Windows 10 reached EOS (end of support) on October 14, 2025. If you are on Windows 10, see this article.

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

When opening a second window, Firefox switches me back to the first one and it's driving me crazy. Why is this happening? On 29.0.1

We're up to version 29.0.1, its been YEARS since this problem was first reported, and still no solution ???????

When can we expect a fix?

Note: The original window did NOT have a flash object (http://www.tvguide.com/Listings/)

          When I opened the new window, (my home window cnn.com) popped open, then
          immediately I was switched back to the TV Guide window.  Argh!
We're up to version 29.0.1, its been YEARS since this problem was first reported, and still no solution ??????? When can we expect a fix? Note: The original window did NOT have a flash object (http://www.tvguide.com/Listings/) When I opened the new window, (my home window cnn.com) popped open, then immediately I was switched back to the TV Guide window. Argh!

MasterFrodo modificouno o

All Replies (3)

The original window did not have a Flash object, but does the window that hides itself contain a Flash object? That is the usual pattern for this bug in the plugin's protected mode feature.

If you have not already tried disabling it, the following pages/posts provide different ways to do that:

Flash needs to completely unload from memory (restarting Firefox might help) before this would take effect.

More history: Opening New Windows and Shockwave Flash

1. I had tried that option before. Didn't work. Didn't like it. Temporary hack and I didn't like the side effects.

2. This problem only exists in Firefox. so why it is a Flash Player problem?

3. This problem is years old. Firefox still can't figure out how to work with Flash Player?

4. Next you will tell me to use tabs instead of opening new windows. Nope. Not gonna work.

Re #1 What were the side effects you didn't like? Disabling the protected mode feature generally improves performance and stability.

Re #2 and #3, see the thread I linked to.

Re #4, no, see the thread I linked to. The other workaround there is to open some Flash in a tab and keep it open.