Why does my web page go back a page when I hit back space while typing. I HATE it! I HATE it! I HATE it! it always wipes out what I'm typing.
Whenever I am typing online, on a website, and I have to backspace to correct something the page will all of sudden go back to the previous page, wiping out anything I have typed. Why, that makes no sense.
All Replies (8)
What's your computer system and Firefox version?
While a text field has focus, the back-space should remove the last character.
Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link} by holding down the
<Shift> (Mac=Options) key, and then starting Firefox.
A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh). Is the problem still there?
In case the above doesn't do the trick :
Type in the address bar about:config (press Enter) (promise to be careful, if asked)
Type in the search bar and look for the preference :
browser.backspace_action
And set its value to 0 (zero)
Then close and restart Firefox.
Actually you need to set browser.backspace_action to 2 to disable this feature.
cor-el said
Actually you need to set browser.backspace_action to 2 to disable this feature.
That's true : a value of 2 disables the feature completely.
I have mine set to 0, because I want to be able to remove characters.
A value of 1 : to change its action to scroll up in a page.
Hi bposey, when you are typing in a regular form field, the Backspace should only erase the character to the left. If you are using some kind of highly scripted editor or input area, Firefox may not realize it's an editor, and thinks the focus is somwhere in the body of the page. Sorry about that!
You already have the solution in the previous replies. I have mine set to 2 for this very reason.
Do you want to mention this to the site in case they need to modify their scripts to intercept the Backspace key? Or they could post instructions for Firefox users about the workaround.
jscher2000 said
Hi bposey, when you are typing in a regular form field, the Backspace should only erase the character to the left. If you are using some kind of highly scripted editor or input area, Firefox may not realize it's an editor, and thinks the focus is somwhere in the body of the page. Sorry about that! You already have the solution in the previous replies. I have mine set to 2 for this very reason. Do you want to mention this to the site in case they need to modify their scripts to intercept the Backspace key? Or they could post instructions for Firefox users about the workaround.
I'm not sure what to say to them or who. It has happened in more than one site, like youtube etc. and usually after I've typed a lengthy paragraph.
Hi bposey, I don't think this is a general problem on YouTube. Perhaps the cursor got outside of the editing field somehow. If it's not a specific site where it happens over and over, every time, then reporting it to them probably wouldn't be useful.
Hi again bposey,
Just curious, but have you tried changing the value of the preference browser.backspace_action on the 'about:config' page ?
Both jscher2000 and cor-el recommend a value of 2 - I'm sticking to the value of 0 (you could give them both a try ..... )