Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2026 February 8

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February 8

How do I stop Google search results from opening in a new tab?

I recently had an update on my computer. I've always been able to click on any Google search result and it would not open in a new tab. Bing search results open in a new tab but I don't use Bing. That is the default, but I choose to use Google. Someone at a library showed me what to do but I don't know how to get to a screen at home that will let me uncheck "open in new tab".— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 17:27, 8 February 2026 (UTC)

@Vchimpanzee:

1. Go to google.com.
2. Click Settings in the bottom right corner, then Search settings.
3. On the left sidebar, select Other settings.
4. Turn off Results in a new window.

TheTechie^[she/they] | talk? 19:37, 8 February 2026 (UTC)

I don't have anything in the bottom right corner.— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 21:28, 8 February 2026 (UTC)

@Vchimpanzee If you've got Google set as your homepage in Chrome, the settings will be hidden until you actually write google.com in the address bar and press return/enter. Here is how it looks in Firefox: https://ibb.co/99prpktJ

Here is how it looks when you have Google set as homepage in Chrome: https://ibb.co/3mZ1WG5t

If it's still a challenge to find just go directly here: https://www.google.com/preferences and then skip to Step 3. 🔥Komonzia (message) 01:10, 9 February 2026 (UTC)

I don't use Chrome. I use Edge. How does that make a difference?— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 18:41, 9 February 2026 (UTC)

The steps don't change, regardless of browser. TheTechie^[she/they] | talk? 18:45, 9 February 2026 (UTC)

Also, following the above directions didn't change anything. It still opened in a new tab.— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 18:44, 9 February 2026 (UTC)

Do you have any extensions installed? TheTechie^[she/they] | talk? 18:46, 9 February 2026 (UTC)

This didn't happen before a recent update. I have some kind of ad blocker but I disabled it because one web site won't allow me to use it and this is true even if I try to turn off the ad blocker.— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 20:17, 9 February 2026 (UTC)

Your mention of Edge suggests that you might really need to change settings in Edge. Does this link help?

Why does Edge open everything in a new tab and can that be stopped?

It seems to be a setting related specifically to making searches and to Safe Search.  Card Zero  (talk) 06:12, 17 February 2026 (UTC)