Item logo image for Tab Activate

Tab Activate

4.1(

278 ratings

)
Item media 1 (screenshot) for Tab Activate

Overview

New tabs open immediately instead of in the background

Opening a link in a new tab can happen several ways: - Middle-click - Control + click - Right-click > Open link in new tab - Website design - and more Chrome opens these new tabs in the background and provides no option to switch to them immediately. With Tab Activate, new tabs open immediately instead of in the background. To override Tab Activate and open a new tab in the background, press the Shift key while opening the new tab. Tab Activate effectively reverses Chrome's new tab focus behavior. In other browsers, this setting is called: "When you open a link in a new tab, switch to it immediately." ---------------------------------------- Required Permissions Read and change all your data on the websites you visit: Required to detect when the Shift key is pressed (no website data is read or changed). Due to limitations in the Chrome extension API, the only way to detect if the Shift key is being pressed is with the required permissions. Absolutely no data is changed or collected. ---------------------------------------- Changes Version 4.0 Updated code for current API. Improved startup behavior with saved tabs. Version 3.2 Refactored code. No longer requires bookmarks permission (bookmarks still work). Version 3.1 Improved Shift key detection when the window loses focus. Improved error handling. Fixed a console error. Version 3.0 Updated to Chrome Manifest V3. Version 2.1 New icon. Fixed issues created by Chrome 79 extension API changes. Version 2.0 As requested, bookmarks are now supported. Version 1.2 New tabs open to the right of the previous tab and new background tabs open at the end. Version 1.1 Shift key overrides Tab Activate and opens new tabs in the background. Version 1.0 Initial release.

Details

  • Version
    4.0.0
  • Updated
    July 13, 2026
  • Offered by
    Tab Activate
  • Size
    6.29KiB
  • Languages
    English (United States)
  • Developer
    Email
    tabactivate@gmail.com
  • Non-trader
    This developer has not identified itself as a trader. For consumers in the European Union, please note that consumer rights do not apply to contracts between you and this developer.

Privacy

Manage extensions and learn how they're being used in your organization
The developer has disclosed that it will not collect or use your data.

This developer declares that your data is

  • Not being sold to third parties, outside of the approved use cases
  • Not being used or transferred for purposes that are unrelated to the item's core functionality
  • Not being used or transferred to determine creditworthiness or for lending purposes

Support

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Open Links in New Tab

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Ensures all links open in a new tab.

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Opens new tab after the active tab, instead of last position.

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Open every new tab in a new window.

Tab Activate V2

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Automatically focuses new tabs, avoiding issues during session restoration.

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A more efficient way to view and manage your bookmarks menu.

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Right Click Opens Link in New Tab in the Correct Order

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Open new tabs to the right of the current one.

Tabs to Front v2

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Brings newly created tabs to the foreground.

Link Blanker

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Open link in new tab.

Open Tabs In Foreground

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Open Links in New Tab

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Ensures all links open in a new tab.

Open New Tab After Current Tab

4.1

Opens new tab after the active tab, instead of last position.

New Tab, New Window

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Open every new tab in a new window.

Tab Activate V2

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Automatically focuses new tabs, avoiding issues during session restoration.

Force Background Tab

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Force New Tab Running In Background

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