How To Remove Website Highlights From New Tab in Firefox 57

If you’re using Firefox 57 or later and find that website highlights or thumbnails appear on your new tab page, you might want to customize or remove them for a cleaner browsing experience. This guide walks you through the steps to turn off or hide these highlights, restoring a more personalized or minimalist new tab layout. Before starting, ensure your Firefox browser is up to date, and be aware that some options might vary slightly depending on your version or whether you’re using a custom theme or add-ons.

What You’ll Need

• A computer with Firefox browser installed (version 57 or newer)
• Basic familiarity with navigating browser settings
• Optional: Access to customize or disable add-ons if needed

Step-by-Step

1. Open Firefox and access the New Tab page. Launch your Firefox browser and click on the new tab button or press Ctrl+T (Cmd+T on Mac) to open a fresh tab.
2. Identify the highlighted content or thumbnails. When the new tab loads, observe the website highlights, thumbnails, or suggested sites that appear on the page.
3. Check if the default Firefox new tab page is enabled. Click on the gear icon or the settings button usually located in the top-right corner of the new tab page. If you see options for customizing the page, proceed to the next step. If not, your new tab page might be managed by an add-on or custom extension.
4. Disable the Firefox default new tab content. In the settings menu, look for options like “Show Top Sites” or “Highlights” and toggle them off. In Firefox 57, the default new tab page is minimal, but if highlights are present, this setting should hide them.
5. Use about:config for advanced customization if needed. If the highlights persist, type about:config into the address bar and press Enter. Accept the risk warning to proceed.
   • In the search bar, type browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.showHighlights.
   • Double-click the preference to set it to false.
6. Restart Firefox and check the new tab page. Close and reopen Firefox or open a new tab to see if the highlights are removed. If they are gone, you’ve successfully disabled the website highlights from your new tab page.
7. Optional: Remove or disable add-ons that modify new tab behavior. If highlights still appear, check your add-ons by clicking the menu button (three lines) > Add-ons and themes > Extensions. Disable or remove any extension that manages new tab content, then restart Firefox.

Common Mistakes

• Not updating Firefox to the latest version before attempting to change settings.
• Confusing the default new tab customization with third-party add-ons or themes that override the default layout.
• Forgetting to restart Firefox after changing preferences in about:config.
• Accidentally disabling other essential preferences or add-ons that affect browser performance.

Tips

• Always back up your preferences or note important settings before making advanced changes in about:config.
• If you prefer a blank new tab, consider installing a minimal or custom new tab extension from Mozilla Add-ons.
• Use the Firefox Refresh feature to reset settings if you encounter unexpected issues after modifications.
• Check for updates regularly to ensure you have the latest features and security patches.

Troubleshooting

If you follow the steps above and still see website highlights on your new tab page, try these solutions:

• Clear browser cache and cookies. Sometimes cached data can cause outdated display issues. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Clear Data.
• Disable all add-ons temporarily. Restart Firefox in Safe Mode by clicking the menu button > Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled. If highlights disappear, re-enable add-ons one by one to identify the culprit.
• Reset Firefox to default settings. Use the Refresh Firefox feature found in Troubleshooting Information (Help > Troubleshooting Information > Refresh Firefox).
• Check for conflicts with themes or custom configurations. Temporarily switch to the default theme and disable custom configurations to isolate the issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I completely disable the new tab page in Firefox?

Yes, you can set Firefox to open a blank page or a custom URL via the options or about:config settings, effectively disabling the default new tab content.

2. Will disabling highlights affect my browsing history or bookmarks?

No, changing new tab settings only affects what appears on the new tab page; your bookmarks and browsing history remain intact.

3. Are there extensions to customize the new tab page further?

Yes, Mozilla Add-ons offers various extensions to create a blank page, custom backgrounds, or personalized layouts for new tabs.

4. Is this process safe for my browser?

Yes, following the steps to disable highlights via settings or about:config is safe, provided you avoid changing unrelated preferences.

5. What should I do if the highlights reappear after a browser update?

Revisit your settings and preferences, as updates can sometimes reset or modify default configurations. Reapply the changes if needed.

6. Can I revert my changes if I don’t like the new setup?

Absolutely. You can re-enable highlights in about:config or restore default settings in Firefox’s configuration or add-on management.

Removing website highlights from the new tab in Firefox 57 is straightforward once you understand where to look and how to modify settings. Whether you prefer a minimalist look or want to customize your browsing experience, these steps give you control over what appears when you open a new tab, making your browsing cleaner and more personalized.

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