In safari preferences: Does this solve it or does it open a full window? I don't feel like clicking links for me always results in a new tab. Maybe just links external to the site you're on, but it feels like you're in a minority here with the use case. You might be able to build a complex Shortcuts automation to force what you want to happen but if it were me I'd just...use the extra tab and close it when you're done. Answer from fs454 on reddit.com
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Apple Support
support.apple.com › guide › safari › use-tabs-for-webpages-sfri11576 › mac
Use tabs for webpages in Safari on Mac - Apple Support
Tip: To use these Command-key shortcuts to open webpages in new windows instead of new tabs, choose Safari > Settings, click Tabs, then deselect “⌘-click opens a link in a new tab.” See Change Tabs settings.
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 253121759
Safari opens a new tab each time I click a new link
September 10, 2021 - It is expected behavior for Safari to open any link you select in a new tab. ... Hoping this helps out, take care! ... This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/macbook › eli5 - why do clicked links in safari always open in a new tab?
r/macbook on Reddit: ELI5 - Why do clicked links in Safari always open in a new tab?
August 31, 2025 -

I bought an M3 Air last year after primarily being a Windows user for, well, ever. Both my work computer & laptop are windows based, so the MacBook is just for general/personal use - browsing, shopping, etc.

I have found myself gravitating away from using it because Safari drives me batshit. I cannot deal with every link that I click on being opened in a new tab. I prefer to keep everything condensed in a single tab (unless I’m browsing multiple sites at once, in which case I’ll dedicate a tab to each). I can’t find any info on how to bypass this. Is there a way to force open links in a the same/a single tab? And if so, how?

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ZDNET
zdnet.com › home › home & office › work life › productivity
How to force Safari to always open new sites in tabs | ZDNET
February 2, 2023 - Click Always Create Tabs to ok the selection. Once you've taken care of this, you'll find yourself back in the Settings app. Close Settings and you're back in the Safari window. Show more · The setting will not be enabled until you ok it. Image: Jack Wallen · You should now be able to click a link from any app, and it will always open a new tab in the existing Safari window instead of opening a new window.
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Quora
quora.com › In-Safari-settings-can-I-set-the-browser-to-not-switch-view-to-the-new-tab-when-opening-new-tabs
In Safari settings, can I set the browser to not switch view to the new tab, when opening new tabs? - Quora
In Safari preferences, click the Tabs button on the toolbar, then uncheck When a new tab or window opens, make it active ... I used about every major browser for actual work · Author has 147 answers and 489.1K answer views · 9y · I do this ...
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Quora
quora.com › Why-is-Safari-on-my-MacBook-opening-new-windows-every-time-I-click-on-a-link-How-do-I-stop-it
Why is Safari on my MacBook opening new windows every time I click on a link? How do I stop it? - Quora
Answer (1 of 2): It is opening a new window because that is what is selected in the Safari preferences. If you want to change that, go to Safari preferences and switch to ‘open in a new tab’. I’m sure you’ll find it unless you are my ...
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/safari › safari opens a new tab every time i open a hyperlink
r/Safari on Reddit: Safari opens a new tab every time I open a hyperlink
November 25, 2021 -

God please help, this is driving me nuts! - I’m on iPadOS 16.4 Beta 2, not sure exactly when it started, but most of the time I tap on a hyperlink or a link from a search engine it opens it on a new tab. I have the “Open tabs in background” setting turned off, yet it still happens.

Originally I thought it was happening because of Microsoft Bing’s default setting is to do that, but it also happens while on Google, not sure it it’s a bug from the Beta software (could be but no word from release notes if I recall).

Is anyone else experiencing this?

Appreciate the feedback!

Find elsewhere
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 251886911
Safari is opening a new window instead of a tab
October 5, 2020 - In the Safari Preferences page, go back to the Tabs section. Select "Automatically" for the "Open pages in tabs instead of windows" option. Close out the menu, then open Safari and navigate to a webpage. Then click on a link from your email and see if that works for you.
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 253168595
Safari 15 - new Tab in Tabgroup instead o… - Apple Community
The problem only comes when a tab in one of your new tab groups is open and active in Safari. Then if you click on a link to open a new website, from a link in an email for example, it doesn’t want to interfere with your saved tabs in your “new tab group”. So in order to avoid that it ...
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 250283127
Safari keeps opening new tabs - Apple Community
April 10, 2019 - If you'd like to stay on the current tab whenever you open a link, go to Settings > Safari > Open Links, then tap "In Background." I hope that helps.
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Quora
quora.com › How-do-I-stop-websites-from-opening-new-tabs-in-Safari
How do I stop websites from opening new tabs in Safari?
Answer (1 of 2): Check Safari Settings 1. Step 1: Block Pop-Ups and Disable Website Tracking. Open Settings, scroll down and select Safari. Within the General section, make sure the Block Pop-ups option is toggled on. 2. Step 2: Block Cookies. Click the Block Cookies option within Safari settings.
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Stack Exchange
apple.stackexchange.com › questions › 405652 › safari-reuses-already-existing-tabs-instead-of-opening-new-ones
Safari reuses already existing tabs instead of opening new ones - Ask Different
November 3, 2020 - Right click on the link and select "Open in new tab". ... In Safari Preferences -> Tabs -> Check the box for "⌘-click opens a link in a new tab".
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 253752626
Links opening a new tab only open start page (Safari 15.4)
March 19, 2022 - It sounds like links in Safari aren't opening in another tab since the macOS Monterey software upgrade. To resolve this, check your Safari settings: 1. In the Safari app on your Mac, choose Safari > Preferences, then click Tabs.
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 4535368
Forcing Safari to open new links in a new tab
June 12, 2017 - In Safari Preferences, where it has "open pages in tabs instead of windows" put Never in the box and it opens a new tab and leaves any existing ones open intact each time you click on a new link.