How to make new tab open a blank page in firefox?

Question

Today ubuntu software center asked me to update things as usual, and I accepted.

But now when I open a new tab in firefox, it shows 9 'mini pages' taken from the history of visited pages.

How can I remove that? Does it have something to do with the 'ubuntu firefox modifications' addon?

Solution 1

There is another way if you want to get rid of it permanently. If you are happy with Matt2's solution there is no need to do so. I wanted remove it totally, because the mouse gestures provide by the extension All-in-one Gestures don't work on new tabs with the new startpage (by the way, I think its official name is new tab page).

Step 1

Enter this address to the location bar and confirm that you will be careful:

about:config

Step 2

Search for the preference with name:

browser.newtab.url

Update: you can set browser.newtabpage.enabled (Step 2) to False (Step 3) instead of changing browser.newtab.url.

Step 3

Double click to modify and set the value to

about:blank

or

about:startpage

if you prefer to see your own startpage (set its url in the standard preferences dialog).

Close the window, you're done!

Solution 2

On your new tab in Firefox, you see that button in the top right corner? Looks like a grid? Click it.

This is a new feature in Firefox and has nothing to do with any Ubuntu addons.

Comments

[lumbric]

This won't work in Firefox 13. This sets the startpage, but firefox loads the page about:newtab.

[Mat]

You are right, sorry.. it works only in new window but not on Ctrl-T..