Open Google Search Results in New Tab: How-To
To open a Google search result in a new tab, hold the Ctrl key (Windows/Linux) or Command (⌘) key (Mac) while clicking the result link. This works in every major browser and is the fastest way to keep your search results page open while you check a page. You can also use a mouse’s middle button or the scroll wheel click on the link to achieve the same result.
Why Open Results in a New Tab?
When you click a normal search result, the current tab navigates away from Google. If you want to go back to the results, you must press the back button, which can lose your scroll position and reload the page. Opening in a new tab preserves your search query, your place in the list, and any filters you applied. This is especially useful when you are researching a topic and need to compare several pages, or when you are following a chain of links from one result to the next.
The behavior is standard across Google Search, Google Images, and Google News. The same keyboard and mouse shortcuts work on Bing, DuckDuckGo, and most other search engines, so the skill transfers.
Methods That Work in Every Browser
There are four reliable ways to open a search result in a new tab. Each works in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, and Opera.
- Ctrl-click (Windows/Linux) or ⌘-click (Mac): Hold the modifier key and click the link. This is the most common method and works with any mouse or trackpad.
- Middle-click or scroll-wheel click: Click the link with the mouse’s middle button (or press down on the scroll wheel). This opens the link in a new tab without using the keyboard.
- Right-click and select “Open link in new tab”: This is the fallback method. It works everywhere but takes an extra step.
- Drag the link to the tab bar: Click and hold the link, drag it up to the empty space next to your current tabs, and release. This lets you place the new tab exactly where you want it.
For the first two methods, the new tab opens in the background, meaning you stay on the Google results page. If you want the new tab to open and immediately switch to it, add the Shift key to the shortcut (Ctrl-Shift-click, ⌘-Shift-click, or Shift-middle-click).
How to Set Google to Always Open Results in a New Tab
Google does not offer a built-in setting to make every result open in a new tab automatically. The search engine does not expose this option in its preferences. However, there are two workarounds.
First, you can use a browser extension. Extensions like “Open in New Tab” or “Search Result New Tab” (available for Chrome and Firefox) intercept clicks on search result links and force them to open in a new tab. These extensions typically give you a toggle to enable or disable the behavior. They are free and do not require any configuration.
Second, you can change your browser’s default behavior for all links. In Firefox, you can set browser.tabs.loadInBackground to false in the advanced configuration (about:config), which makes new tabs open in the foreground. This does not make links open in new tabs by default; it only changes whether the new tab is focused. Chrome and Edge do not offer a native setting to force new tabs for all links, so an extension is the only way to automate this.
Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
A frequent mistake is pressing Shift-click without the Ctrl key. Shift-click opens the link in a new window, not a new tab. If you end up with a new window, you used Shift instead of Ctrl (or ⌘ on Mac).
Another misconception is that the middle-click method is disabled on laptops. Many laptop trackpads support a two-finger tap or a three-finger tap to simulate a middle click, but this depends on the trackpad driver. If middle-click does not work, use Ctrl-click instead.
Some users think that right-clicking and selecting “Open link in new tab” is the only way. It is not; the keyboard and mouse shortcuts are faster once you get used to them. The right-click menu also has a “Copy link address” option, which is useful if you want to paste the URL into an email or document rather than open it.
What About the “I’m Feeling Lucky” Button?
The “I’m Feeling Lucky” button takes you directly to the first result, bypassing the results page entirely. It opens in the same tab by default. To open it in a new tab, use the same shortcuts: Ctrl-click, ⌘-click, or middle-click on the button. The button is primarily used when you are confident the first result is the one you want, so a new tab is less necessary, but the shortcut still works.
Mobile Browsers: How It Differs
On smartphones and tablets, the behavior is different. There is no Ctrl key or middle-click. To open a Google search result in a new tab on iOS Safari or Android Chrome, press and hold the link. A context menu appears with options like “Open in New Tab” (Android) or “Open in New Tab” (iOS). On Chrome for Android, you can also swipe down on the link to open it in a new tab, but this gesture can be finicky and is not available on all versions.
On iOS, you can also tap and hold, then drag the link to the top of the screen to open it in a new tab. This is a Safari-specific gesture. On both platforms, the new tab opens in the background by default; you can switch to it by tapping the tab switcher icon.
Keyboard-Only Method
If you prefer to keep your hands on the keyboard, you can navigate search results without a mouse. After performing a search, press Tab until the first result is highlighted (the link gets a focus ring), then press Enter to open it in the same tab. To open in a new tab, press Ctrl-Enter (Windows/Linux) or ⌘-Enter (Mac). This works in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. To move to the next result, press Tab again. This method is slower than clicking but is useful for accessibility or when your mouse is unavailable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my middle-click not open a new tab?
Middle-click may be disabled by your mouse driver or browser settings. In Chrome, you can check if the middle-click paste feature is interfering. On some Linux systems, middle-click is set to paste clipboard content instead of opening links. Try Ctrl-click as a fallback. If middle-click works on other websites but not on Google, check if an extension is blocking it.
Can I make Google open results in a new tab on my phone?
Yes, but not automatically. On Android and iOS, you must long-press the result link and choose “Open in new tab” from the menu. There is no setting to make this the default behavior. Some third-party browsers like Firefox for Android allow you to set “Open links in new tab” as a default, but this applies to all links, not just search results.
Does opening in a new tab affect my search history?
No. Opening a result in a new tab does not change how Google tracks your clicks. Google still records the click as a search interaction, and the new tab’s page load is logged as a normal visit. Your search history and the “Recently viewed” section in Google Search are unaffected by the tab method you use.
Why does Ctrl-click sometimes open a new window instead of a tab?
This happens when your browser is set to open new tabs in a new window, or when the link has a target attribute that forces a new window. On Google, this is rare. More commonly, you are pressing the wrong key: on Mac, use ⌘ (Command), not Ctrl. If you are on Windows and Ctrl-click opens a new window, check your browser’s “When a pop-up is opened” setting in the content settings.
Is there a way to open all results at once?
No, Google does not provide a built-in “open all” button. You can use an extension like “Open Multiple Links” or “Linkclump” to select and open several results at once. These extensions let you draw a rectangle around multiple links and open them all in new tabs. This is useful for research but can be overwhelming if you open too many at once.
Does the shortcut work on Google Images?
Yes. On Google Images, Ctrl-click or middle-click on a thumbnail opens the full-size image in a new tab. This is often the fastest way to view an image without leaving the search grid. The same shortcuts work for the “Visit” button that appears when you click on a thumbnail.
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