How to force Safari 4 to open links in a new Tab instead of a new Window

by Aseem Kishore on February 26, 2009

By default, any time a web site uses the target="_blank" attribute on a link (like this one), Safari 4 will open that link in a new window. If you’d prefer it to open in a new Tab, follow the instructions outlined in this brief tutorial.

Start by opening a Terminal window (Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal). Enter the following command:

defaults write com.apple.Safari TargetedClicksCreateTabs -bool true

semi-transparent Terminal in OS X

Now restart Safari. Links that used to open in a new Window (like this one) will now open in a new Tab instead.

safari 4 tabs reverted to use the style in safari 3

If you decide you want to change back, just re-enter the command but replace true at the end of the command with false.

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{ 65 comments… read them below or add one }

dc denison March 13, 2010 at 6:13 am

thanks. good tip.

JR April 15, 2010 at 8:39 pm

It was quicker for me to download Firefox than keep trying to make such a basic function work. Ridiculous that either I’m missing something simple or that Safari is. Thank you Mozilla. I shouldn’t have to open my terminal and reprogram anything on a brand new computer, especially for such a simple and popular function. Who on earth wants to have a new window open every time you click a link?

KPR April 28, 2010 at 10:33 am

works fine, but gmail chat not rendering, hopefully google’s issue but stopped right after config’g. will reverse and see.

Anon May 11, 2010 at 2:16 pm

It works; thanks so much.

Tommy May 20, 2010 at 12:10 pm

I tried to do this but it didn’t seem to work. Help?

yarqgc May 27, 2010 at 9:21 am

Amazing. No more holding down the Apple key! Thanks!!!!

yarqgc May 27, 2010 at 9:22 am

Works for me in Snow Leopard

Dirk June 7, 2010 at 4:56 pm

I love you, man.
This has been irritating me for months.
Thanks for the tip.

LesM on twitter June 8, 2010 at 1:23 am

My first apple MacBook and the fix works like a hot damn. I am wondering why there are so many diehards when simple options like this are not included in prefs?

chekuri September 30, 2010 at 1:26 am

Its not working!!!!! I am getting access denied message in cmd what should I do??

katy October 1, 2010 at 7:30 am

Thank you. That was driving me nuts.

Halvard October 18, 2010 at 1:27 pm

In Safari 5 you can change this in the menu! :)

sm25265 January 15, 2011 at 6:15 am

hi

thx for offering a solution, but somehow it does not work for me. i am running the latest mac OS. when i enter command in terminal it seems to accept it, no error msg, nothing.
but loads of the links do not open in tabs but in the same window (which i cannot stand)

would you have any suggestions to what could have gone wrong?
thx

Bob February 13, 2011 at 9:30 am

My computer is opening new tabs and I don’t want it to. I tried going onto the terminal screen but my prompt is different and not sure how to write it without fear of screwing with my computer. Not confident. Please help stop these annoying tabs and please direct me to having new windows pop-up. Anyone…anyone. :-)

Brittany August 8, 2011 at 7:53 pm

This isn’t working for me for some reason and it’s about to drive me nuts. I’m about to switch browsers, but I really like the read me later thing in this Safari.

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