How can I stop Safari from opening new windows unless I want them?

Question

How can I stop Safari from opening new windows unless I want them?

Since Safari 5.02, there is no box to check in the General Preferences to stop Safari from opening a new window when I click on a link. My expectation is to only go to a new window when I want to do it. Most of my searches go down a rabbit hole and I just want to go backwards without closing page after new open page (Same problem with Tabs. I don't want new Tabs all the time either. In fact, the only time I really care about multiple open Tabs or Windows is when I need more than one Window open for data comparison or something like that...)

This is an incredibly annoying new behavior of Safari that I want to shut off. I have 20 windows open in the Window list right now. (I regularly shut off Safari to clear up all the useless abandoned windows.) Firefox doesn't do this, but I prefer Safari.

I tried to search this one, but maybe am not framing the question properly. See lots of discussion of forcing new tabs, but that is not what I am looking for....Can anyone help me?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.4), I am completely up to date with all updates

Posted on Oct 6, 2010 8:17 AM

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Answer 1

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Oct 6, 2010 10:15 AM in response to Lawrence Achram

Safari->Preferences->Tabs->Open pages in tabs instead of windows and select your choice. Also, check out the shortcuts shown below on how to control things with various shortcuts.

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Answer 2

Oct 7, 2010 9:00 AM in response to Lawrence Achram

Thanks Baltwo,

I will try it, but I don't want new pages in tabs either. I simply don't want the link to open in a new page or tab unless I ask for one. My initial trial has google links opening in new tabs. Why can't I just go down the paths on the same page like the old days? Especially after I find what I want, I will go somewhere else.

With your recommendation, I think that instead of pages open, I will have an abundance of tabs?

Guess I am getting inflexible in my old age. If this is the only option, it is an "improvement" that I don't like yet.

Firefox doesn't do it.

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Answer 3

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Oct 7, 2010 10:33 AM in response to Lawrence Achram

Don't know, since I've never experienced that behavior and prefer new tabs for linked pages, since it's easier to bounce back and forth w/o reloading from the cache. Also, a click & drag on a tab creates a new page. Nice stuff, that.

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Answer 4

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Oct 7, 2010 11:38 AM in response to Lawrence Achram

Hi

if google search result links open a new tab/window - I think the preference at http://www.google.com/preferences?hl=en
Results Window Open search results in a new browser window
might be checked.

If that doesn't do it, delete all google cookies, cuz it's not standard behaviour.

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Answer 5

Oct 9, 2010 3:04 AM in response to Lawrence Achram

Unbelievable... It was the Google cookies. This behavior was driving me crazy. I removed the Google cookies and my Safari began to work again the way I like it.

Good catch on my explanation of the issue. I had the answer in my hands and couldn't see it.

Thank you very much.

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Answer 6

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Oct 7, 2010 11:43 AM in response to andyBall_uk

The OP wants to +stop Safari from opening a new window when I click on a link+ and that google setting should only affect google search results, which isn't the issue.

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Answer 7

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Oct 7, 2010 11:48 AM in response to baltwo

My initial trial has google links opening in new tabs. Why can't I just go down the paths on the same page like the old days?

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Answer 8

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Oct 7, 2010 11:59 AM in response to andyBall_uk

Thanks, I missed that subtlety, by not connecting the dots.

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Answer 9

Oct 8, 2010 2:49 AM in response to Lawrence Achram

Interesting guys. I use Google all of the time so haven't tested Yahoo, Bing, etc for this behavior. Obviously I am blaming Safari for this.

Will test it today

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Answer 10

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Oct 9, 2010 5:35 AM in response to Lawrence Achram

Glad you're all set, Lawrence.

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Answer 11

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Oct 9, 2010 10:50 AM in response to Lawrence Achram

Thanks for the feedback. Good computing.

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