This article explains how to open web pages in a new window each time you click a link on the Firefox web browser. Instructions apply to Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.

What to Know

  • In the address bar, enter about:preferences to open Firefox settings.In the Tabs section, uncheck Open links in tabs instead of new windows.

Disable Tabbed Browsing

The default behavior is to open a new tab instead of opening a new window. This step-by-step tutorial shows you how to modify that default setting.

  • Open the Firefox browser.
  • Enter about:preferences in the browser’s address bar and press the Enter or Return key. The Firefox General preferences display.
  • At the bottom of this screen, in the Tabs section, are four options, each accompanied by a check box.
  • The second, Open links in tabs instead of new windows, is enabled by default and instructs Firefox to always open new pages in a tab instead of a window. To disable this functionality and have new pages open in a separate browser window, remove the check mark next to this option by selecting it once.

Open the Firefox browser.

Enter about:preferences in the browser’s address bar and press the Enter or Return key. The Firefox General preferences display. 

At the bottom of this screen, in the Tabs section, are four options, each accompanied by a check box.

The second, Open links in tabs instead of new windows, is enabled by default and instructs Firefox to always open new pages in a tab instead of a window. To disable this functionality and have new pages open in a separate browser window, remove the check mark next to this option by selecting it once.

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