Question The "double-click to open new tab" extension for Google Chrome has stopped working ?

[TheKirk]

Hi there,

I've been using a Chrome extension that lets me double-click any link to open it in a new tab in the background for at least a year without any hiccups - until a few days ago when it suddenly stopped working. I'm not sure why - and now I can't find said extension.

I don't remember what it was called, but I've tried searching for a replacement, which led me to this extension called DoubleClicker. It should enable me to do exactly the same thing, but I can't get it to work. I've tried disabling all my other extensions to see if any of them were interfering with DoubleClicker, but that didn't help. And, as you can see below, the extension settings aren't very helpful:

The only thing I can do is switching to 'FOREGROUND', which makes it so that links open in a new window when I double click. With the 'BACKGROUND' setting enabled, nothing seemingly happens. As far as I can tell, only the first click is registered (as is the default), and the link opens immediately in the current tab.

Below is a list of all my current extensions (note: the one called 'New Adjacent Tab' is not related to the double click feature - that one allows me to set a custom shortcut to open a new tab to the right of my active tab):

I'm using the latest version of Chrome for MacOS. Current version: Version 134.0.6998.89 (Official Build) (arm64)

Can anyone help me? Either by finding my old extension, getting DoubleClicker to work or by finding a third one that does work. Thanks!

 

[Aeacus]

Either by finding my old extension

Most likely, that old extension is gone for good.

While i also have Chrome, i rarely use it. My main browser is Firefox. Still, i do have some extensions in Chrome as well and extensions there can get removed without apparent reason. Lately, two of my Chrome extensions went "poof". Namely: HTTPS Everywhere and uBlock Origin.
For my Firefox, both extensions are still present and working as they should. So, it is to do something with Google and how they allow extensions on their Chrome browser. Google is very stingy with extensions and allows only small number of them. Hence why i use Firefox, where i can customize the browser as i see fit.

So, i don't think you can find your old extension again.

getting DoubleClicker to work

You could contact the developer of that extension and ask for customer support. Maybe even get dev to fix it.

or by finding a third one that does work

Other options to open link in new tab on Chrome (which i'm personally using), are:
* middle-click (under scroll wheel) on link. This automatically opens said link in new tab. My most convenient way to open links. No extension needed and works both on Chrome and Firefox.
* right-click on link, new pop-up menu appears, left-click on "Open link in new tab" or "Open link in new window".

 

[Mawla]

I've been using Ctrl+Left click to open a link in a new tab. I find it more convenient than Right click then 'Open in new tab'. It usually also works on websites that don't accept right clicks.

However, starting from perhaps a few weeks ago, this no longer always works. Probably since some update.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

It's likely Google's enforced switch to Manifest 3 with the most current browser update. Anything that doesn't conform is automatically removed/disabled and cannot be made to work until/unless the plugin developers do a rewrite. Such plugins are also automatically purged from the store.