Ten hidden functions to better master Firefox

Firefox, the web browser of the Mozilla Foundation, which has just inaugurated Proton, its new interface incorporates a multitude of hidden functions. While some are clearly reserved for seasoned users, some of them would benefit from being known and used by as many people as possible.

Thanks to them, you will use Firefox optimally and in some cases save precious time.

1. Master the keyboard shortcuts

It cannot be repeated enough: knowing the keyboard shortcuts for the tools you use every day can save you precious time. Firefox is no exception to the rule and offers a large number of them listed on a fully dedicated page. Here is a selection of the most useful:

• Ctrl + N: open a new window
• Ctrl + Shift + N: open an incognito window
• Ctrl + T: open a new tab
• Ctrl + W: close a tab
• CTRL + Shift + T: reopen a recently closed tab
• Ctrl + J: open the downloads window
• Ctrl + F: find text in the page
• Ctrl + R / F5: refresh the page
• Space / Shift + Space: scroll a page
• Ctrl + Enter: add www. and .com to the text entered in the address bar
• Ctrl + (number from 1 to 9): quickly go from the first to the ninth tab
• Ctrl + Tab / Ctrl + Shift + Tab: navigate to the next or previous tab
• Click with the mouse wheel on a link: opens the link in a new tab
• Click with the wheel on a tab: close the tab
• Ctrl + mouse wheel or Ctrl + / Ctrl-: zoom in / out on a page

2. Rearrange your tabs

Firefox offers the possibility of moving several tabs simultaneously to reorganize their display order for example.

To do this, hold down the Ctrl key, and click on the different tabs you want to move. Once all the tabs have been selected – they appear brighter than the others – you can drag them anywhere you want on the tab bar in one maneuver.

3. Disable auto-refresh

What could be more frustrating than a web page that refreshes itself in the middle of your reading? Firefox allows you to disable auto-refresh in a few clicks. However, you have to go to the hidden options of the browser. Type about: config in the address bar, and click I take the risk.

Enter accessibility.blockautorefresh in the Search field, and double-click on the value false to change it to true (or click on the button with a double arrow). Restart the browser for your changes to take effect.

4. Paste text with the mouse wheel

If you often copy and paste text in your web browser, be aware that it is possible to paste the text from the clipboard with a single click on your mouse wheel.

To do this, type about: config in the address bar, click on I take the risk then look for the option middlemouse.paste. Double-click on the value false to change it to true. Restart your browser for the changes to be saved.

5. Protect saved passwords

Have you got into the habit of saving login identifiers and passwords in the dedicated Firefox manager? If this is the case, the browser can display your usernames and passwords on demand (Main menu> Settings> Privacy and security> Username and password> Saved identifiers).

To prevent this data from falling into the wrong hands, it is best to set up a master password to protect it. Click on the main menu, enter Settings, then navigate to the Privacy & Security submenu.

In the Usernames and passwords section, check the Use a master password option. In the window that opens, enter a new password and confirm it by entering it a second time. Firefox measures the quality of the master password in real time. Validate by clicking on OK.

Remember this password because you will be asked each time you want to access the information it protects.

6. Customize the toolbar

Firefox groups together the main tools and extensions installed at the top right of the window. You can customize the display by adding new tools. To do this, go to the main menu, then in the Additional tools menu, click on Customize the toolbar.

Then just drag and drop the items you want to keep displayed on the toolbar.

7. Use the screenshot module

Few users know it, but Firefox natively integrates a screen capture tool. Coupled with a complete manager, it simplifies the screenshots that you may need to take on the sites you consult.

To activate it, right-click on the page to capture then, in the contextual menu that appears, choose Take a screenshot.

You will then only have to select the capture mode to achieve. Firefox thus offers to Capture the entire page, or to Capture the visible area only.

8. Activate reading mode

Again, the function is not new, but can be very useful for comfortably reading the content of a web page that is a little too busy.

Its activation, which is done in a click on the appropriate icon grafted at the end of the address bar, allows you to reformat the content of a page by removing visual elements that may disturb your reading.

9. Free up memory

The multiplication of open tabs on your computer can sometimes cause the browser to slow down. The latter, a large consumer of memory, does not have enough to function properly.

To free memory, type about: memory in the address bar, then, in the Free memory section, click Minimize memory usage.

10. Close the most energy-consuming tabs

On a laptop, battery life can vary greatly depending on the number of tabs open, but also the content they display. To preserve your battery, you can easily identify the most power-consuming tabs in order to close them.

To do this, enter about: performance in the address bar. The Energy impact column automatically classifies the tabs, from the most energy-consuming to the least energy-consuming. Place yourself on the row of a tab with a high energy impact and click on the cross on the right to close it.