Options > Tabs = Open new windows in a new tab instead

Are there particular links that cause this problem?

If a website has specified that a link should open in a new window with specific features, such as a particular size, or hiding the toolbar, then Firefox will still open that kind of scripted link in a new window instead of diverting it to a tab. Firefox has this exception because such scripted window may be dialogs associated with the page, such as a date picker, and it may be inconvenient to have to switch to a tab to use it. But if that's the problem, there is a hidden setting to force them into a new tab anyway.

This is about to get a little nerdy... match your settings to what I've bolded below:

WARNING: Changing preferences through this interface not officially supported Hidden settings edited using the about:config tool are explicitly not supported, which means that Mozilla makes no guarantees they will be supported in the future, or that Mozilla will fix them if they break. Mozilla does not test these preferences, and will not in the future. That includes security and performance testing which these preferences may affect.

[Warning added by moderator]

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

(2) In the filter box, type or paste link.o and pause while the list is filtered.

(3) There are three similarly named preferences for different scenarios:

(A) browser.link.open_newwindow

3 = divert new window to a new tab (default) 2 = allow link to open a new window 1 = force new window into same tab

(B) browser.link.open_newwindow.restriction - for links in Firefox tabs

0 = apply the setting under (A) to ALL new windows (even script windows) 2 = apply the setting under (A) to normal windows, but NOT to script windows with features (default) 1 = override the setting under (A) and always use new windows

(C) browser.link.open_newwindow.override.external - for links in other programs

-1 = apply the setting under (A) to external links (default) 3 = open external links in a new tab in the last active window 2 = open external links in a new window 1 = open external links in the last active tab replacing the current page

Thanks for answers, but I just wondering how Google Chrome handle this situation that you mentioned, the new link still opened in new window, but the user can simply change that to new tab. but whit that setting we lost new window forever and that is not true way I think

Do you mean if you have Window 1 and Window 2 in Chrome, you can do something in Window 2 to change it into a tab in Window 1?

Firefox allows you to drag a tab from Window 2 to a the tab bar of Window 1 to make it a tab there. Resize Window 2 so that you can see the tab bar of Window 1, then click and drag the tab you want to move from the tab bar of Window 2 to the tab bar of Window 1. You should see a fat "up arrow" as you move along the tab bar of Window 1 showing where it will be inserted.

I can't think of any other way to do it in Firefox. There have been some extensions over the years for this, I don't know which ones still work, but you could investigate:

• https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/monitor-master/
  • Tab context menu: Move a tab to another open window

Tab Utilities and Tab Mix Plus might also have something but they have had some issues with Firefox 40.

Exactly, in Chrome that is possible and need 2 steps,

1. right click on Window 2 and select "Show as tab" (then we have a window with one tab) 2. simply drag this new tab to Window 1

You said "Firefox allows you to drag a tab from Window 2 to a the tab bar of Window 1 to make it a tab there. ", the problem is in Window 2 there is in no any tab, there we have a window and dragging that is into Window 1 is not possible.

btw I just wanna know a way without adding any add-on. if is possible of course.

Mehdi said

You said "Firefox allows you to drag a tab from Window 2 to a the tab bar of Window 1 to make it a tab there. ", the problem is in Window 2 there is in no any tab, there we have a window and dragging that is into Window 1 is not possible.

Is the tab missing in a window if you open a new window normally, for example, by pressing Ctrl+n?

Websites can pop up dialog-style windows that only have the address bar, no tabs, no buttons, etc. For example, try the third link on this page:

http://jeffersonscher.com/res/popit.html

If you want a tab on that window, you can change a hidden setting. Note that for sites that carefully size pop-ups, this may cause some content not to fit and you might have to enlarge the window or change the zoom level.

(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 dom.d and pause while the list is filtered

(3) Double-click the dom.disable_window_open_feature.toolbar preference to switch it from false to true, meaning that sites are disabled from hiding the toolbar.

Then try that third link again and you should have a tab you can drag.

Success?

@jscher

Is the tab missing in a window if you open a new window normally, for example, by pressing Ctrl+n? Yes, I have tab when I pressing Ctrl+N.

And fantastic, your solution worked. But could you please tell me why this option is false by default? and why is accessible just via "about:config" and not (for example) via context menu, like Google Chrome?

You can drag a tab from one window to the Tab bar of another window if you want the merge tabs or accidentally teared off a tab. You can hover the tab on a Firefox window item on the Windows Taskbar to bring this window to the foreground.

Mehdi said

But could you please tell me why this option is false by default? and why is accessible just via "about:config" and not (for example) via context menu, like Google Chrome?

Perhaps no one asked for it? You can submit feedback and file bugs on the following sites, respectively:

• https://input.mozilla.org/feedback

• https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/
  • Tips: https://developer.mozilla.org/docs/Mozilla/QA/Bug_writing_guidelines