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 I click on a link outside of Firefox, it now opens a new window instead of a new tab.

more options

In the past, when I clicked on a link outside of Firefox, a new tab was opened. Now I get a new window. I've tried this on multiple links and they all do the same thing: open a new window.

Also, when the new window is opened, it's a tab where there are other tabs already in place. These unwanted tabs are of websites I have previously closed.

How do I get Firefox to work the way the previous version worked? Failing that, how do I restore the previous version that worked right?

In the past, when I clicked on a link outside of Firefox, a new tab was opened. Now I get a new window. I've tried this on multiple links and they all do the same thing: open a new window. Also, when the new window is opened, it's a tab where there are other tabs already in place. These unwanted tabs are of websites I have previously closed. How do I get Firefox to work the way the previous version worked? Failing that, how do I restore the previous version that worked right?

Chosen solution

In order to see the differences in profiles, I first loaded the profiles in version 66.0.5 which I was running. Then I updated to version 67.0 and loaded the profiles. I could see no differences. I've attached the profiles.

However, I clicked on external links with version 67.0 and this time it just opens another tab, just like version 66.0.5.

Somehow, going back to version 66.0.5 and then back to version 67.0 fixed the problem. Wow!!!

So, following your instructions to load the profiles fixed the problem. LOL

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (10)

more options

No help here so I found a copy of version 66.0.5 and installed it. This solved my problem.

As Mozilla issues each new version, I will try it. If my problem is gone, I will keep it. Otherwise, I will again reinstall version 66.0.5. I used this technique previously when pages would crash all the time. Eventually, Mozilla issued a version that didn't crash.

I realize that using an old version may leave me vulnerable to security problems, I will take the risk vs a secure version that I don't like.

more options

Hi stumichaels, is the new window in a different Firefox profile? You may be able to spot that based on such factors as:

  • different theme
  • different toolbar layout
  • different bookmarks/history

Also, if you use Exit in a separate profile, the windows from your regular profile would remain open.

If external links are launching in a different profile:

This could be related to how you start Firefox normally, for example, if you have any command-line options related to profiles. Do you know whether your Firefox shortcut is customized in that way?

more options

Oh, I missed your reply to yourself. Could you take a look at the Profile Manager page and see if Firefox was opening a different profile? You can test them individually by popping them open in a new window and seeing whether those closed tabs come back:

Profile Testing

Inside Firefox, type or paste about:profiles in the address bar and press Enter/Return to load it.

On this page, the currently running profile will have a line indicating it is in use. To examine another profile, scroll down to it and click the Launch profile in new browser button.

Can you find one that looks like it had those tabs?

When you are done with the tabs check, you can close the extra window without affecting your regular Firefox profile.

more options

Chosen Solution

In order to see the differences in profiles, I first loaded the profiles in version 66.0.5 which I was running. Then I updated to version 67.0 and loaded the profiles. I could see no differences. I've attached the profiles.

However, I clicked on external links with version 67.0 and this time it just opens another tab, just like version 66.0.5.

Somehow, going back to version 66.0.5 and then back to version 67.0 fixed the problem. Wow!!!

So, following your instructions to load the profiles fixed the problem. LOL

more options

Hmm, "default-release" is a new Firefox 67 thing but it shouldn't have any old tabs in it. Anyway, glad to hear it works now.

more options

Deleting compatibility.ini in the profile folder might have worked as well to trigger a profile initialization and register this profile in installs.ini.

more options

Hi,

I've been facing the same issue for about a week. I am using a Portable version of Firefox. Thanks to jscher2000 comments, I had a look to profile. And I noticed that for new page opened in a new window, another profile is loaded ( stored in AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\) whereas the profile for Portable version is stored inside my USB key. I linked the 2 profiles and now it is OK. Hope it can help.

more options

There's also a discussion on the FirefoxPortable forum for users of that product: https://portableapps.com/node/60315

more options

I currently started having this problem. Any time I open a new tab it opens a new window. The new window containing the same tabs, like it makes a copy of itself. If I close a tab, it closes the clone window. This is getting frustrating. I am not the most tech savvy when it comes to this kind of thing, I would appreciate some help.

Edit: Okay.. Now the browser is flat broken... Even after a re-install... I can't mute tabs, live streams are blank with very loud audio... Seriously.. What is going on with this?

Modified by monger2k6

more options

Hi monger2k6, thanks for posting a new question. Let's continue over there: https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1265562