nsdhso@forum.vivaldi.netIn vivaldi://settings/tabs/ → New Tab there is a toggle "New Tab from Link Opens in Background". I have this toggle UNCHECKED (off), meaning links should open in a foreground (focused) tab. However, when I Cmd+Click a link (macOS), middle-click it, or use the context-menu "Open in New Tab" item, the new tab is still opened in the background and focus stays on the source page.
Only Cmd+Shift+Click correctly switches to the new tab — confirming the foreground code path works, but the default link-opening path reads the setting incorrectly (or not at all).
Steps to Reproduce:
- Go to vivaldi://settings/tabs/ → New Tab section.
- Ensure "New Tab from Link Opens in Background" is UNCHECKED.
- Open any page with a link.
- Cmd+Click (or middle-click) the link.
- Observe which tab has focus.
Expected Result:
The new tab opens and becomes the active tab. Focus moves to it.
Actual Result:
The new tab opens in the background. Focus stays on the source page. Only Cmd+Shift+Click switches to it.
Env:
Version: 8.1.4087.58 (Official Build) (arm64)
Chromium Version: 150.0.7871.208
Channel: Official Build
Platform / OS: macOS Version 26.5.2 (Build 25F84)
Executable Path: /Applications/Vivaldi.app/Contents/MacOS/Vivaldi
Command Line: /Applications/Vivaldi.app/Contents/MacOS/Vivaldi --flag-switches-begin --flag-switches-end --disable-smooth-scrolling
OS: macOS
@nsdhso I believe this setting only affects the context menu and opening bookmarks/history entries.
"If you enable New Tab from Link Opens in Background in Settings > Tabs > New Tab Position, links from Bookmarks and History will open in the background by default. Also, when enabled, selecting Open Link in New Tab from the right-click context menu or cloning a tab will open a new tab in the background instead of foreground."
https://help.vivaldi.com/desktop/tabs/opening-and-closing-tabs/
I think it's there to please users coming from Chrome etc. where the "Open Link in New Tab" context menu always opens in the background.
When you use Ctrl/Cmd+Click or middle click you're explicitly telling it to open in a background tab.