Open Firefox Searches in New Tab - Quick Tip

Controlling Firefox Search Tab Behavior

By default, Firefox opens search results within the currently active browser tab. This can be disruptive to your workflow, but fortunately, several methods exist to modify this behavior.

Using a Hotkey for New Search Tabs

A quick solution is to utilize a keyboard shortcut. Instead of pressing Enter after entering your search query, use Alt+Enter. This will consistently open the search in a new tab, regardless of your default settings.

Setting New Tab as the Default Search Behavior

To permanently change the default behavior, you can adjust a configuration setting within Firefox. Begin by typing about:config into the address bar and pressing Enter.

Next, locate the following preference in the filter box:

browser.search.openintab

A simple double-click on this preference will toggle its value to true, ensuring all subsequent searches open in new tabs.

Modifying Search Behavior with Tab Mix Plus

If you have the Tab Mix Plus extension installed, you can configure search tab behavior through its options. Access the Tab Mix Plus Options via the Tools menu.

Within the options, navigate to the Events section.

Locate the "Open tabs from" section and ensure the checkbox next to "Search bar" is selected. This will instruct Tab Mix Plus to open all searches in new tabs.

Utilizing Middle-Click for New Search Tabs

An alternative method involves using your mouse's middle button. After entering your search term, a middle-click on the search button will initiate the search in a new tab.

This technique was originally shared by markdr in the Lifehacker comments section.