New tab does not open default start page or extension start page anymore

[centur]

Captchas

• I have read the instructions.
• I have searched existing issues and avoided creating duplicates.
• I am not filing an enhancement request.

What happened?

With latest update I can't open my custom new tab page extension (Tabliss) neither I can open Firefox default start page.
Instead Zen focused on the URL and shows me the history.
This looks like a bug, as my settings state that Tabliss should be used and new version does not respect my settings and my previous setup
Settings:

If this is intentional change - please provide a way to disable it, this subverts my\users expectations of browser behaviour. I have a personal work configuration that I've been creating for few years now, and with this change - it is completely broken in Zen.

Also I can see there is a notification flashes from time to time in right bottom corner and it mentions new URL something somethng, but I can't read it or interact with it as it does not stay on screen neither I can click it - it's flashing for some milliseconds before disappear, so if this is how I can disable this new behaviour - it also non-functional fallback option

OS: Win 10 x64
Zen: 1.7.5b (Firefox 135.0) (64-bit)

Reproducible?

• I have checked that this issue cannot be reproduced on Mozilla Firefox.

Version

1.7.5b

What platform are you seeing the problem on?

Windows

Relevant log output if applicable

[alexankitty]

I don't like this change at all and it needs an option to disable it, setting the expectation of what's going to happen with a little pop up at the bottom right when you open the new tab page once and then never letting the new tab page open again is equally confusing.

Furthermore, the current implementation of this feature needs to provide some kind of affordance. Instead of just opening the URL bar directly, and then navigating to the page after you've done so, maybe instead open a blank tab with the URL bar focused, so it's less jarring for the user.

[nfrawley93]

I continued through and saw the closed issue regarding this that showed how to edit it in the about:config.
I stand by the response of the other posters both here and in the other thread.
This is changing 20+ years of expected function automatically through a minor update. I could even see this being automatic with a major update even. To make this change before actually changing the settings/other places where it still says "open new tab" does not make a lot of sense from an usability standpoint.

[Anoms12]

zen.urlbar.replace-newtab to false in about:config to revert

[dotzenith]

How was this enabled by default on a patch release? No UI research or anything to back up the change, just vibes?

[Anoms12]

@dotzenith The dev said he did it to speed up productivity and apparently Arc browser did a bunch of research on it, it's apparently the best option 🤷 Idk I like it.

[dotzenith]

I mean no doubt people will like it, and I'm happy you do @Anoms12. still doesn't mean this setting should've been turned on by default in a patch release. The button is called "new tab", it should do what it says.

[Soft-Bred]

The button is called "new tab", it should do what it says.

Technically it does what it says. It allows you to open a new tab. It doesn't say "open empty tab". Getting into semantics and everything, but it does what it says, just not in the way that you expected it personally.

[Anoms12]

Fair Point there

[Soft-Bred]

Arc browser did a bunch of research on it, it's apparently the best option

To elaborate on this, other than just an appeal to authority:

A browser's primary function is to help you navigate the internet, and the URL bar is the core tool for that. Originally, browsers had a dedicated new tab page that served no purpose other than displaying a blank input field for URLs. This was redundant.

Over time, new tab pages evolved into shortcut hubs with bookmarks, widgets, and frequently visited sites. But as web usage shifted, people spend more time within websites rather than idling on a new tab. When they need to go somewhere new, the only essential tool is the URL bar—it provides direct access without unnecessary distractions.

If you rely on a customised new tab page filled with widgets and shortcuts, reverting the change makes sense for you. But for most users, navigation is already muscle memory, and reaching a destination is just a few keystrokes away. Anything beyond the URL bar is extra, not essential.

Not only that, but if I'm already on a website and want to go somewhere new, forcing a full-screen new tab page just to let me type in a URL is pointless. It wipes out my current context just to show me a 400-pixel input field. I don't need my entire screen taken over — I just need a place to type.

---

The only real reason to have a dedicated new tab page is if you use a custom one with info you actually find useful. Personally, I've never needed that.

Date, weather? That's already in my taskbar. Bookmarks? I know where I'm going, I can just type three letters instead of clicking through some menu.

The only time I'd need a button is for some ridiculously long and specifc URL, and even then, I'd rather have it in a sidebar or bookmarks bar, assuming the browser even has one. Putting it on a new tab page just adds an unnecessary step.

For most people, a new tab page is just an extra step between them and where they actually want to go.

[dotzenith]

Sure. Still don't think I should have to explain why breaking behavior that has been standard for decades, in a patch release is a bad idea. Add the feature, let users know that is has been added, and let them opt in.

This feature was enabled by default, shipped with a popup that had a buggy disable button, and no clear way to turn it off other than going into about:config. Thank you for the productivity gains, much appreciated.

[mauro-balades]

This feature was enabled by default, shipped with a popup that had a buggy disable button, and no clear way to turn it off other than going into about:config.

[centur]

@mauro-balades This pop-up on my system flashes for a subsecond and I can't get to it again, I can't even read and I managed to notice only caps "URL". I don't think it's a fair justification to change defaults and expecting that everyone see these messages. They are bugged out for me on few releases already

[centur]

The button is called "new tab", it should do what it says.

Technically it does what it says. It allows you to open a new tab. It doesn't say "open empty tab". Getting into semantics and everything, but it does what it says, just not in the way that you expected it personally.

It does not open any tab, it opens a search bar. I can't even think how this stuff is interacts with containers of Firefox.
Another bug - icon for collapsing sidebar is also changed:

Now there are 2 extremely similar icons but they behave completely different

I'm not going to be bothered reporting this. I have an impression that browser makes some quite impactful decisions on a pure whim and minor patch can bring random changes that can be breaking for user workflows of many years.

It's probably great that developer trying to move fast but "break shit" is not something advanced users appreciate about their browsers. No matter whether some other browsers, like Arc does. Arc build a security vuln with firebase - does Zen going to repeat it after them too ?

[centur]

Arc browser did a bunch of research on it, it's apparently the best option

To elaborate on this, other than just an appeal to authority:

A browser's primary function is to help you navigate the internet, and the URL bar is the core tool for that. Originally, browsers had a dedicated new tab page that served no purpose other than displaying a blank input field for URLs. This was redundant.

Over time, new tab pages evolved into shortcut hubs with bookmarks, widgets, and frequently visited sites. But as web usage shifted, people spend more time within websites rather than idling on a new tab. When they need to go somewhere new, the only essential tool is the URL bar—it provides direct access without unnecessary distractions.

If you rely on a customised new tab page filled with widgets and shortcuts, reverting the change makes sense for you. But for most users, navigation is already muscle memory, and reaching a destination is just a few keystrokes away. Anything beyond the URL bar is extra, not essential.

Not only that, but if I'm already on a website and want to go somewhere new, forcing a full-screen new tab page just to let me type in a URL is pointless. It wipes out my current context just to show me a 400-pixel input field. I don't need my entire screen taken over — I just need a place to type.

The only real reason to have a dedicated new tab page is if you use a custom one with info you actually find useful. Personally, I've never needed that.

Date, weather? That's already in my taskbar. Bookmarks? I know where I'm going, I can just type three letters instead of clicking through some menu.

The only time I'd need a button is for some ridiculously long and specifc URL, and even then, I'd rather have it in a sidebar or bookmarks bar, assuming the browser even has one. Putting it on a new tab page just adds an unnecessary step.

For most people, a new tab page is just an extra step between them and where they actually want to go.

I fundamentally disagree with your definition of what new tab should be. It just a personal opinion and imo - pure speculation that it stands in a way between user and their designated site. My flows are different. I know heaps of other devs who use start page for critical alerts, rss feeds, most used sites, general organization of a space. New tab is a desktop, and if you have no use of it - others may. I also saw many times that navigation, even using firefox own default new tab with recent sites, is much faster with a click than a muscle memory of typing things. trivial scenarios - I want to open same site (in recents or bookmarked) in different firefox profiles so I can login as different users there. And I have a lot of containers:

Having a new tab page - makes sense and works perfectly - context menu and 1 click. Doing it with clunky buttons in url - wasting so much time and cursor mileage.

Each side can come up with compelling story why other's scenario does not work for them. I had hopes that respect of user setup was a cornerstone of Zen, like it is a cornerstone of Firefox.

[centur]

🎩 Hat tip, whoever fixed icon for collapsing sidebar. This was quick

[barelyprofessional]

Arc browser did a bunch of research on it, it's apparently the best option

To elaborate on this, other than just an appeal to authority:
A browser's primary function is to help you navigate the internet, and the URL bar is the core tool for that. Originally, browsers had a dedicated new tab page that served no purpose other than displaying a blank input field for URLs. This was redundant.
Over time, new tab pages evolved into shortcut hubs with bookmarks, widgets, and frequently visited sites. But as web usage shifted, people spend more time within websites rather than idling on a new tab. When they need to go somewhere new, the only essential tool is the URL bar—it provides direct access without unnecessary distractions.
If you rely on a customised new tab page filled with widgets and shortcuts, reverting the change makes sense for you. But for most users, navigation is already muscle memory, and reaching a destination is just a few keystrokes away. Anything beyond the URL bar is extra, not essential.
Not only that, but if I'm already on a website and want to go somewhere new, forcing a full-screen new tab page just to let me type in a URL is pointless. It wipes out my current context just to show me a 400-pixel input field. I don't need my entire screen taken over — I just need a place to type.
The only real reason to have a dedicated new tab page is if you use a custom one with info you actually find useful. Personally, I've never needed that.
Date, weather? That's already in my taskbar. Bookmarks? I know where I'm going, I can just type three letters instead of clicking through some menu.
The only time I'd need a button is for some ridiculously long and specifc URL, and even then, I'd rather have it in a sidebar or bookmarks bar, assuming the browser even has one. Putting it on a new tab page just adds an unnecessary step.
For most people, a new tab page is just an extra step between them and where they actually want to go.

I fundamentally disagree with your definition of what new tab should be. It just a personal opinion and imo - pure speculation that it stands in a way between user and their designated site. My flows are different. I know heaps of other devs who use start page for critical alerts, rss feeds, most used sites, general organization of a space. New tab is a desktop, and if you have no use of it - others may. I also saw many times that navigation, even using firefox own default new tab with recent sites, is much faster with a click than a muscle memory of typing things. trivial scenarios - I want to open same site (in recents or bookmarked) in different firefox profiles so I can login as different users there. And I have a lot of containers:

Having a new tab page - makes sense and works perfectly - context menu and 1 click. Doing it with clunky buttons in url - wasting so much time and cursor mileage.

Each side can come up with compelling story why other's scenario does not work for them. I had hopes that respect of user setup was a cornerstone of Zen, like it is a cornerstone of Firefox.

Personally I've always just used about:blank as my new tab page. I don't like having a lot of clutter and I'm easily distracted so having a big beautiful blank slate open up works best for me.

Reading that this is apparently a preference among Arc users and this change was to cater towards them makes me wonder who do I have to harass to get features I want? I would kill for the ability to copy my preferences into newly created profiles.

[Aabirr]

I get it that it might be useful for some user and maybe a little more productive in someway but for me it's pain.
I mean, I am a heavy mouse user and I have lots of shortcuts on the homepage so I can just click with the mouse and start reading and scrolling. This way I have to type which mean I have to use my both hand or move my mouse hand to do so which is not productive for me. So it would be great if there is some easy way to disable this directly from settings.

And I ditched MS Edge because they keep changing my settings time to time, showing pop-ups to use their recommended settings. I am hoping I don't have to do that with Zen. Next time you have some new features, let me decide if I want that.