Fixing Firefox 3.6’s Default Relative Tabs

Late last week, Mozilla released a major update to its Firefox browser, bringing us up to version 3.6. This version brings a couple of new things to the table, such as improved Personas support (custom browser themes that apply instantly), protection from out-of-date plugins, improved full screen video, faster JavaScript performance and a lot of cool toys for developers.

Since upgrading, I had no real problems in which to speak of. The theme I was using was broke, but fortunately, the author was ultra-quick in getting a newer and more compatible version up. Aside from that, there is just one thing that has been driving me nuts, and it seems all too simple.

Before, when I clicked on a link to open it up in a new tab, or simply clicked on a URL that was supposed to open up in a new window, both would simply open up in a new tab at the end of the list. This is convenient, and it’s how I’ve gotten used to using tabs ever since I began using Firefox, back when it was called Phoenix. So it was with surprise that I found out that 3.6 changed how new tabs open.

Rather than kick a tab to the end of the line, it will instead open it next to the current tab you are using. If you have a long list of tabs open, this is inconvenient, because if you’re like me, you expect it to go to the end of the line, not right beside where you are. Fortunately, after a bit of digging around in about:config, I found that the solution to the problem is simple.

In your address bar, type in about:config and then enter. Then search for ‘browser.tabs.insertRelatedAfterCurrent’. It should say “true”, and if not, then you likely don’t have this issue. Double click the entry to change it back to “false”, and from here-on-out, you will have your new tabs open at the end of the list, rather than relative to your current tab. Whew, I’m glad the solution is so easy… it was getting maddening!

Firefox 3.6 is built on Mozilla’s Gecko 1.9.2 web rendering platform, which has been under development since early 2009 and contains many improvements for web developers, add-on developers, and users. This version is also faster and more responsive than previous versions and has been optimized to run on small device operating systems such as Maemo.