I have tried to do this in the past and there is no built-in way to do this in Chrome. There is a Chrome extension called "Open Tabs Next to Current" I think it is called that can do this.

You can set a keyboard shortcut too via the extension for opening a new tab next to the currently active tab. Click the "Keyboard shortcuts" tab. Then, enter a keyboard shortcut in the "Open new tab next to current tab" field.

Hope that helps its the easiest solution I have found

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/open-tabs-next-to-current/gmpnnmonpnnmnhpdldahlekfofigiffh

Answer from Hardware Tech Hub on Stack Exchange
🌐
Google Support
support.google.com › chrome › thread › 3520860 › how-do-i-set-chrome-to-open-links-in-a-new-tab-on-the-same-browser-window
how do i set chrome to open links in a new tab on the same browser window? - Google Chrome Community
Skip to main content · Google Chrome Help · Sign in · Google Help · Help Center · Community · Google Chrome · Terms of Service · Submit feedback · Send feedback on
🌐
Chrome Web Store
chromewebstore.google.com › detail › open-links-in-new-tab › facnjbdmmbddmojfmpfknnkihjcikgon
Open Links in New Tab - Chrome Web Store
Open Links in New Tab simplifies your browsing experience by automatically opening all links in new tabs. No more right-clicking or using keyboard shortcuts; let this extension do the work for you!
Discussions

How do I force Chrome to open all links in a new tab? - Google Chrome Community
Skip to main content · Google Chrome Help · Sign in · Google Help · Help Center · Community · Google Chrome · Terms of Service · Submit feedback · Send feedback on More on support.google.com
🌐 support.google.com
April 16, 2023
Is there a shortcut in Chrome which allows me to click on a link and it opens in a new window?
If you have a mouse, the middle button does this. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/chrome
10
1
April 24, 2023
Automatically open a hyperlink in new tab - Google Chrome Community
Skip to main content · Google Chrome Help · Sign in · Google Help · Help Center · Community · Google Chrome · Terms of Service · Submit feedback · Send feedback on More on support.google.com
🌐 support.google.com
January 8, 2025
Google opens all links in new tab - Google Chrome Community
Skip to main content · Google Chrome Help · Sign in · Google Help · Help Center · Community · Google Chrome · Terms of Service · Submit feedback · Send feedback on More on support.google.com
🌐 support.google.com
March 24, 2023
🌐
Google Support
support.google.com › chrome › thread › 211326882 › how-do-i-force-chrome-to-open-all-links-in-a-new-tab
How do I force Chrome to open all links in a new tab? - Google Chrome Community
April 16, 2023 - Skip to main content · Google Chrome Help · Sign in · Google Help · Help Center · Community · Google Chrome · Terms of Service · Submit feedback · Send feedback on
🌐
SigmaOS
sigmaos.com › tips › browsers › how-to-open-links-in-new-tab-on-google-chrome
How to Open Links in New Tab on Google Chrome | Browser Tips | SigmaOS
If you prefer using the mouse, you can also right-click on a link to open it in a new tab. Simply right-click on the link and select "Open link in a new tab" from the context menu that appears. Chrome offers several keyboard shortcuts for managing ...
Find elsewhere
🌐
Google Support
support.google.com › chrome › thread › 317509153 › automatically-open-a-hyperlink-in-new-tab
Automatically open a hyperlink in new tab - Google Chrome Community
January 8, 2025 - Skip to main content · Google Chrome Help · Sign in · Google Help · Help Center · Community · Google Chrome · Terms of Service · Submit feedback · Send feedback on
🌐
Guiding Tech
guidingtech.com › home › top 4 ways to open all links in new tabs in chrome
Top 4 Ways to Open All Links in New Tabs in Chrome - Guiding Tech
September 3, 2024 - You can also hold down the Ctrl key while clicking on a link to open it in a new tab in the background. If you do not like the idea of having a Chrome extension, you can trust the mouse to handle this job for you.
🌐
Google Support
support.google.com › chrome › thread › 207692124 › google-opens-all-links-in-new-tab
Google opens all links in new tab - Google Chrome Community
March 24, 2023 - Skip to main content · Google Chrome Help · Sign in · Google Help · Help Center · Community · Google Chrome · Terms of Service · Submit feedback · Send feedback on
🌐
Reddit
reddit.com › r/chrome › clicking links in google search results opens them in a new tab
r/chrome on Reddit: Clicking links in Google search results opens them in a new tab
January 30, 2026 -

I noticed this earlier today, it wasn't an issue previously. When I search something on Google and click on a link, it'll open as a new tab, leaving the tab for the search results open. This is happening on 2 different PCs, and I've already checked to make sure a CTRL button isn't stuck or anything.

This seems specific to my account as the problem doesn't occur in incognito. However, I've gone through my settings multiple times and cant for the life of me even find any option for "open links in new tabs". This is contained to just Google search as well, not getting any issues when opening links on websites and such.

Is anyone else having this issue?

EDIT: Since this post still seems to be getting views and comments, I thought I'd write up what fixed it for me here.

u/mammoth_trust4589's comment is what resolved it for me, which I'll break down here:

  1. Go to the Google homepage, the default one that just has the search bar.

  2. At the bottom right, select settings>search settings>other settings (top left), and make sure "Results in New Window" is not enabled.

  3. For me, it was not enabled, but toggling it on and off again resolved it for me.

  4. You may also have to do this on all of your devices logged into the same account, even if you don't have them turned on while doing this (I had to, anyway).

Some people have mentioned the above steps didn't solve it for them though, in which case some have reported disabling extensions fixed it, so might be worth disabling your extensions one by one and trying it out each time to find the one responsible if that's the case. If that STILL doesn't resolve it for you, I unfortunately don't have any other suggestions currently.

This problem doesn't actually seem to be specific to Chrome, as others (and myself) have noticed it on other browsers. It seems to more so be a Google search issue.

🌐
Quora
quora.com › Is-there-a-way-to-force-Google-Chrome-to-open-a-link-in-a-new-tab-instead-of-it-forcing-navigating-to-a-new-page
Is there a way to force Google Chrome to open a link in a new tab instead of it forcing navigating to a new page? - Quora
Answer: As the web developer, add target=”_blank” to the link, inside the tag. The browser will open in a new tab or new window (most do new tab). As a user, right click (or alt click) the link instead of left clicking it, and select ‘open ...
🌐
Quora
quora.com › How-can-I-force-Chrome-to-open-links-in-a-new-tab-that-is-in-the-foreground
How to force Chrome to open links in a new tab that is in the foreground - Quora
Right‑click → Open link in new tab: opens in foreground. Middle‑click / Ctrl/Cmd+click: opens in background (default). ... Chrome normally opens links in background tabs when you Ctrl/Cmd+click or middle-click, and opens in foreground ...
🌐
Google Support
support.google.com › chrome › answer › 2391819
Manage tabs in Chrome - Computer - Google Chrome Help
At the top of your Google Chrome window, next to the last tab on the right, click New tab . Or, use a keyboard shortcut: ... Click and drag the tab outside the Google Chrome window. ... From your computer's desktop or folder, drag the file into a Google Chrome tab.
🌐
Microsoft Learn
learn.microsoft.com › en-us › answers › questions › 2407604 › how-to-make-left-clicking-links-auto-open-new-tabs
How to make left clicking links auto open new tabs rather change my page? - Microsoft Q&A
May 14, 2024 - In google chrome, when I left click a link in a webpage, it will open a new tab with that link so I can still view the old page. I'm trying to switch somethings to edge, but this function doesn't seem to be available on edge. Is there a way to set a…
🌐
Start.me
support.start.me › en › articles › 9182858-open-links-in-a-new-tab-or-window
Open links in a new tab or window | Start.me Help Center
Toggle Open links in new window to off. It will turn grey.​ · Now, every time you click a bookmark, it will open in the same tab.
🌐
How-To Geek
howtogeek.com › home › web › 3 ways to open a link in a new tab
3 Ways to Open a Link in a New Tab
June 18, 2022 - If you use a mouse with a scroll wheel, you have one of the easiest ways to open links in new tabs. Simply put the cursor over the link and click the scroll wheel. The link will open in a new tab in the background.
🌐
GitHub
github.com › cssnr › open-links-in-new-tab
GitHub - cssnr/open-links-in-new-tab: Web Extension to Open Links in New Tabs for Specified Domains or Temporarily on Any Tab.
Modern Chrome Web Extension and Firefox Browser Addon to Open Links in New Tabs for Specified Domains or Temporarily on Any Tab.
Author   cssnr