Tabbed browsing: frequently asked questions

Applies to all editions of Windows Vista.
Which edition of Windows Vista am I using?

Here are answers to some common questions about tabbed browsing.

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What is tabbed browsing?

Tabbed browsing is a feature in Internet Explorer that allows you to open multiple websites in a single browser window. You can open webpages on new tabs, and switch between them by clicking the tab. If you have multiple tabs open, you can use Quick Tabs to easily switch to other tabs. The advantage is that you have fewer items open on the taskbar. For more information, see Using Quick Tabs in Internet Explorer.

How do I open a new tab?

To open a new blank tab, click the New Tab button on the tab row or press CTRL+T. To open a new tab when you follow a link on a webpage, press CTRL as you click the link or right-click the link and then click Open in New Tab. If you have a mouse with a wheel, you can click a link with the wheel to open a new tab.

Picture of the New Tab button
New Tab button

How do I close a tab?

If you have more than one tab open, click the X on the tab to close it. If you have a mouse with a wheel, you can click a tab with the wheel to close the tab. If you only have one tab open, you must close the window to close the tab.

How do I open a new tab to my home page?

By default, Internet Explorer displays the Welcome to tabbed browsing page or a blank page when you open a new tab by clicking the New tab button or by pressing CTRL + T. If you prefer that your home page appear when you open a new tab, follow these steps.

To display the home page on new tabs

1.	Open Internet Explorer by clicking the Start button , and then clicking Internet Explorer.
2.	Click the Tools button, and then click Internet Options.
3.	Click the General tab, and then, under Tabs, click Settings.
4.	In the Tabbed Browsing Settings dialog box, select the Open home page for new tabs instead of a blank page check box, and then click OK twice.

Notes

If you open a new tab and see a page that says "You've opened a new tab" after you've followed the steps above, select the Don't show this page again check box, and then click Close. When you restart Internet Explorer, your home page will display whenever you open a new tab.
If you have multiple home page tabs, only the first home page in your list will open in the new tab.

How do I save a group of tabs?

To save a group of tabs, click the Add to Favorites button , and then click Add Tab Group to Favorites. Give the group a folder name, and then click Add.

How do I open a group of tabs that I've saved?

Click the Favorites Center button and then click the folder that you want to open. Click the arrow to the right of the folder name . All of the webpages will open on separate tabs.

I want to close Internet Explorer but I have a lot of tabs open. Is there anything I can do to make them re-open the next time I start Internet Explorer?

Yes. When you close Internet Explorer, you will be asked whether you want to close all tabs. When the prompt appears, click Show Options, select Open these the next time I use Internet Explorer, and then click Close Tabs. When you reopen Internet Explorer the tabs will be restored.

Can I turn off the tabs?

Yes. Here's how:

1.	Open Internet Explorer by clicking the Start button , and then clicking Internet Explorer.
2.	Click the Tools button, and then click Internet Options.
3.	Click the General tab, and then, in the Tabs section, click Settings.
4.	Clear the Enable Tabbed Browsing check box.
5.	Click OK twice.
6.	Close Internet Explorer and then open it again.

What mouse and keyboard shortcuts can I use when working with tabs?

The following table describes the mouse and keyboard shortcuts that are available when working with tabs.

To do this	Press this
Open links in a new tab in the background	CTRL+click
Open links in a new tab in the foreground	CTRL+SHIFT+click
Open a new tab in the foreground	CTRL+T or double-click an empty space on the tab row
Switch between tabs	CTRL+TAB or CTRL+SHIFT+TAB
Close current tab (or current window when there are no open tabs)	CTRL+W or ALT+F4
Open a new tab in the foreground from the Address bar	ALT+ENTER
Switch to a specific tab number	CTRL+n (where n is a number between 1 and 8)
Switch to the last tab	CTRL+9
Close other tabs	CTRL+ALT+F4
Open Quick Tabs (thumbnail view)	CTRL+Q
Open a link in a tab with a wheel mouse	Click the link with the mouse wheel
Close a tab with a wheel mouse	Click the tab with the mouse wheel

Can I choose whether pop-ups are displayed in a new window or on a new tab?

Yes. You can choose to always display pop-ups on a new tab, to always display them in a new window, or to let Internet Explorer decide how to display them. If you opt to let Internet Explorer decide how to display pop-ups, it will display the pop-up in a new window if the pop-up specifies size or display requirements. Otherwise, the pop-up is displayed in a new tab.

To change how pop-ups are displayed

1.	Open Internet Explorer by clicking the Start button , and then clicking Internet Explorer.
2.	Click the Tools button, and then click Internet Options.
3.	Click the General tab, and then, in the Tabs section, click Settings.
4.	Make a selection in the When a pop-up is encountered section.
5.	Click OK twice.