Why does Firefox sometimes open a new window when I navigate to an existing tab?

I often have 7 or 8 tabs open in Firefox. Sometimes when I click on a tab, Firefox opens it in a new window instead of just going to that tab. I haven't figured out a pattern when it does this.

A very slight movement (usually downward) will cause the tab to "tear off"/"tear away" into a new window. You can drag the tab back to the original window from the new window.
You can install this Add-on to stop the "tear off"/"tear away" behavior:
*https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/bug489729-disable-detach-and-t/
'''If this reply solves your problem, please click "Solved It" next to this reply when signed-in to the forum.'''
Not related to your question, but...
You need to update some plug-ins:
*Plug-in check: https://www-trunk.stage.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/
*Adobe Shockwave for Director Netscape plug-in: [https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using%20the%20Shockwave%20plugin%20with%20Firefox#w_installing-shockwave Installing ('''''or Updating''''') the Shockwave plugin with Firefox]
*Next Generation Java Plug-in for Mozilla browsers: [https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using%20the%20Java%20plugin%20with%20Firefox#w_installing-or-updating-java Installing or Updating Java in Firefox]

Similar Messages

Why does firefox intermittantly open a new window when I click on an existing tab? This only happens when I have three or more tabs open.

Several times now Firefox 4.0.1, when clicking on a tab (three or more tabs open) I immediately moves that tab to it's own window and closes the tab in the existing window.

That is probably the "tear-off tabs" feature. A slight movement (usually downward) when clicking on an existing tab will cause that tab to "tear-off" and open in a new window. You can drag the tab back to the previous window. You can also install this add-on to stop the behavior: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/bug489729-disable-detach-and-t/
 
 
'''You need to update the following.''' The Plugin version(s) shown below was/were submitted with your question and is/are out of date. You should update to avoid known security issues with the version(s) you have installed. Click on "More system info..." to the right of your question to see what was included with your question.
*Adobe Shockwave for Director Netscape plug-in, version 11.5.9.615
*Next Generation Java Plug-in 1.6.0_20 for Mozilla browsers
#'''''Check your plugin versions''''' on either of the following links':
#*http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/
#*https://www-trunk.stage.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/
#*'''Note: plugin check page does not have information on all plugin versions'''
#*There are plugin specific testing links available from this page:
#**http://kb.mozillazine.org/Testing_plugins
#'''Update Shockwave for Director'''
#*NOTE: this is not the same as Shockwave Flash; this installs the Shockwave Player.
#*Use Firefox to download and SAVE the installer to your hard drive from the link in the article below (Desktop is a good place so you can find it).
#*When the download is complete, exit Firefox (File > Exit)
#*locate and double-click in the installer you just downloaded, let the install complete.
#*Restart Firefox and check your plugins again.
#*'''Download link and more information''': http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using+the+Shockwave+plugin+with+Firefox
#'''Update the [[Java]] plugin''' to the latest version.
#*Download site: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html (Java Platform: Download JRE)
#**'''''Be sure to un-check the Yahoo Toolbar option during the install if you do not want it installed.
#*Also see "Manual Update" in this article to update from the Java Control Panel in Windows Control Panel: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using+the+Java+plugin+with+Firefox#Updates
#* Removing old versions (if needed): http://www.java.com/en/download/faq/remove_olderversions.xml
#* Remove multiple Java Console extensions (if needed): http://kb.mozillazine.org/Firefox_:_FAQs_:_Install_Java#Multiple_Java_Console_extensions
#*Java Test: http://www.java.com/en/download/help/testvm.xml

Why does Firefox now open a new window "when I click on a link" while using? It's a new annoyance that only appeared when I downleaded or added an add-on or extension. Please help me! Thank you VERY much!

A new window opens when I click on a link or go to a new site.

Do you have that problem when running in the Firefox SafeMode? 
[http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Safe+Mode] 
''Don't select anything right now, just use "Continue in SafeMode."''
If not, see this: 
[http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes]

How do I get firefox to open a new window when i click on a link in a webpage ?

When I click on a link in a webpage in Firefox, generally it opens the new page in the window i am in (though some times it does not). How do I get it to open a new window (or tab) each time I click a link.
For example, on www.bbc.co.uk if I click on a link, the new page opens in the same window, if I then click another link in the new window, again, it opens in the same window. To get back to the original window, I have to use the back button twice. Surely there is a setting so that all 3 windows can be open on separate tabs or separate windows.
I have been to the tabs window in options, but doesn't seem to make a difference.

Open link/bookmark in new tab in same window:
*Middle-click (press the mouse scroll wheel) the link
*Ctrl+left click the link
*right-click the link, choose "Open Link in New Tab"
Open link/bookmark in new window:
* Shift+Enter on the link
* Shift+left click on the link
See: http://www.7is7.com/software/firefox/shortcuts.html

How do I change firefox to open a new window when I start it several times instead of opening a new tab when I want to go to a different location?

I want to go to several different websites at the same time. I want to compare the information on each site. I do not want to open a tab, I want a whole new window. How do I change firefox so it will open a new window instead of opening a new tab and then requesting the site I want to go to?

In Windows XP I am able to right click a link and get an option to open it as a new Firefox window
*'''tear off tabs'''
You will probably note tabs can be dragged along the tab toolbar, they also tear off. You can click a tab and drag it off the browser onto the Windows Desktop where it will open as a new window, or drag it on to another open browser window.
An alternative is to click the tab and drag it down, again it will then open in a new Window.

How do I stop Firefox from opening a new window when I go to a search item?

When I do a search, and click on a topic, Firefox opens a new window on the tool bar at the bottom of my screen. How can I stop this from happening?

I'm guessing you use Google for search. There is a setting in Google search to open each result in a new window. (When you use tabbed browsing, that means each result opens in a new tab.) You can check on whether you have that setting turned on as follows:
On a Google results page, click the button on the right side with the "gear" icon, then click Search Settings from the drop-down list. At the bottom of the page is the setting to open results in a new window.
Is that the culprit?

Why does Firefox sometimes put the New Tab "+" button to the left of my open tabs instead of to the right?

''dupe of https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/932160''
[Re-posted with additional details when I thought this post had failed. Please respond to the other post and ignore this one. My apologies for the duplication.]
In some windows, seems more likely after a crash recovery (but not sure there's a connection), Firefox puts the New Tab "+" button to the left of my tabs instead of the right. This is annoying, because once you're used to clicking it to the right of your open tabs, it's confusing to sometimes find it to the left.
If I go into Customize mode, it still shows the "+" tab on the right, but as soon as I close Customize, it's really still there on the left edge of the screen.
Why does this happen and can I stop it? I have seen no reports of this problem posted by others, but it's been happening for me since at least Version 12 and not fixed by version 13.0.1.

This may be related to session restore.
*[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=774943 bug 774943] - Session restore puts "+" button in the wrong spot and hides first tab
*[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=714382 bug 714382] - Leftmost tab is hidden when reopening browser window
([https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/page.cgi?id=etiquette.html please do not comment in bug reports])

Why does safari always open a new windows on start up?

On startup safari opens one more window in addition to the previous session window, if i change settings safari boulbes previous session window.
What I have to do to make safari open only one window on startup?

Safari > Preferences > General
Select: A new window from the Safari open with: pop up menu
With Safari open, you can also access Safari Preferences with the Command , (comma) keyboard shortcut.

Why does Firefox sometimes open an existing tab in a new window?

I assume this happens because I click in the wrong place or the wrong way. If i knew how it happens I could try to avoid it.

Yes, this happens to me all the time too, but I can just be clicking on a link within a page when it happens; my mouse pointer isn't anywhere near the tabs...??

Firefox always opens a new window when i click the icon on my task bar...this is new and I would like it to say in the same window How?

I have a firefox icon on my task bar. Before this latest install, I would click the icon and Firefox would come up directly. Now it opens another firefox window. I don't want this. How can I change it back?

Click on the spotlight icon in the top right of your screen (looks like a magnifying glass), type
Terminal
and press 'return'.
In the window that opens up, paste or type this exactly into the window
killall Finder; killall Dock
(that's case sensitive) and press 'return'.
You'll notice the Dock disappear for a second or two then return, as do any open Finder windows.
Test using Finder as normal. Same problem?

Why does Firefox give this message when I do not have another program running "Firefox is already running, but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your system."

Question
why does Firefox give this message when I do not have another program running or another window open - "Firefox is already running, but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your system." edit

See also "Hang at exit":
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Firefox_hangs
*https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Firefox+hangs

Why does firefox stop loading then when i close it and try to open it up again I keep getting this message:Firefox is already running, but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your system

Firefox will just stop loading/ connecting to the internet. The gray circle will just continually move but it never turns green to load the pages. I know it's not my internet because my internet explorer works just fine while this is happening to firefox. So I close firefox and then try to re open it but I get the message: Firefox is already running, but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your system. So I wait a little bit then try and re open it and still get the same message. I then go into my windows task manager and try and end the firefox proccess but it won't end. So I restart my computer and firefox eventually starts acting up again.

For possible causes of this error, and how to troubleshoot it see [[Firefox is already running but is not responding]].

Why does Firefox stop opening new browser windows when "Sync" is running?

I downloaded and installed Firefox Sync v1.4 to my Firefox v.3.6.10
While Sync is running, Firefox will not open a new window when I do any of the following:
* Click "New Window" from the File menu.
* Click "Open in a new window" from right-clicking a tab.
* Click a link with JavaScript to open the target in a new window.
No error messages, just no action. I updated Sync to the newest version 1.5 but the problem still exists. Disabling either version in the Add-ons window "fixed" the problem. Is there a setting that causes this problem? Are others experiencing this same problem?

Firefox 3.5 versions and later have a feature called tear-off tabs. 
You can detach a tab from the current window and open it in a new window by dragging a tab in the browser window. 
You can drag that tab back to the tab bar in the original window to undo that detaching.
bug489729 (Disable detach and tear off tab):
*https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/bug489729-disable-detach-and-t
Start Firefox in [[Safe Mode]] to check if one of the extensions or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).
*Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Safe+Mode

Sometimes when I close Firefox and try to open it in few moments it shows me message "Firefox is already running, but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your system." However, I haven't o

Sometimes when I close Firefox and try to open it in few moments it shows me message "Firefox is already running, but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your system." However, I haven't opened any additional Firefox related programs, and previous Firefox is closed. First I though it is because of my computer, but then I discovered that other people have the same problem as well
== This happened ==
A few times a week
== some 2 month ago ==
== User Agent ==
Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 6.0; SLCC1; .NET CLR 2.0.50727; Media Center PC 5.0; .NET CLR 3.5.30729; InfoPath.2; .NET CLR 3.0.30729)

Hi Andis.
First of all, this is completely normal behavior, although it's a bit irritating, I know. What happens is that when you close Firefox, despite the window disappearing right there and then, Firefox keeps running for a little bit until the whole closing procedure is completed. This can take a fraction of a second on fast computers, or can take a few seconds on slow computers or when Firefox is storing a large session (if you save your tabs). All you have to do is wait a bit until Firefox closes, and then open it again.
To see if it's still running, you can press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC and then, under the Processes tab, you can see if firefox.exe is still there. If it's taking an unusual amount of time to close (which happens very rarely, and only if the browser freezes on exit), you can force the application to terminate from this application (task manager).
Firefox 4.0 will reduce by 97% the time it takes firefox.exe to close, so this problem will be basically erased for Firefox's next version.
Until then, I can recommend you this extension, which helps you restart your browser more easily and without bothering about closing times:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3559/
Hopefully this will help.

When i exit firefox &try to reopen the message is showing as Firefox is already running, but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your system.why this happens even i close it by exit.

after i exit firefox & tried to open,it is not opening,instead this message is coming as 'Firefox is already running, but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your system.'kindly help me.everytime to open i have to go to task manager & stop the process.

[https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Firefox%20hangs#w_firefox-hangs-when-you-quit-it Firefox hangs when you close it]

Why does Firefox sometimes open a new window when I navigate to an existing tab?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for