Search across all Firefox tabs with Search Multi Tabs

Martin Brinkmann
Feb 23, 2018
Firefox, Firefox add-ons
|
8

Search Multi Tabs is a new extension for the Firefox web browser that enables you to search across all open Firefox tabs at once.

Veteran Firefox users may remember extensions such as Tabby2 from 2011, Findbar Tweak from 2013 or Hugo Search All Tabs from 2013 which offered the same functionality. All of these extensions are not compatible with Firefox 57 anymore as Mozilla removed support for the classic add-on system in that release.

Search Multi Tabs

firefox search multi tabs

Search Multi Tabs is the first WebExtensions-based extension for Firefox that supports searching across all open Firefox tabs.

The extension adds a new sidebar to Firefox when you install it. It opens automatically after installation but no shortcut key is mapped to it. You may use the extension's icon to open the search interface. Use the View menu of the menubar (press the Alt-key to display it), or an existing shortcut such as Ctrl-B, to open the sidebar alternatively.

Search works as you'd expect it to. Enter a search term and hit the search button to get started. Search Multi Tabs searches all open tabs and displays the hits in its interface.

It displays the favicon and title of the page, and buttons that you may use to interact with it. Use the buttons to reload a tab, close it, duplicate it or to erase the list. Buttons are provided to go to the first tab or to open a blank tab.

Hits on the page are listed below each entry which you may click on to jump to that position directly.

A click on details displays search parameters that you may modify. The extension searches the body by default, and you may enable "highlight", "entire word" and "case sensitive" parameters for that search type.

You may switch to "title or URL only", and also include private browsing tabs in the search.

The extension searches loaded pages only. If Firefox is configured to lazy load tabs, only those that are loaded will be searched.

Closing Words

Search Multi Tabs is a useful extension for the Firefox web browser to run searches across all open tabs in the Firefox web browser. Firefox users who open lots of tabs in the browser may find it more useful than users who run one or only a handful of tabs at a time.

Now You: Do you use search extensions for your browser?

Related articles

Summary
software image
Author Rating
1star1star1star1stargray
4 based on 301 votes
Software Name
Search Multi Tabs
Software Category
Browser
Landing Page
Advertisement

Tutorials & Tips


Previous Post: «
Next Post: «

Comments

  1. data said on January 31, 2021 at 1:39 pm
    Reply

    data

  2. Anonymous said on June 18, 2018 at 1:40 am
    Reply

    You don’t need an extension to search your tabs.
    Just type a percent sign (%) followed by a space, followed by your search term.

    This article from 2012 mentions it, but omits the required space following the % sign https://blog.mozilla.org/theden/2012/04/30/firefox-tips-search-your-open-tabs/

    This article from 2017 does note the required space after the % sign, https://superuser.com/questions/1203748/how-do-i-search-open-tabs-in-firefox-natively

    1. zylstra said on July 15, 2020 at 6:21 am
      Reply

      This searches only page *titles*, not content.

  3. Thomas said on February 27, 2018 at 10:59 am
    Reply

    Nice to see we’re (ever so slowly) getting fixes for a few things that were broken in FF 57, even if they’re clumsier in terms of usability and not easy on the eyes… Sarcasm off.
    I’m finally back to Palemoon and what a relief it is. I had forgotten how smooth and responsive Firefox used to be. Everything just works without having to mess around with stuff like Classic Theme Restorer. Even my old favourite, the above-mentioned Tabby2 is working again… I do miss a few improvements in later versions of FF, but the overall trade-off is excellent.

  4. Croc said on February 26, 2018 at 11:23 am
    Reply

    I miss Findbar Tweak the most, especially the feature: Search for text when I start typing.

  5. Robert G. said on February 24, 2018 at 8:51 pm
    Reply

    Tested, very nice extension for Firefox 58.0.2.

    Thanks yet Martin !!!

  6. Robert G. said on February 24, 2018 at 3:45 am
    Reply

    Excellent news.

    I’ll test it this weekend.

    Thanks very much Martin.

  7. Latz said on February 23, 2018 at 8:21 pm
    Reply

    Haven’t used a search plugin until now but this one sounds interesting. Installing it right now…

Leave a Reply

Check the box to consent to your data being stored in line with the guidelines set out in our privacy policy

We love comments and welcome thoughtful and civilized discussion. Rudeness and personal attacks will not be tolerated. Please stay on-topic.
Please note that your comment may not appear immediately after you post it.