If I'm understanding you correctly it sounds like you want left-clicking on a link to always open the link in a new tab. I don't know if this is possible without extensions. The default behavior on every browser I've used is to open the link in the current tab with a left-click and open the link in a new tab with CTRL+left-click.

Are you using a mouse or a touchpad? One easy alternative might be just to use the middle-click on a link (pushing down on the mouse wheel). I think that should do what you want.

If you're using a touchpad on Windows there isn't a middle-click by default, but you can use these steps to set up something similar:

1. Open the Windows settings app
2. Search for "change what happens when you use three finger taps on the touchpad"
3. Change the taps settings to "middle-click"

This'll set it so you "middle-click" by tapping three fingers on the touchpad.

I, too, can no longer find the "open links in new tab" setting. Up until the new update (Oct. 2025), I have enjoyed the setting of "open link in new tab but remain on current page" (paraphrased). That is nowhere to be found in my Firefox settings anymore. The closest I can find is "new links in new window" (again, paraphrase), which I don't want; I prefer tabs to windows. And I am not interested in the above work-around, or any work-arounds. I want it in Firefox. Has the option been eliminated? If so, why?

The same question. I think it was some of the changes made during the update that caused this problem. Because before October, no matter which link I clicked, it was possible to open a new tab.