Prevent Firefox Autoredirects to New Tab & Close Old One in Pop!_OS

Prevent Firefox Autoredirects to New Tab and Close Old One on Pop!\_OS

When using Firefox on Pop!\_OS, you may encounter an issue where clicking on certain links, such as those related to Facebook, results in an automatic redirect to a new tab while closing the old one. This behavior can be frustrating and disruptive to your browsing experience. This article will guide you through the necessary steps to prevent Firefox autoredirects to new tabs and keep the old one open on Pop!\_OS.

Understanding the Issue

The issue arises due to a combination of factors, including the Firefox browser settings, Pop!\_OS configuration, and specific website behaviors. The primary concern is that certain websites, such as Facebook, may take control of the browsing context and force a new tab to open, while closing the previous one. This can be particularly problematic when trying to maintain a specific workflow or when working with multiple tabs simultaneously.

Modifying Firefox Settings

To prevent Firefox from automatically redirecting to new tabs, you can adjust the browser settings:

1. Launch Firefox on your Pop!\_OS system.

2. Click on the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the upper right corner of the browser window.

3. Select "Options" from the dropdown menu.

4. In the "Options" window, click on the "Tabs" tab on the left side.

5. Under the "Open links in tabs instead" section, ensure that "A new window" is selected.

6. Close the "Options" window to save the changes.

Adjusting Pop!\_OS Settings

To further mitigate the issue, you can modify Pop!\_OS settings:

1. Launch the "Settings" application on your Pop!\_OS system.

2. Click on "Privacy" in the left sidebar.

3. Scroll down to the "Web Content" section and click on "Customize Web Content".

4. Under the "Cookies" section, ensure that "Ask first" is selected.

5. Close the "Settings" window to save the changes.

Using Browser Extensions

You can also consider using browser extensions to manage tab behavior:

1. Launch Firefox on your Pop!\_OS system.

2. Click on the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the upper right corner of the browser window.

3. Select "Add-ons and Themes" from the dropdown menu.

4. In the "Add-ons Manager" window, click on "Extensions" in the left sidebar.

5. Search for and install an extension that suits your needs, such as "Tab Utilities" or "Auto Tab Discard".

References

• Type: Online resources

  Title: Tab Utilities for Firefox

  URL: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/tab-utilities/

• Type: Online resources

  Title: Auto Tab Discard for Firefox

  URL: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/auto-tab-discard/

By following the steps outlined above, you can effectively prevent Firefox from automatically redirecting to new tabs and keep the old one open on Pop!\_OS. This will allow you to maintain a more streamlined browsing experience and minimize disruptions.