That's strange, the new tab "+" button really should be on the tabs bar automatically.

Could you check whether the button is available in the box of available buttons on the Customize tab? It will have a different appearance (like a solid black tab with a little + on the lower right). This article has the steps to call up Customize -- or use that bottom menu item in your screenshot of the right-click context menu.

Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars

Any luck?

And by the way, Ctrl+T will open a new tab.

Hmmm ... I looked at all the possibilities under Customize New Tab or anything that might lead to that but did not find anything that offered any way to change the new tab option or appearance. I did not see any reference or any page anywhere that had any buttons or offered some way to change the appearance of a new tab.

It may be strange but I'm slightly encouraged that the "+" ought to be there. Since it seems to be on later, more current versions, would it be appropriate to delete this version of Firefox and reinstall a fresh one? Is there a significant downside to a delete / reinstall maneuver, like losing all my bookmarks or other settings? Those are pains in the anatomy to restore manually and that would probably sufficiently deter my doing so (and wait for a later version to fix it).

Thanks for your thoughts. I appreciate your efforts.

First, try the "Restore defaults" button at the bottom of the Customize tab to see whether it puts the + button back where it belongs. You might also launch a new window (Ctrl+N) to see whether all windows are affected or only the initial window.

Maybe you removed the '+' icon or moved it to another toolbar.

Make sure toolbars like the "Bookmarks Toolbar" are visible. Open the Customize page and set what toolbars (Show/Hide Toolbars) and toolbar items to display.

• Right-click empty toolbar area => Customize
• "3-bar" menu button => Customize
• View -> Toolbars
  *you can tap the Alt key or press the F10 key to show the hidden Menu Bar temporarily

• if missing items are in the Customize palette, drag them back from the Customize palette to the toolbar
• if you do not see an item on a toolbar and in the Customize palette, click Restore Defaults in the Customize palette window to restore the default toolbar set.

See also:

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/customize-firefox-controls-buttons-and-toolbars

Your statement that maybe I removed the “+” icon or moved it to another toolbar is truer than you can know. I still find the internet and its progeny like browsers a mysterious place; so, yes, I could have blithely parked that little sucker just about anywhere without realizing it.

Back to the dilemma at hand, though. I went through your recipe, and as well very helpful JEscher’s, and finally found THE remedy which both suggested: “Restore Defaults.” I did; and it did; and the “+” is there now. I will have to go back into the customize menu again and set a couple of personal preferences, I see (which is probably when I did the deed); but I’m optimistic I can get that done without accidentally creating more unwanted side effects.

Thank you for your clear and not too tech-laden help.

LM