Firefox and Middle-click
Here is a quick tip for Firefox users under Linux. If you find loading the current text in clipboard as a URL when middle-clicking on the current page annoying, then type about:config in the location bar, search for middlemouse.contentLoadURL and set it to false.
This feature may has some uses, but many times I middle-click somewhere other than a link, and Firefox tries to load whatever text in the clipboard as a URL. Since that the text won't an actual URL most of the time, Firefox loads a random website that is the result of a Google "I feel lucky search", which is very annoying!
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PRODRiVER (not verified) | A useful tip. | Fri, 2006/01/27 - 10:58pm
Ya know m8, i always thought that firefox on linux really needs to be reconfigured for my at least.
BTW is there a sheet that explains all these about:config options?
strontium90 (not verified) | Thanks brother, the hint | Sat, 2006/01/28 - 7:58am
Thanks brother, the hint works for Mozilla too. :)
Anonymous | Thats cause Firfox is | Sat, 2006/02/04 - 7:57pm
Thats cause Firfox is Mozilla
Also the middle-click works throughout Linux, nothing new, old shortcut
Kevin (not verified) | Totally sweet! | Mon, 2006/04/03 - 9:44am
Totally sweet! I'd always wondered about this.
Anonymous (not verified) | Thank you! | Thu, 2006/05/11 - 11:42pm
I am so grateful you shared this tip! Accidentally middle-clicking on the document window and having that open a URL to whatever's in my copy buffer was driving me mad! THANK YOU
Jack (not verified) | Thanks | Mon, 2006/09/11 - 7:00pm
Great tip - also find this annoying!
B1GfOot (not verified) | Thanks! | Thu, 2006/10/05 - 8:52am
I have been wondering how to fix this annoying middle click problem for ages!!!! You've saved me a lot of grief!
Thanks
EUK (not verified) | That is perfect. at last i | Thu, 2006/10/26 - 12:43pm
That is perfect. at last i no longer have to keep closing windows i do not care about.
Please remove this feature mozilla! :P
Fatman (not verified) | Convert middle click from evil to goodness | Tue, 2007/01/02 - 11:50pm
Great hint. Thanks.
Though middle clicking in Firefox does have its uses... check here. http://doctorvee.co.uk/2006/10/26/middle-click/
Anonymous (not verified) | Why would anyone turn this | Tue, 2007/02/27 - 11:29am
Why would anyone turn this feature off?
I found this page while trying to find out how to turn this feature *ON*
I'm always copying and pasting URLs and like it to be quick and simple. Highlight text, lovely linux copies automatically, single click to paste 'n' go..
Sea Eagle (not verified) | You've saved me a lot of heartache | Sat, 2007/05/19 - 11:40pm
I've just reinstalled Firefox v2.0.0.3 after uninstalling it a couple of months ago. One of the major reasons I did so was because of the irritating middle-click on a non-link problem. It even happened when I middle-clicked on a tab to close it. Strangely it never happened when I was using FF 1.5. Now that problem's fixed I am very happy with FF2. Thanks for the tip.
Anonymous (not verified) | Thanks | Tue, 2008/09/23 - 8:23am
This feature annoyed me as well.
The setting works for FF3 as well :)
Anonymous (not verified) | Ah, thanks! I wondered how to | Sun, 2008/10/12 - 12:53pm
Ah, thanks! I wondered how to turn this ON, since the default (at least in Ubuntu) seems to be to have this turned off. When you are used to the function, it is very annoying to not have it available.
Neil Funk (not verified) | Thanks | Sun, 2009/02/22 - 8:48pm
Wow, 3 years later and this info is still helpful! Thank you!
I can't stand this default behaviour in FF. For the longest time I didn't even realize what was going wrong.
Matt (not verified) | Great. Scroll too? | Tue, 2009/02/24 - 1:39pm
Great tip thanks, I was finding it annoying too.
Taking it a step further, some browsers (& other progs) allow you to hold in the middle button to SCROLL left, right, up and down freely with the mouse. Wondered if anyone knew how? (Or am I being too ambitious?)
Anonymous (not verified) | Go to | Fri, 2009/03/06 - 12:23am
Go to Edit->Preferences->Advanced->General. Now, under the "Browsing" section, check the "Use autoscrolling" box. This will enable the middle-click scrolling that you want.
Matt (not verified) | Scroll working too | Wed, 2009/03/11 - 11:41am
Thanks anonymous. Edit->Preferences->Advanced->General, "Browsing", "Use autoscrolling" did the trick, I can scroll now too.
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