Most website links open in the same browser tab. You probably don’t care too much. But if you’re not done with the current web page yet, prefer to access the linked pages later, or want to compare things, you should launch them on separate tabs. Find out below how to force your browser to open a link in a new tab
However, repeated use of the “Open link in new tab” context menu option is too time-consuming and quickly becomes tedious.
Fortunately, you can force your browser to open any link in a new tab using nothing more than your keyboard, mouse, and trackpad. Some browsers also support extensions that do this automatically.
Open link in new tab with keyboard and mouse/trackpad
On both PC and Mac, selecting links in conjunction with a specific keyboard key or keys forces the browser to open the link in a new tab.
That works in any browser, be it Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge or Opera. Alternatively, you can use your mouse or trackpad just to load links in new browser tabs.
Use keyboard with mouse/trackpad
You can load any link in a new browser tab by clicking or tapping on it while holding down the key Control (Windows) or the key Command (Mac). Each tab loads in the background, making it an ideal method for opening multiple links as you move through a web page.
Alternatively, you can click a link while holding down the keys shift + ctrl (PC) or shift + Command (Mac). That should not only open the link in a new tab, but also shift the focus from it to it.
Use only mouse or trackpad
If you’re using a mouse, simply using the middle mouse button to click on a link will immediately open it in a new browser tab. Hold down the key Shift while clicking the middle also helps you to switch to the tab automatically.
Windows laptop trackpads can also open links in new tabs. To do that, you need to emulate a middle click by clicking or tapping with three fingers. You can configure the middle mouse click by going to Setting > Devices > Touch panel .
MacBook trackpads don’t have a middle-click gesture. However, you can use third party apps like or to add support for that. They should also work with the .
How to use extensions to force links to open in new tabs
If you don’t like using your keyboard, mouse, or trackpad in unusual ways to open links in new tabs, or if you have a physical handicap, browser extensions can help. Some browsers also come with the option to open links in new tabs instead of new windows.
Google Chrome
Suppose you use Google Chrome, go to and search open links in new tabs . You should be able to locate several extensions that offer the functionality of forcing links to load in new browser tabs.
The extension, for example, allows you to easily open links in the background. After adding it to Chrome, simply choose the extension from the browser’s Extensions menu and turn on the switch to activate it for the site you’re viewing.
Another extension, called , allows you to configure the right mouse button or trackpad gesture to open links in the background or foreground.
If you want to expand your preferred extension’s support to include incognito windows in Chrome, open the menu extensions and go to Manage extensions > Details . Then turn on the switch next to Allow incognito .
MozillaFirefox
The also contains several extensions that can open links in new tabs. An example is . Just install it and all the links you find will open in a new tab. To manage how the extension works, go to Plugins and Themes > extensions .
Also, Firefox provides a built-in option that allows you to force links to load in tabs instead of new windows. To activate it, open the page Options in Firefox, select the tab General and check the box next to Open links in tabs instead of new windows .
Safari
Safari doesn’t have any extensions (at the time of writing) that can automatically open links in new tabs, so you have no choice but to rely solely on your keyboard and mouse/trackpad.
However, it does provide control over which links open in new windows. Go to Safari > preferences > Tabs and set Open pages in tabs instead of windows in Automatically . That should make such links open as tabs only.
Unlike Google Chrome, Chromium-based browsers like Microsoft Edge, Opera, and Vivaldi lack dedicated extensions that can help force links to open in new tabs. However, they use the same engine as Google Chrome. That means you can install Chrome extensions, like Right-click to open a link in a new tab, to get similar functionality.
Microsoft Edge: go to the page extensions of Microsoft Edge and turn on the switch next to Allow extensions from other stores . Then visit the Chrome Web Store and install your preferred extension.
Opera: add the plugin in Opera. Then go to the Chrome Web Store to install any Chrome extension.
Vivaldi: You do not have to do anything! Just head over to the Chrome Web Store and add the extension you want.
Open links in new tabs: choose your method
As you just saw, you have several ways to open links in new browser tabs. It’s easy to get used to doing it with the keyboard, mouse, or trackpad. But if that’s not your cup of tea, a browser extension is all you need. Sorry Safari fans!
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