Firefox opens new window instead of tab from ext. link (Mac)

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Tuser
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Joined: January 31st, 2015, 4:09 pm

Firefox opens new window instead of tab from ext. link (Mac)

Post by Tuser »

When I open a new link from an external source (Thunderbird) this is what always happens:
1. Firefox 73.0.1 (64-bit) is already running: I get a new tab in the current open window just as I have set it - great!
2. Firefox is not already running: It launches and I get a first window with the home page and a SECOND window with the link - HATE!

I want example 2 to behave like example 1.

I have the correct tab settings in preferences I have played with the settings in about:config (browser.link.open_newwindow, etc, etc) and I cannot change this behavior.

I am running Mac OS Catalina version 10.15.3 (19D76) (latest).

I am thinking bug.
Last edited by DanRaisch on February 19th, 2020, 4:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: (Mac) added to Subject line.
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DanRaisch
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Re: Firefox opens new window instead of tab from external li

Post by DanRaisch »

Moving to Firefox Support as no specific bug has been identified here.
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RobertJ
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Re: Firefox opens new window instead of tab from ext. link (

Post by RobertJ »

Tuser wrote:When I open a new link from an external source (Thunderbird) this is what always happens:
1. Firefox 73.0.1 (64-bit) is already running: I get a new tab in the current open window just as I have set it - great!
2. Firefox is not already running: It launches and I get a first window with the home page and a SECOND window with the link - HATE!
I am running Mac OS Catalina version 10.15.3 (19D76) (latest).

I am thinking bug.
Using Max OS 10.13.6

When I open a new link from an external source (Thunderbird) this is what happens:
1. Firefox 73.0.1 (64-bit) is already running: I get a new tab in the current open window showing the link from TB.
2. Firefox is not already running: FF launches and I get a new window showing the link from TB. No second window.

No bug; works as always.

.
FF 92.0 - TB 78.13 - Mac OSX 10.13.6
sebring*
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Re: Firefox opens new window instead of tab from ext. link (

Post by sebring* »

I have the same operating system as opening poster has and I have the exact same problem when using Thunderbird or Mac Mail. I am just wondering if it is a Mac problem.
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DanRaisch
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Re: Firefox opens new window instead of tab from ext. link (

Post by DanRaisch »

If you are seeing the same issue with both Mac Mail AND Thunderbird it seems very unlikely that it could be a Thunderbird problem.
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RobertJ
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Re: Firefox opens new window instead of tab from ext. link (

Post by RobertJ »

DanRaisch wrote:If you are seeing the same issue with both Mac Mail AND Thunderbird it seems very unlikely that it could be a Thunderbird problem.
I think he/she thinks it is a FF issue. Although I do not see it on Mac (have different OS).

.
FF 92.0 - TB 78.13 - Mac OSX 10.13.6
Tuser
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Re: Firefox opens new window instead of tab from ext. link (

Post by Tuser »

I am saying it is a Firefox problem. It doesn’t happen when I run this version of Firefox on Mojave on the same machine.
Moreover, the new window doesn’t operate properly; the Firefox menu is not complete in the menu bar, and the right-click context menus in the webpage do not have content.

If I kill the new window, hit the external link again, then I get a new tab in the old window, and everything is fine.

It appears the newest Firefox is not ready for Catalina.
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therube
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Re: Firefox opens new window instead of tab from ext. link (

Post by therube »

(And to top things off, if you happened to use multiple Profiles, external links [now, since FF67] will cause your default Profile to open - which may not be the particular instance that you may have open, currently. Now, how brilliant is that ;-).)
Fire 750, bring back 250.
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.1; en-US; rv:1.9.1.19) Gecko/20110420 SeaMonkey/2.0.14 Pinball CopyURL+ FetchTextURL FlashGot NoScript
sebring*
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Re: Firefox opens new window instead of tab from ext. link (

Post by sebring* »

Just an update to say mine is now opening correctly now.
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therube
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Re: Firefox opens new window instead of tab from ext. link (

Post by therube »

Are you saying that since the update to FF 75 (with presumably no other "changes"), that external links are now opening [FF] as expected, i.e., with no extra window being "generated"?
Fire 750, bring back 250.
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.1; en-US; rv:1.9.1.19) Gecko/20110420 SeaMonkey/2.0.14 Pinball CopyURL+ FetchTextURL FlashGot NoScript
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dickvl
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Re: Firefox opens new window instead of tab from ext. link (

Post by dickvl »

See also:
Bug 1600153 - macOS 10.15 Catalina - two firefox windows are opened when clicking on external link

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