Newtab.urlEX (Custom new tab & bookmark browser)

Newtab.urlEX (Custom new tab & bookmark browser)

Customize and override your new tab page with your own URL or a searchable bookmark browser! (Restores browser.newtab.url / bookmarksPanel.xul functionality)

What is Newtab.urlEX (Custom new tab & bookmark browser)?
Newtab.urlEX (Custom new tab & bookmark browser) is a Firefox add-on that restores the ability to have a custom new tab page. It allows you to set the new tab URL and offers an option to make the page active. It also features a bookmark browser for easy access to your bookmarks. Please note that the URL in the location bar may not be highlighted or cleared automatically when using a custom new tab, but a fix is being worked on by the Firefox team.
Merlin
Stats
By: Mike Wu
Users: 60
Rating: 4.20 (10)
Version: 0.3.3resigned1 (Last updated: 2024-04-25)
Creation date: 2017-08-12
Weekly download count: NaN
Firefox on Android: Yes
Risk impact: Moderate risk impact
Risk likelihood: Moderate risk likelihood
Manifest version: 2
Overrides new tab: Yes
Permissions:
  • storage
  • tabs
  • sessions
  • browserSettings
  • bookmarks
Size: 32.47K
URLs: Website
Stats date:

Other platforms

Not available on Chrome
Not available on Edge
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Merlin
Summary

Now featuring a shiny new bookmark browser!

** This is the Web Extensions version of the old newtab.url **

Since Firefox removed the ability to have a custom new tab page (previously accomplished by setting "browser.newtab.url"), I decided to try and write an add-on to restore it.

Some of the APIs are still missing that I need to write it to the same functionality as the original, but as of now you can set the new tab url, and there's an option to attempt to make the page active (as opposed to the location bar).

Note regarding location bar highlight / clearing: Due to a change made in Firefox awhile back, the URL in the location bar isn't automatically highlighted or cleared when opening a custom new tab. They're working to fix this - the feature is being tracked at Bug 1372996 on Bugzilla. Currently, it's not expected to be shipped in time for Firefox 57, but I'll make sure to add it as soon as it's available!

User reviews
It does what it says, but it's very slow, and if you 're in the habit of opening new tabs and typing search queries, you're going to find yourself wasting a lot of time a your queries either get overwritten by the new tab URL being entered AFTER you've typed them, or, them getting tagged onto the end of the URL rather than being sent as search queries. I ended up uninstalling this, because it's not worth it to me to have to wait for my default new tab homepage to load before I can do anything with the tab, if I have to wait for that.
by Plgele Layleyle, 2023-02-14
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Safety
Risk impact

Newtab.urlEX (Custom new tab & bookmark browser) may not be safe to use and it requires some risky permissions. Exercise caution when installing this add-on. Review carefully before installing.

Risk likelihood

Newtab.urlEX (Custom new tab & bookmark browser) is probably trust-worthy. Prefer other publishers if available. Exercise caution when installing this add-on.

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Screenshots