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How to Remove the List All Tabs Button from Firefox: A Comprehensive Guide

By Sandeep Gautam
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When it comes to keeping the privacy of our users and allowing them to browse the web most efficiently, Mozilla Firefox is the choice of a large chunk. However, the user interface has seen adverse changes so that many people, notably the “List All Tabs” button, are the ones that are the most bothersome. A button that displays all the currently open tabs and may take up too much space can prove to be more of a hindrance to a smooth browsing experience. Although Mozilla did not offer the possibility of removing this feature very easily, we will give you instructions through which you will be able to disallow the List All Tabs button in Firefox. This guide provides two ways: either by setting the about:config page or by creating custom CSS.

What is the “List All Tabs” Button in Firefox?

The “List all tabs” button in Firefox is a drop-down list of all tabs that are open on the browser. This is a feature through which users can switch to the one they want. In this regard, the feature works like a catalogue for the tab bar, thus simplifying user navigation through them. The feature, however, also adds unwanted clutter in the tab bar, making the interface even more restrictive, mainly for those users who are keener on a cleaner web experience.

Why Can’t Users Remove the “List All Tabs” Button Directly?

Mozilla Firefox lacks an ordinary way to eliminate the “List All Tabs” button. The Firefox developers say that the button is not just for giving a list of all tabs rather it also includes a sub-menu that hides tabs. In this way, the developers can discourage the use of some add-ons that might be hidden without a way for the user to see them. Even though this is a sound security measure in theory, many users feel it is not required in day-to-day usage. Despite the feedback from users, the organization has yet to make this feature automatically removable. If you have no problem with a bit of customization, you can hide the button on Firefox.

How to Remove the List All Tabs Button from Firefox

Even though Mozilla doesn’t permit the removal of the “List All Tabs” button, users can choose from two different ways to hide this functionality. They can use these methods to take back the tab bar space.

Method 1: Using the about:config Page

Note: As of Firefox version 108, this method may not work. But, for earlier versions that old be the case still.

  1. [List of] Access the Configuration PageOpen Firefox and navigate to the following location in the address bar:
   about:config
  1. Accept the Warning
    • Click on “Accept the Risk and Continue” to reach the advanced configuration settings.
  2. To detect the FlagPress use the shortcut Ctrl+F or bring up the search box by typing:
   browser.tabs.tabmanager.enabled
  1. Toggle the Attempt
    • Switch from the correct to the incorrect by double-clicking on the data.
  2. Start Firefox over
    • Exit and reopen the program for the alterations to work.

If you can do it successfully, the “List All Tabs” button will be completely removed from the tab bar of your Firefox at the end. Yet, in the case you have upgraded to a newer version of Firefox, you may need to use the CSS method below.

Method 2: Disabling via CSS

Here, custom CSS is used to execute the “List All Tabs” button hiding. It covers all the new Firefox releases and unlike the former way, lasts for good.

  • Get to the Profile Folder
    • Click on the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in Firefox.
    • Proceed to Help > More Troubleshooting Information.
    • In the “Application Basics” area, find your Profile Folder and press “Open Folder”.
  • Create a Chrome Folder
    • Inside the profile folder, create a new folder named Chrome (if it does not already exist).
  • Create a userChrome.css File
    • Inside the chrome folder, create a new text file named userChrome.css.
    • Open this file in a text editor like Notepad and add the following CSS code:
#alltabs-button {
    display: none !important;
}
  • Save the file with the .css extension.
  • Activate the old-style sheets.
    • Return to Firefox, then open about:config in the address bar.
    • Press Ctrl+F to look for the respecting setting:
      • toolkit.legacyUserProfileCustomizations.stylesheets
    • Set its value true by double-clicking the entry.
  • Restart Firefox
    • Close the Firefox Browser, then open it back for the settings to take effect; the “List All Tabs” button should not be visible now.

Conclusion

Disabling the “List All Tabs” button from Firefox will undoubtedly provide you with a better browsing experience as it will minimize the crowding of headings and links in your tab bar. Although Firefox does not come with the built-in option to disable this function, users can utilize one of the two methods discussed in the article to eliminate the associated clutter in the interface because it is now simpler and friendlier. Changing the about:config option is usually enough for old versions, but custom CSS is the best solution for all Firefox versions. Just stay by each of the steps, and with this button quickly out of the way. If you confront any problems or have other questions to ask, the comments section is available for you to ask for more light.