Workaround to Open Bookmarks in New Tab in Firefox

When opening a bookmark in Firefox, the bookmarked web page will open on the active tab by default. The behavior can potentially cause user to accidentally lose the web page he or she is browsing or close the tab with unsaved work to load the new website. Since Firefox supports tabbed browsing, it’s would be great if the bookmarked links can be opened and launched in new tab instead.

Unfortunately, by default, Firefox doesn’t allow bookmarks to be opened in new tab when clicked. However, there are a few tricks and workarounds that can force Firefox to open all clicks to open bookmarks to open the webpage on new tab instead of replacing current active tab, which may already be loaded with web page.

The most easy workaround to open bookmark (or in fact any links) into a new tab with middle mouse button click. Thus, instead of clicking the bookmark with usual left click, click it with middle mouse button.

If you’re using laptop touchpad or notebook computer trackpad, or mouse with no middle button, another hack to open bookmark in new blank tab without replacing existing tabs is to press and hold Ctrl button while clicking on the intended bookmark.

Another built-in mechanism to open bookmark in new tab is to right click on the bookmark, and then select Open in New Tab in the context menu. Using this way, user can also opt to “Open in New Window” too.

For Firefox user who wants simpler solution, the trick is to use an extension add-on that able to instruct and force Firefox to open bookmarks in a new tab. One such plug-in is Tab Mix Plus. Tab Mix Plus provides advanced tab configuration options, including ability to turn on and enable Open bookmark in a new tab option.

Download and install Tab Mix Plus 0.3.6 for Firefox 2: tab_mix_plus-0.3.6-fx.xpi
Download and install Tab Mix Plus Dev-Build 0.3.7pre.080721 Release for Firefox 3: tab_mix_plus-dev-build.xpi (future update on garyr.net)

8 Responses to “Workaround to Open Bookmarks in New Tab in Firefox”

  1. Chris Aguilar
    October 11th, 2009 17:45
    8

    This Add On works is simple and works perfectly
    Open Bookmarks in New Tab 0.1.2009100801
    by Piro (piro_or)

  2. Mahmoud
    August 21st, 2009 04:59
    7

    Have u tried to replace the url of the bookmark with this javascript code:
    javascript:void(window.open(‘URL’))

    for example if I want each time I click on the imdb bookmark to open in a new tab I use the following:
    javascript:void(window.open(‘http://www.imdb.com’))

    and I think this will work even in IE

  3. shawn
    August 20th, 2009 08:02
    6

    hi.. anyone knows how to launch specific websites/bookmark automatically while Firefox start?

  4. Murz
    July 7th, 2009 16:06
    5

    Does anybody found separate extension that do this? I have using Tree Style Tabs extenstion that conflicts with Tab Mix Plus :(

  5. BAM
    February 6th, 2009 13:48
    4

    I managed to setup firefox to open links in new tab (firefox), without the ‘tab mix plus’ add-on: I have a laptop with a synaptics touchpad, so in the configuration of the touchpad, there is an option to ‘enable gestures’ with tap-zones (assigns a user-defined function to the corner zones of the touchpad), so I assigned “middle click” to the top-left corner zone, for example, and now, when I tap the top-left corner of the touchpad, while over a link in firefox, I get the link opening in a new tab (and not in the current tab).

  6. Arsnof
    August 31st, 2008 11:20
    3

    Thank you for that little bit of knowledge about the ctrl button, sir or ma’am. I’ve been getting tired of right-click-’open in new tab’. Oddly enough, I never thought to google it.

  7. How to Open Favorites in New Tab in Internet Explorer 7 or 8 (IE7) Browser » My Digital Life
    July 24th, 2008 03:44
    2

    [...] favorites folder takes a prominent location on the top right corner of browser window. And unlike Firefox, IE7 or IE8 can easily open a favorite into a new tab. For user who wants to open the links from [...]

  8. How to Open Favorites in New Tab in Internet Explorer 7 or 8 (IE7) Browser » My Digital Life
    July 24th, 2008 03:44
    1

    [...] favorites folder takes a prominent location on the top right corner of browser window. And unlike Firefox, IE7 or IE8 can easily open a favorite into a new tab. For user who wants to open the links from [...]

Leave a Reply

You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Subscribe to comments feature has been disabled. To receive notification of latest comments posted, subscribe to My Digital Life Comments RSS feed or register to receive new comments in daily email digest.

New Articles

Incoming Search Terms for the Article

firefox open bookmark in new tab - open bookmarks in new tab - open bookmarks in new tab firefox - firefox open bookmarks in new tab - firefox bookmarks open in new tab - firefox open link in new tab - open bookmark in new tab - firefox open bookmarks new tab - open bookmark in new tab firefox - firefox bookmarks new tab - open bookmarks in new tab in firefox - firefox open bookmark in new window - firefox bookmark open new window - firefox open bookmark new tab - firefox bookmark open in new window - open in new tab touchpad - firefox bookmark new tab - windows 7 firefox tap opens new tab - "open in new window" bookmark tab - bookmarklet new tab - force firefox to open in new tab - firefox open bookmarks in a new tab - IE8 open favorites in new tab - firefox bookmarks toolbar open in new tab - open bookmarks in new tabs - bookmarklet open in new tab - firefox new tab bookmarks - open link in new tab with trackpad - how do i open bookmarks in a new tab in firefox - how to open bookmark in new tab firefox - how to make firefox opennew tab from book mark toolbar - synaptic touch pad firefox open new tab - firefox add on always open new tab - automatically open links in new tab in firefox - all - bookmarklet open new tab - make firefox bookmarks open in new tab - firefox open link new tab - open favorites in new window firefox - fire fox + open bookmark in new tab - How do I open a favorite into a new tab window? - bookmarks open in new tab - bookmarks new tab - firefox open bookmark new window - firefox open bookmarks as page - firefox open bookmark in current tab - how to open in a new tab from bookmarks firefox - open new tab when bookmark - open new tab from bookmarks - bookmarks links on new tab -