Firefox – Is it possible to leave Firefox open when closing its only tab

firefox

I am using Firefox 59.0.2 (64-bit) on Ubuntu 16.04 (Xenial Xerus).

When there is only one tab opened in Firefox, closing the tab will also close the web browser. This is contrary to that in Chrome browser, closing the only tab doesn't close the Chrome browser.

Is it possible to leave Firefox open when closing its only tab?

Best Answer

While it isn't possible to keep Firefox open with no tab showing, you can prevent quitting the application when the last tab is closed by having a new tab created automatically (your choice of home page or blank tab). Use about:config to change this behavior.

  • In the URL box, type about:config and press Enter.
  • If you get a warning that emphasizes "Changing these advanced settings can be harmful...," click the button that says I accept the risk!
  • Find the Preference name browser.tabs.closeWindowWithLastTab by typing it in the Search box or copy-and-paste it from here.
  • Double-click the Preference to change it to false.
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