window. If I select any of the one or more currently open profiles it says "Profile in use". Some programs that want to open an internet site to show their help files do open a tab in the current browser window, as expected and desired. But more programs cause the Choose a profile box to display.

Firefox 17.0.1. I have the option "Open new windows in a new tab instead" set, I use the Tree Style Tab 0.14.2012111201 addon (and others unrelated to tabs or windows), and I have multiple profiles. It seems that since I started using multiple profiles some programs (MediaMonkey's help, for example) insist on opening a new Firefox window. If I select any of the one or more currently open profiles it says "Profile in use". Some programs that want to open an internet site to show their help files do open a tab in the current browser window, as expected and desired. But more programs cause the Choose a profile box to display.

Chosen solution

Make sure that you do not start Firefox with the -no-remote switch or have set the environment variable MOZ_NO_REMOTE=1 (Control Panel > System > Advanced > Environment variables).

If you need to have more than one profile open at the same time then start subsequent instances with the -no-remote command line switch.
You can not send links from other programs to a Firefox instance that is started with the -no-remote switch. In such a case you need to drag links in a Firefox window or paste the link in the location bar.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (3)

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Chosen Solution

Make sure that you do not start Firefox with the -no-remote switch or have set the environment variable MOZ_NO_REMOTE=1 (Control Panel > System > Advanced > Environment variables).

If you need to have more than one profile open at the same time then start subsequent instances with the -no-remote command line switch.
You can not send links from other programs to a Firefox instance that is started with the -no-remote switch. In such a case you need to drag links in a Firefox window or paste the link in the location bar.

diegoq
diegoq Question owner
more options

Very helpful. Thank you. I'll make my pinned taskbar Firefox open my main profile sans no-remote switch, and add a separate desktop shortcut with the -no-remote switch and -p to select other profiles.

However, and this is a nit-pick, since I'm so happy not to have to open new Firefox instances myself, but now the programs, like Media Monkey, opens its help in a new tab IN A NEW WINDOW. If it would open in the main (and only running instance in my test) window that would be even nicer.

Thank you.

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

You can check this pref on the about:config page (the default -1 equals 1).

  • browser.link.open_newwindow.override.external

It has the same values as this pref:

Modified by cor-el