DeviceMAG

How To Stop Safari From Opening New Tabs

Safari is an incredibly popular web browser developed by Apple for their devices. It’s the default browser for iPhone and iPad users, but even Mac owners often choose to use Safari. That said, one of the most annoying features of Safari is that new tabs will automatically open when you click on a link or type in a website address. This can be incredibly frustrating, as it interrupts your browsing experience and makes it difficult to keep track of which websites you’ve already visited.

Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to prevent Safari from automatically opening new tabs. Here’s how:

1. Open the Settings app on your device and select Safari from the list of options. 2. Scroll down until you find the “Open New Tabs In Background” option and make sure that it is unchecked/disabled. 3. Restart your device after making changes and test whether or not Safari is still opening new tabs automatically when you click on links or enter website addresses into the search bar.

If after following these steps Safari continues to open new tabs automatically, then it could be caused by an adware-type application installed on your device (these types of apps usually display intrusive ads and collect browsing-related data). To fix this issue, open the “Search Settings” dropdown menu inside of Safari and scroll down until you find the “Where results open” option. Uncheck the box next to “Open each selected result in a new browser window” to disable this feature and then click “Save” to confirm your changes.

We hope this guide has helped resolve any issues you were experiencing with Safari automatically opening new tabs when clicking links or entering website addresses into the search bar!

Safari Opening Unwanted New Tabs

The most likely explanation for your Safari browser opening new tabs is that you have installed an adware-type application. These types of applications, known as potentially unwanted apps (PUAs), are often installed unintentionally by users. PUAs can display intrusive ads and collect browsing-related data, and they are usually the cause of unwanted tabs appearing in Safari. To stop this from happening, you should uninstall any recently installed applications and scan your device with a reliable anti-malware tool.

how to stop new tabs from opening in safari

Preventing Automatic Tab Opening

To stop tabs from opening automatically in your browser, you need to adjust your search settings. First, open the dropdown menu and select “Search settings”. Scroll down and uncheck the box next to “Where results open, Open each selected result in a new browser window”. Once you’ve made this change, make sure to click “Save” to confirm the changes. After this, your search results should no longer open in new tabs automatically.

Stopping iPhone from Opening Tabs

To stop your iPhone from opening tabs, you’ll need to adjust the settings for the Safari web browser. To do so, open the Settings app on your iPhone and select Safari. From here, you’ll have several options to choose from that will help you manage how tabs are opened on your device.

First, you can turn off ‘Open Links’ in the Background’, which will prevent links in apps from automatically opening in new tabs when they are clicked. You can also adjust settings related to ‘Fraudulent Website Warning’, which can prevent some malicious websites from opening new tabs without your permission.

Finally, if you want to stop all new tabs from opening on your iPhone, you can disable JavaScript by tapping the ‘Advanced’ option at the bottom of the Safari screen and then switching off JavaScript. This will prevent any website from running scripts or code that would cause new tabs to open up automatically.

By making these adjustments to Safari’s settings, you should be able to effectively stop any unwanted new tabs from opening on your iPhone.

Tabs Opening Automatically on iPhone

Tabs keep opening on your iPhone because you have iCloud enabled. iCloud keeps the tabs you have open in Safari up to date across all of your Apple devices, so when you switch from one device to another, the tabs open on the other device. To turn this off, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud and toggle off ‘Safari’.

In conclusion, Safari is a great web browser that can be used on Apple products. It provides a smooth and secure browsing experience with a number of helpful features such as private browsing, tabbed browsing, and the ability to open multiple windows. However, if users experience an issue where results are opening in new tabs, it can usually be resolved by disabling the “Open New Tabs in Background” option within the Settings menu.

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James Walker

Why Does My Safari Keep Opening Random Tabs

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  • Software & Applications
  • Browsers & Extensions

why-does-my-safari-keep-opening-random-tabs

Introduction

Have you ever experienced the frustration of using Safari, only to have it unexpectedly open random tabs without your consent? This perplexing issue can disrupt your browsing experience and leave you feeling bewildered. The sudden appearance of unwanted tabs can be disruptive, especially when you're in the middle of an important task or enjoying a leisurely browsing session. If you've found yourself in this predicament, you're not alone. Many Safari users have encountered this perplexing phenomenon, prompting them to seek solutions to regain control over their browsing experience.

In this article, we will delve into the potential causes behind Safari's tendency to open random tabs without warning. By understanding the underlying factors contributing to this issue, you can take proactive measures to address it effectively. Additionally, we will explore practical strategies and techniques to prevent Safari from inundating you with unexpected tabs, allowing you to browse the web with peace of mind and uninterrupted focus.

Let's embark on a journey to unravel the mysteries of Safari's enigmatic behavior and equip ourselves with the knowledge and tools necessary to restore seamless browsing in this beloved web browser . Whether you're a casual user or rely on Safari for professional endeavors, gaining insight into this perplexing issue will empower you to reclaim control over your browsing experience and bid farewell to the vexing phenomenon of random tabs appearing out of the blue.

Possible Causes of Safari Opening Random Tabs

Malicious Extensions : Safari extensions can enhance browsing functionality, but some may be designed with malicious intent. If you've installed unfamiliar or unverified extensions, they could be the culprits behind the sudden appearance of random tabs. These extensions might trigger unwanted pop-ups or redirect your browsing sessions to unfamiliar websites, disrupting your online activities.

Adware or Malware : Your device may have fallen victim to adware or malware, which can manipulate your browser's behavior, including the unauthorized opening of random tabs. Malicious software can infiltrate your system through deceptive downloads or compromised websites, leading to intrusive browsing disruptions.

Faulty Websites : Certain websites may contain scripts or codes that prompt Safari to open random tabs without your consent. These websites might employ aggressive advertising tactics or utilize scripts that exploit vulnerabilities in the browser , resulting in the unwelcome proliferation of new tabs.

Browser Settings : In some cases, misconfigured browser settings or preferences could inadvertently trigger the spontaneous opening of random tabs. This could be attributed to settings related to pop-ups, redirects, or automatic tab opening behavior, which may have been inadvertently modified or affected by external factors.

Outdated Browser Version : Using an outdated version of Safari could leave your browser susceptible to security vulnerabilities and performance issues. These vulnerabilities may be exploited by malicious entities to manipulate your browsing experience, including the unauthorized generation of random tabs.

User Behavior : Occasionally, user actions such as unintentionally clicking on deceptive ads, pop-ups, or misleading links can inadvertently trigger the opening of random tabs. This can occur when navigating through websites that employ aggressive advertising tactics or deceptive design elements.

Understanding the potential causes behind Safari's propensity to open random tabs is crucial in formulating effective strategies to mitigate this issue. By identifying the underlying factors contributing to this phenomenon, you can take targeted measures to address the root causes and restore a seamless browsing experience in Safari.

How to Stop Safari from Opening Random Tabs

Addressing the vexing issue of Safari opening random tabs requires a proactive approach to regain control over your browsing experience. By implementing targeted strategies and leveraging the inherent capabilities of Safari, you can effectively thwart the unauthorized proliferation of random tabs, allowing for uninterrupted and focused browsing sessions.

1. Review and Remove Suspicious Extensions

Begin by reviewing the extensions installed in your Safari browser. Identify any unfamiliar or suspicious extensions that may be triggering the unwanted opening of random tabs. Remove these extensions promptly to eliminate potential sources of disruptive behavior.

2. Update Safari and Operating System

Ensure that your Safari browser and operating system are running the latest available updates. Keeping your software up to date is crucial for addressing security vulnerabilities and performance issues that could be exploited by malicious entities to manipulate your browsing experience.

3. Enable Pop-Up Blocking

Safari offers built-in features to block pop-ups, which can help prevent the unauthorized generation of random tabs. Navigate to Safari's settings and ensure that the pop-up blocking feature is enabled to mitigate intrusive pop-ups and unwanted tab openings.

4. Clear Browsing Data and Reset Settings

Periodically clearing your browsing history, cookies, and cache can help eliminate potential triggers for random tab openings. Additionally, consider resetting Safari's settings to default to revert any misconfigured preferences that may be contributing to the issue.

5. Install and Run Antimalware Software

Safeguard your device against adware, malware, and other malicious entities by installing reputable antimalware software. Perform regular scans to detect and eliminate any intrusive software that may be manipulating your browsing experience.

6. Exercise Caution and Vigilance

Remain vigilant while browsing the web, and exercise caution when interacting with unfamiliar websites, ads, or pop-ups. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or engaging with deceptive content that could inadvertently trigger the unauthorized opening of random tabs.

By implementing these proactive measures and leveraging Safari's built-in features, you can effectively thwart the unauthorized proliferation of random tabs, allowing for uninterrupted and focused browsing sessions. Taking a proactive stance against potential sources of disruptive behavior empowers you to reclaim control over your browsing experience and enjoy seamless navigation in Safari.

In the realm of digital navigation, encountering unexpected disruptions such as Safari opening random tabs can be a perplexing and exasperating experience. However, armed with a deeper understanding of the potential causes behind this phenomenon and equipped with practical strategies to address it, users can reclaim control over their browsing experience and bid farewell to the unwelcome intrusion of random tabs.

By delving into the intricacies of Safari's behavior, we've uncovered a spectrum of potential culprits, ranging from malicious extensions and adware to misconfigured settings and user actions. This comprehensive exploration has shed light on the multifaceted nature of the issue, empowering users to identify and address the root causes of Safari's tendency to inundate them with unexpected tabs.

The proactive measures outlined, from reviewing and removing suspicious extensions to enabling pop-up blocking and exercising caution while browsing, serve as a robust arsenal for users to fortify their browsing experience. These strategies not only mitigate the immediate impact of random tab openings but also contribute to a proactive stance against potential sources of disruptive behavior, fostering a more secure and seamless browsing environment.

As we navigate the digital landscape, it's imperative to remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding our browsing experiences. Regularly updating Safari and the operating system, leveraging built-in security features, and exercising discernment while interacting with online content are pivotal in fortifying our defenses against disruptive elements.

In conclusion, the enigma of Safari opening random tabs can be unraveled through a combination of vigilance, proactive measures, and a deeper understanding of the underlying factors at play. By implementing the strategies outlined in this article, users can embark on their browsing journeys with confidence, knowing that they are equipped to thwart the unauthorized proliferation of random tabs and savor uninterrupted, focused browsing sessions in Safari.

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macOS: How to Manage Multiple Open Safari Tabs

Browser tabs in Safari are a great way to visit multiple webpages in the same browsing session without having to close any of them, which makes them particularly useful for cross-referencing and researching things online.

safari icon blue banner

1. Bookmark All Open Tabs

safari

If the browser tabs you have open are related and you plan to regularly revisit them, it's worth bookmarking them together in their own bookmark folder. To do so, simply select Bookmarks -> Add Bookmarks for These X Tabs... (X being the number of open tabs).

You'll then be invited to create a name for the bookmark folder and select where you want it to be kept amongst your other bookmarks, which you can access at any time by selecting Bookmarks -> Show Bookmarks in the menu bar.

Note that you can perform a similar action to add all open tabs to your Reading List for later perusal, even when you're offline. ( Bookmarks -> Add These X Tabs to Reading List .)

2. Use Tab Groups

safari

In macOS Monterey, Tab Groups are a neat way to save and manage related tabs without having to have those tabs active and taking up space. If you're planning a trip, for example, you can save all of your tabs into a "Vacation" group, accessing them when needed and leaving your device free for other content when you're not doing active planning.

To create a new Tab Group, click the Show Sidebar icon next to the traffic lights, then select New Tab Group . Alternately, click the down arrow next to the Show Sidebar icon and select either New Empty Tab Group or New Tab Group With X Tabs , "X" being the number of tabs currently open.

Any Tab Groups you create are listed in the sidebar for easy switching. You can also select groups by clicking the down arrow next to the Show Sidebar icon. Any tabs that are opened when a Tab Group is selected will automatically be included in that group. For more tips on working with Tab Groups, check out our dedicated how-to .

3. Change Safari's Tab Layout

safari

Safari offers two tab layouts: Compact and Separate. Compact is a more unified Safari design that does away with the dedicated URL and search interface and makes any individual tab able to be used for navigation input.

The problem with the Compact layout is that it severely limits space for multiple open tabs. In this regard, the Separate layout is more preferable, as it positions the URL/search bar at the top of the Safari window, with your tabs arranged below it.

If you're not already using the Separate tab layout, you can switch to it easily enough by selecting Safari -> Preferences... in the menu bar. Click the Tabs menu in the preference pane and select Tab Layout: Separate to remove the compact tab bar that merges everything together.

4. Rearrange Open Tabs

safari

Sometimes you may have several open tabs from a handful of websites that you tend to visit but which are mixed up with other tabs from different places across the web.

In such cases, it can be useful to rearrange your tabs so that tabs from the same website are lined up next to each other, allowing you to easily review what you've read and dispense with any redundant tabs that were hiding between them.

To sort your tabs according to website, or title if you prefer, simply right-click any tab and select Arrange Tabs By -> Website or Title from the dropdown menu.

5. Pin Tabs

safari

Safari's pinned tabs feature lets you better organize your tabs, especially if find you have too many open at the same time. It's particularly useful if you have certain websites that you tend to visit frequently throughout the day.

The neat thing about pinned tabs is that they stay in place, even when you open a new Safari window or quit and reopen Safari. And when you click a link to another website from a pinned tab, the other website opens in a new tab, ensuring your pinned tab always shows the website you pinned.

To pin a tab, drag the tab to the leftmost side of the tab bar, and when the tab shrinks to show just the website's favicon, simply drop it in place. You can also select Window -> Pin Tab from the menu bar, or right-click (Ctrl-click) a tab, then choose Pin Tab from the contextual menu.

If you have multiple pinned tabs, you can rearrange them in the Tabs bar by dragging them with your cursor. To unpin a website tab, just drag the pinned tab to the right side of the tab bar and it will expand to become a normal tab again.

6. Kill Them All

safari

If you're done with all your other open tabs because you've found what you were looking for, then you can close all open tabs except the currently active one. Alternately, you can opt to close all open tabs to the right of the one you're currently viewing. Simply right-click the currently active tab and select Close Other Tabs or Close Tabs to the Right .

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Open and close tabs in Safari on iPhone

stop safari opening new tabs

Note: If you’re using the Single Tab layout, the menus and other items may look different from what’s described in this guide. See Change the layout of Safari .

Open a link in a new tab

Touch and hold the link, then tap Open in New Tab.

stop safari opening new tabs

View a tab’s history

You can see which webpages you previously visited in this tab.

the Back button

Tip: To close all tabs in this Tab Group at the same time, touch and hold Done, then tap Close All Tabs.

Open a recently closed tab

the New Tab button

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How to force Safari to always open new sites in tabs

jack-wallen

Sometimes Safari makes me want to pull out my hair. Normally, it's a fine web browser . But every once in a while, it misbehaves like a child who just downed a four-foot-long tube of Pixie Stix. 

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See if this behavior strikes a chord with you.

You already have Safari open, and you've gone to Apple Mail to see if anyone's reached out to you with something important to say.

You get an email with a link you absolutely must visit. You click on said link, and, instead of the link opening a new tab in the currently open Safari window, it opens in a brand new window. 

Keep doing this, and you'll find yourself with more Safari windows than you care to manage. 

Also: How to check the Privacy Report for website tracking in Safari

This behavior has caused me no end of headaches. It's made worse when you realize that the different Safari browsers all have the same tabs open, save for (maybe) the one tab you opened that caused the new window to appear. 

Although this isn't a deal-breaking behavior, it's certainly frustrating. And remember, every time a new Safari window opens that contains the same tabs you already had open, it consumes considerably more system resources. This could land you in a situation where Safari consumes 100% of the system resources and renders your desktop slow to the point of being unusable.

You don't want that.

So, how do you avoid such a situation? Fortunately, there's a built-in option that will help circumvent this problem. Let me show you how it's done.

How to force Safari to always open new sites in tabs 

Requirements.

The only thing you'll need is a running instance of Safari. I'll demonstrate with version 16.1 running on MacOS Ventura. So long as your version of Safari is updated, it should work just fine.

1. Open Safari

The first thing to do is open the Safari web browser, which can be done via the Launchpad app on your dock.

2. Open Settings

Click on the Safari menu in the MacOS top bar and click Settings.

Accessing the Safari Settings app from the MacOS top bar.

3. Configure Open Pages In Tabs

Click the Tabs section in Settings and locate the Open pages in tabs instead of windows drop-down. 

Also: Apple finally gives Safari Tab Groups the one feature it sorely lacked  

From that drop-down, select Always. 

The Tabs section is where you need to look.

4. Ok the selection

A new popup will appear. Click Always Create Tabs to ok the selection. Once you've taken care of this, you'll find yourself back in the Settings app. Close Settings and you're back in the Safari window.

The setting will not be enabled until you ok it.

Test the new behavior

You should now be able to click a link from any app, and it will always open a new tab in the existing Safari window instead of opening a new window. This will save you from having to copy the link, close the new window, open a new tab in the existing Safari window, and paste the link in a new tab.

Also:   How to get more space in Safari with Compact Layout

This may seem like an insignificant problem, but the more it happens, you'll eventually realize how much of a hassle and time waster it is. In the name of working smarter, your daily workflow will thank you for taking the time to set up this configuration.

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How to force Safari to open tabs the way it should

By Charlie Sorrel • 1:05 pm, March 13, 2020

  • Top stories

paper notebook with tabs

At some point, fairly recently, Safari started opening new tabs to the right of the currently open tab, instead of opening them at the end of the tab bar, as nature intended. This means that you have to search for the newly opened tab, instead of just knowing exactly where it is. I can see the point of opening tabs next to the current one, but I don’t like it.

Happily, there’s a way to revert Safari’s behavior to the good old way — the way my grandmother, and her grandmother before her, dealt with their tabs. It’s a simple option inside Safari’s debug menu. Wait? Debug menu?

Enable Safari’s debug menu

You may already be familiar with Safari’s Developer menu, which you can enable from inside Safari’s preferences. That’s not what we’re talking about today. For this trick, we need the debug menu, and that requires a trip to the Mac’s Terminal app. This tip is based on a tweet from writer T.J Luoma , and further research from Dan Moren writing at Six Colors .

If you’re running macOS Catalina, you will have to give the Terminal Full Disk Access before it can execute this command. If you don’t really know what that means, then you might prefer not to continue with this tip. Full Disk Access is what it sounds like. It grants an app access to anything on your Mac. This could be considered a security hole, but it’s also the way all Macs have worked until now.

To grant Terminal Full Disk Access, open System Preferences > Security & Privacy , then click the Privacy Tab . Then add Terminal to the Full Disk Access section.

Next, we’re going to use a defaults write command to enable Safari’s Debug menu. To do so, open up the Terminal app (in the Applications > Utilities folder), and type:

defaults write com.apple.Safari IncludeInternalDebugMenu 1

Then hit Enter, and restart Safari. Congratulations. You can now access the debug menu.

Make Safari open tabs at the end

Now, mouse up to that menu, and then mouse all the way down to the last entry, the one named Tab Ordering . It’s a long menu.

Yes, this is a long menu. You can find the option to tweak Safari tab ordering at the bottom.

Here you can set new tabs to load After Last Tab . You should also check Apply Position to Spawned Tabs and Apply Position to All Blank Tabs to get exactly the behavior you want. This lets you fine-tune Safari’s tab-opening to your heart’s desire.

You can fine-tune Safari tabs behavior here.

I checked everything on this menu, although I may change things as I try this all out. The only thing that puts me off using this trick full-time is that my Safari on my Mac will act differently from Safari on iOS, which could get confusing. But right now, I’m enjoying this trip back to the good old days.

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9 Best Ways to Fix Safari Closing Tabs on Its Own

stop safari opening new tabs

Parth Shah is an evergreen freelance writer covering how-tos, app guides, comparisons, listicles, and troubleshooting guides on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and smart TV platforms. He has over five years of experience and has covered 1,500+ articles on GuidingTech and Android Police. In his free time, you will see him binge-watching Netflix shows, reading books, and traveling.

Although there is no shortage of capable web browsers on the Mac ecosystem, most still prefer the built-in Safari to surf the web. Even with continuous updates and improvements, the usual niggles with Safari remain more or less the same. Sometimes, Safari doesn’t find a server on Mac , fails to play videos , and even closes the tab without your consent. The latter can be quite irritating, and here is why Safari keeps closing tabs on Mac.

N_Best_Ways_to_Fix_Safari_Closing_Tabs_on_Its_Own

Safari closing tabs on its own can irritate you during work hours. It even breaks your research, too. Multiple factors can affect your Safari experience. It can be due to a lack of memory, buggy iCloud syncing, outdated extensions, corrupt cache, etc. Let’s go through the steps to stop Safari from automatically closing tabs.

1. Disable Auto-Close Tabs

Safari offers an option to auto-close tabs after a certain period of activity. If you have enabled the option, Safari closes the tabs after a fixed time. You need to revert your decision from Safari Settings. Go through the steps below.

Step 1: Launch Safari on Mac. Click Safari at the top.

Step 2: Open Settings.

Safari keeps closing tabs 1

Step 3: Move to the Tabs menu. Expand the ‘Automatically close tabs’ menu and select Manually.

Safari keeps closing tabs 2

Restart Safari, and it shouldn’t auto-close tabs.

2. High RAM Usage in Safari

When you have dozens of tabs open in Safari, it may lead to high RAM usage on your Mac. If you have a Mac with 8GB of RAM and multiple apps open in the background, the system may kill several tabs to free up memory. You can confirm the same from the Activity Monitor menu and close unnecessary apps.

Step 1: Open the applications menu and launch Activity Monitor.

Step 2: Move to the Memory tab. Check the memory breakdown at the bottom.

Step 3: Select an app or server and hit the x mark at the top.

Safari keeps closing tabs 3

3. Disable iCloud Syncing in Safari

If the iCloud sync is broken, Safari may close tabs independently. Safari relies on iCloud to sync your tabs across all the devices. Here’s how you can disable iCloud syncing for Safari on Mac.

Step 1: Click the Apple icon in the Mac menu bar. Open System Settings.

Safari keeps closing tabs 4

Step 2: Select your account and open iCloud.

Safari keeps closing tabs 5

Step 3: Select Show all under ‘Apps Using iCloud.’

Safari keeps closing tabs 1 1

Step 4: Disable the toggle beside Safari.

Safari keeps closing tabs 2 1

4. Disable Private Relay on Mac

Private Relay is a part of iCloud+ that reroutes Safari traffic via Apple’s servers to shield your browsing details from advertisers. When the third-party server isn’t working as expected, it may break your Safari experience and auto-close tabs.

Step 1: Go to Apple’s system settings on Mac (check the steps above).

Step 2: Select your profile and open iCloud.

Safari keeps closing tabs 5 1

Step 3: Open Private Relay and disable the option from the following menu.

Safari keeps closing tabs 6

5. Bad Ads and Trackers

Some of the sketchy websites may have bad ads and trackers in them. They may interfere with your browsing setup, leading Safari to close the tabs independently. You need to avoid such websites.

Safari also has a dedicated privacy report that lets you check such a tracker in the past week. You can glance over the data and avoid the mentioned websites.  

6. Disable Safari Extensions

One of the installed extensions may be hampering your Safari experience. You need to disable unknown extensions and try again.

Step 1: Go to Safari settings on Mac (check the steps above).

Step 2: Move to the Extensions tab.

Step 3: Select an extension from the sidebar and hit Uninstall.

Safari keeps closing tabs 8

7. Clear Website Data

Does Safari still close tabs on its own? You need to clear the Safari cache and try again. Here’s how.

Step 1: Go to Safari settings on Mac (refer to the steps above).

Step 2: Move to the Privacy tab and click ‘Manage Website Data’.

Safari keeps closing tabs 9

Step 3: Remove all website cache and try again.

Safari keeps closing tabs 10

8. Update macOS

Apple updates Safari with macOS builds on your Mac. Here’s how you can update macOS to the latest version and try again.

Step 1: Go to Mac System Settings (check the steps above).

Step 2: Select General and click ‘Software Update’.

Safari keeps closing tabs 11

Download and install the latest macOS update on your Mac.

9. Ditch Safari on Mac

Do you still face issues with Safari on Mac? It’s time to ditch Safari and go with Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Brave, or Firefox.

Go Back to Your Ideal Browsing Experience

Safari closing tabs on its own is never an ideal setup. The tricks above should take care of the problem. Which trick worked for you? Share it in the comments below.

Was this helpful?

Last updated on 04 September, 2023

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

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stop safari opening new tabs

The article above may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. The content remains unbiased and authentic and will never affect our editorial integrity.

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How-To Geek

How to make safari always open your previous tabs on mac.

Tired of losing all your browser tabs when you close or restart Safari on Mac? Here's how to make Safari restore your session every time you start the app.

It can be frustrating when you need to restart Safari on your Mac and you lose what you've been working on because all of your tabs and windows close. Luckily, there's an easy way to make Safari restore your session every time you start the app. Here's how to set it up.

First, launch Safari on your Mac. At the top of your screen, click the "Safari" menu and select "Preferences."

When the "Preferences" window appears, click the "General" tab, then locate the "Safari opens with" option. In the drop-down menu beside it, select "All windows from last session" if you want all of your windows---including your Private Browsing windows ---to be restored.

If you only want your non-Private windows to be restored, select "All non-private windows from last session" in the drop-down menu.

After that, close Preferences. The next time you restart Safari, it will remember your browsing session, and all the windows and tabs you had open last time will reopen automatically. Happy browsing!

Related: How to Always Start Safari in Private Browsing Mode on a Mac

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random tabs opening on Safari

I have a 2020 macbook air (M1 process) running BigSur. I migrated user files from time machine and Safari for the user account that was migrated keeps opening tabs at random. Many of them seem to want the user to download flash. This machine is for my 90+ mother and she can't just ignore this. How do I clean it up?

Posted on Feb 24, 2021 7:56 PM

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jdo_apple

Feb 27, 2021 9:08 AM in response to climbingoody

Hi there climbingoody,

We understand that Safari is opening random tabs on your Mac. We’d like to help however we can.

To confirm, is it opening tabs from the same websites every time or are the tabs from random websites? Does this happen when doing something specific in Safari or when you visit a certain site?

If you clear the browsing history in Safari, does this continue?

Clear your browsing history in Safari on Mac

Let’s also check for any software updates available for your Mac:

How to update the software on your Mac

judysings

Feb 28, 2021 9:46 AM in response to climbingoody

climbingoody,

We appreciate that additional information. 

To confirm, is the Mac running the latest version of Big Sur, macOS 11.2.2? If not, check out the steps in the second article we previously provided. 

We’d also recommend following the steps outlined here to review Safari settings and security preferences.

About pop-up ads and windows in Safari

If this continues to happen after reviewing that and the Mac is fully up-to-date, then third-party tools exist, like Malwarebytes , that claim to remove additional items including adware and any other unwanted software. 

We hope that helps! 

Feb 27, 2021 9:12 AM in response to jdo_apple

Random tabs, usually filled with ads. The computer is new, running BigSur with files transferred from an old machine.

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    1. Safari > Preferences > Tabs. Uncheck the checkbox called 'When a new tab or window opens, make it active'. Share. Improve this answer. edited Jan 5, 2022 at 22:27. pkamb. 8,871 14 73 118. answered Jul 6, 2020 at 8:01.

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    In Safari, go to menu Safari > Preferences, then click on the Tabs icon. UNcheck the checkbox called "When a new tab or window opens, make it active". That checkbox name is not a very clear description of the results we see, but it will fix it. stoffert. Level 1.

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  24. random tabs opening on Safari

    About pop-up ads and windows in Safari. If this continues to happen after reviewing that and the Mac is fully up-to-date, then third-party tools exist, like Malwarebytes, that claim to remove additional items including adware and any other unwanted software. We hope that helps! Random tabs, usually filled with ads.