Firefox Protect Tab vs Lock Tab: What's the Difference?

Enhancing Firefox Tab Management with Tab Mix Plus

For Firefox users seeking advanced tab management capabilities, Tab Mix Plus stands out as a highly recommended extension. Its features surpass those available in standard tab browsing, offering a level of control and customization not found elsewhere.

An alternative extension, Tab Browser Extensions, delivers comparable functionality. However, users may encounter overlap in features between the two, potentially leading to confusion.

Understanding Protect Tab and Lock Tab

Tab Mix Plus includes two distinct features – Protect Tab and Lock Tab – both accessible from the tab context menu. Understanding their individual purposes is crucial for effective utilization.

Protect Tab prevents accidental closure of a tab. This is particularly useful for tabs containing important information you wish to retain.

• This feature ensures the tab remains open, even if you attempt to close it.

Lock Tab restricts a tab from navigating to a new web address. The tab remains fixed on its current URL.

• Any attempt to open a new link – whether from a bookmark, history, or page link – will automatically open in a new tab instead.

These two features can also be used in conjunction with one another. For example, a tab can be both protected from closing and locked to a specific URL.

Many users find benefit in combining these features for frequently used tabs. A common practice is to lock and protect a tab like a news feed reader, ensuring it remains readily accessible as a primary tab.