Firefox has two distinct entry points that are often confused: the home page and the new tab page. Here is what each is, how they differ, and how to customize both.
The home page
The home page is the page Firefox opens when you:
- Click the home button in the toolbar
- Press Alt+Home (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+H (Mac)
- Open Firefox for the first time each day (depending on your startup setting)
By default, Firefox's home page is the Firefox home (which is the same as the new tab page). You can set any URL as your home page:
- Go to
about:preferences - Under "Startup," find "Homepage and new windows"
- Select "Custom URLs" and enter any URL
The new tab page
The new tab is the page Firefox opens when you:
- Press Ctrl+T / Cmd+T
- Click the + tab button
By default, Firefox's new tab shows recent sites, Pocket stories, and sponsored content. This is different from the home page (even though they look similar by default).
You can customize the new tab independently of the home page by installing a new tab extension.
How new tab extensions work
A new tab extension overrides the new tab URL. When installed, it registers itself as the new tab page. You can only have one new tab extension active at a time.
New tab extensions I built:
| Extension | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Daily Planner | Task list |
| Habit Tracker | Monthly habit grid |
| Weather Clock | Weather + clock |
| Stock Market | Live stock ticker |
| News Widget | RSS headlines |
| Speed Dial | Visual site shortcuts |
| Quick Calculator | Calculator |
Can I have different home and new tab pages?
Yes. Set a custom home page URL in about:preferences and install a new tab extension. They operate independently.
The extensions listed are from a series I built — see the full series.
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