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How do I set Thunderbird so when I click on a link, it opens in the current tab in Firefox, NOT a new tab and NOT a new window?

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On my old laptop with Windows 7 when I click on a hyperlink in an email message it opened the link in the currently selected tab in Firefox. My new laptop with Windows 10 opens it in a new Firefox window. I figured how to open it in a new Firefox tab, but I want it to just open in the current tab. How do I do this?

On my old laptop with Windows 7 when I click on a hyperlink in an email message it opened the link in the currently selected tab in Firefox. My new laptop with Windows 10 opens it in a new Firefox window. I figured how to open it in a new Firefox tab, but I want it to just open in the current tab. How do I do this?

All Replies (3)

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That's a Firefox setting, actually, and would be for all programs, not just for Thunderbird (possibly a consideration if you have "rude" programs or updaters sending pages to your default browser at random times).

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

(2) In the search box above the list, type or paste neww and pause while the list is filtered

(3) Double-click the browser.link.open_newwindow.override.external preference and enter the desired value:

  • -1 = apply your general window vs. tab preference to external links (default)
  • 1 = open external links in the last active tab replacing the current page (what I think you're looking for)
  • 2 = open external links in a new window
  • 3 = open external links in a new tab in the last active window

Does that sound familiar?

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Yes that did it. Thanks.

I have used the about:config just a couple of times. I can usually solve my own problems, but I don't know enough about the inner workings and config files to go there without help. Our son Jeff works for Mozilla and has helped me, but tonight I figured I would get a faster reply here.

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This is a pretty obscure one. Great quiz question.