Remove New Tab Button In Firefox

Martin Brinkmann
May 17, 2011
Updated • Mar 6, 2015
Firefox
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14

The new tab button has been first integrated in Firefox 3.5 and has been part of the Firefox web browser ever since.

Its plus icon is placed on the right side of the tabbar next to the dropdown menu to display a list of all open tabs.

A click on the icon opens a new blank tab in the browser.

I personally do not need the functionality of the new tab button as I open new tabs with the keyboard shortcut Ctrl-t instead, which is faster and at least for me more comfortable.

new tab button firefox

I always try to find a way to do away with interface elements that I do not use regularly, and the new tab button in Firefox is no exception to that.

It is a lot easier to remove the button in Firefox 4 than it was in previous versions of the web browser. Right-click on the new tab bar icon and select customize from the available options.

customize firefox

The browser is now in customize mode which means that you can drag and drop elements from the interface to the Customize Toolbar window and vice verse.

To remove the new tab button drag and drop it on to the Customize Toolbar window. You can do the same for some of the other elements displayed in the interface including the list all tabs dropdown. Some elements are locked and cannot be removed this way.

Click done in the window once you are finished. The new tab button should be gone for good now and you have saved some space in the tabbar.

Since there is no button anymore to click on to spawn a new tab page, you need to use the Ctrl-t keyboard shortcut instead to open new tabs in Firefox.

The only other option you have at your disposal is to tap on the Alt-key and select File > New Tab from the menu that opens up when you do.

Summary
Remove New Tab Button In Firefox
Article Name
Remove New Tab Button In Firefox
Description
Find out how to remove the new tab button in the Firefox web browser to save some space in the tab bar.
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Comments

  1. Br.Bill said on May 17, 2011 at 11:48 pm
    Reply

    IMO, this really is much ado about nothing. Considering all the other things to deal with, why care about this tiny button?

  2. TechBuzzard said on May 17, 2011 at 8:41 pm
    Reply

    Double click next to the existing tab in Firefox 4, and a new tab is open. Pretty faster than the shortcut.

  3. Joan Craig said on May 17, 2011 at 6:10 pm
    Reply

    How do you delete a saved unsorted bookmark?

    1. boris said on May 17, 2011 at 8:14 pm
      Reply

      You can remove the whole “Unsorted Bookmarks” menu with Stylish script if that what you meant . It is available.

      1. Midnight said on May 17, 2011 at 8:52 pm
        Reply

        Yep! In UserStyles, it’s called Hide Unsorted Bookmarks!

    2. Martin Brinkmann said on May 17, 2011 at 6:14 pm
      Reply

      You need to do that in the bookmark manager.

  4. Me said on May 17, 2011 at 5:56 pm
    Reply

    Ctrl-T does not always work like when a PDF file is open (may depend on your PDF reader)

    However other web applications can prevent the Ctrl-T from getting to firefox to create a new tab.

  5. TechLogon.com said on May 17, 2011 at 5:43 pm
    Reply

    Thanks Martin, worked fine on Firefox 4.01 for me, tab button can just be dragged to remove it.

    I also used this Customize Toolbar function to remove some other icons which cluttered up the layout.

  6. Morning said on May 17, 2011 at 5:41 pm
    Reply

    Worked for me,same thing button vanishe’s but found it on far right next to little arrow,thank’s for this.

  7. Midnight said on May 17, 2011 at 3:54 pm
    Reply

    This trick doesn’t work with Firefox 4.01 as when the Customize Toolbar window is open, the New Tab button disappears and there’s nothing there to drag!

    Hhhhhmmmmm!!!!

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on May 17, 2011 at 4:55 pm
      Reply

      That’s strange.

      1. Midnight said on May 17, 2011 at 6:24 pm
        Reply

        Strange, but true! :)
        I wonder if the Theme (Noia 4) Aero Glass might have something to do with it?

        As mentioned, once the Customize Window is open, the “Open a New Tab” button disappears and can’t be dragged anywhere.

        No big thing as that Tab is semi transparent, anyways.

        I do like the Control-T suggestion that you indicated.

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