Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

I want the cursor to be in the address bar when creating a new window; it works for new tabs and in a new private window, but not in safe mode.

  • 2 replies
  • 10 have this problem
  • 7 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

I have tried following the advice offered in the few different threads I have found on this but nothing fixes it. I want the cursor to be in the address bar when I open a new window and/or when firefox opens without restoring a previous session. I fixed the issue for new tabs via about:config but this doesn't work for new windows. I tried safe mode and the problem persists. In new private windows the cursor is in the address bar.

I have tried following the advice offered in the few different threads I have found on this but nothing fixes it. I want the cursor to be in the address bar when I open a new window and/or when firefox opens without restoring a previous session. I fixed the issue for new tabs via about:config but this doesn't work for new windows. I tried safe mode and the problem persists. In new private windows the cursor is in the address bar.

Chosen solution

A new window opens the home page (default: about:home) and not the new tab page (default: about:newtab).

Some of the built-in about pages set the focus to the search bar on the web page just like the Google website does.

You could use a bookmark on the Bookmarks Toolbar that opens the about:blank page. If you hold the Shift key when you click this bookmark then you open a new widow with this page. Otherwise you would have to set the home page to about:blank or about:about to have easy access to all about pages.

Read this answer in context 👍 2

All Replies (2)

more options

The search box in about:home steals the cursor. Changing your home page to something else will cause the cursor to start in the address bar for new windows.

more options

Chosen Solution

A new window opens the home page (default: about:home) and not the new tab page (default: about:newtab).

Some of the built-in about pages set the focus to the search bar on the web page just like the Google website does.

You could use a bookmark on the Bookmarks Toolbar that opens the about:blank page. If you hold the Shift key when you click this bookmark then you open a new widow with this page. Otherwise you would have to set the home page to about:blank or about:about to have easy access to all about pages.