FireFox Tips & Tricks: Disable Google Toolbar New Tab Page

By Garrett Blanton posted on Monday, August 17, 2009 @ 10:58 AM - (Tips & Tricks)

After installing the new Google toolbar for Firefox we noticed that when opening a new tab the page which was once blank, now displays your web history as tiled web pages for you and everyone to see. The thumb nailed sites will list up to nine, and also shows recently closed and bookmarked pages based on your browser history. For most people this may come in handy, either for instant access to your most visited site, or to spy on whoever used your computer last. As for us here at JVF Consulting, we think the splash page is pretty annoying, the 1 second lag time is too slow for us. So for those of you who also think the toolbar is annoying, here are the correct steps on how to remove it.

1) On the Google Toolbar, right click, and then select “Google Toolbar Options” or click on the wrench icon and select Options.

2) Under the “Search” tab remove the check next to “Enable the Google new tab page.”

3) Now click “Save” and then restart your browser.

From now on you will no longer have the annoying Google toolbar tab page appear when opening a new tab.

Tags:

FireFox, Google Toolbar, Tips & Tricks

Comments (9)

By Rachel G. posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 10:51 AM

Very useful information, I didn't realize it was this function which had slowed my browser, I unchecked the box and am now saving time everytine I open a new page.

who needs that history page anyway...

thank you

By annoyed posted on Saturday, August 29, 2009 @ 3:17 PM

Thank you very much for your very timely article. Google and other companies are getting ahead of themselves assuming that this IS what all people want.

I am one that want MY freedom of choice on MY computer which I PAID for. They make me sick.

Again, thank you vary much.

By Zotrim posted on Sunday, August 30, 2009 @ 6:07 PM

I haven't had that particular problem but my Google toolbar vanished entirely as well as others. What caused that I wonder?

By Teena posted on Monday, September 28, 2009 @ 5:10 PM

Thank heavens! This started on its own a week ago, I didn't even have the toolbar 'active' and it's been driving me nuts :-)

Thanks for the clear concise solution - yay!!!

By Bee posted on Saturday, December 5, 2009 @ 2:41 PM

I went out leaving my computer on and when I came back, Firefox 3.5 had installed itself and so had Google Toolbar (which I thought I had my computer set to not do but that's another story).

This 'feature' of new page showing your browsing history and bookmarks was dreadfully intrusive. I thought it was Firefox that had done it, but a bit of googling (ironic I know) revealed Google Toobar to be to blame so I uninstalled the whole thing.

I don't want my browsing history being unavoidably in the face of any friend who may happen to use my computer (doesn't happen often, but occasionally) and neither do I want to have to keep deleting my history as it's useful for me. In the 'old' system, they would have to make a conscious decision to spy on my history. In this system it is unavoidable.

Anyway, I had uninstalled it before I found this fix and won't be intentionally reinstalling it. What a thoughtless 'feature'!

By Amanda posted on Monday, January 11, 2010 @ 5:17 PM

I was just thinking how to remove this annoying page, didn`t believe solution could be that simple, lol... great, many thanks!

By Tulsa Homes posted on Thursday, January 21, 2010 @ 12:49 PM

I always had problem with additional toolbars like google or ask.. Sometimes they are really creepy with forms and automatically annoys me with their suggestions and pop ups. I never install the toolbars while offered during the setup. However, this is a nice tip to avoid the new tab problem. Will tweet it and pass it on to friends who cannot stay away from using toolbars.

Regards,
Alan