Learn a Firefox Keyboard Shortcut to Retrieve Closed Tabs

May 24, 2007 - 44 Comments

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Ever closed a browser tab in Firefox and wished you hadn’t done so? A simple keystroke can retrieve that closed browser tab!

I can’t count the number of times I have been closing windows or tabs and have accidentally a tab that I wanted kept open.

In the past, it has been annoying at best and disastrous at worst, but now I no longer have any issues… why you may ask?

Because I know a keyboard shortcut that is perhaps amongst the most useful in Firefox… Command-Shift-T .

Yes that’s all you need, the next time you accidentally close a tab and you want it back, simply hit Command-Shift-T and the tab will magically reappear again! Now that you know it, try to live without it.

Want more Firefox tips? Check out 15 must-know Firefox shortcuts and our Firefox tips archive!

Of course Firefox isn’t the only browser with this capability, some other browsers allow you to use the general UNDO shortcut of COMMAND Z to perform the same function. Try it out!

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Posted by: Bill Ellis in Firefox, Mac OS, Tips & Tricks

44 Comments

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  1. win 7 key says:

    buy win 7 home.thank you

  2. in pc you can use ctrl+t. thats pretic.

  3. Серria says:

    om nom, great tip now if they did this for SAFARI i would be HAPPY APPLE

  4. […] for a PC) and the tab will magically reappear again! Now that you know it, try to live without it.read more | digg […]

  5. Quinn L. says:

    Women should be obscene and not heard.

  6. […] Not to mention, this was just another feature stolen from Opera, btw, as has already been mentioned here. But if you’re fanboy enough to digg this story, you’re not gonna ever get over the falsehoods spread about Firefox to consider the fact that another browser might actually be safer/faster/lighter/etc etc.read more | digg story […]

  7. Brian says:

    I can’t believe this. I was just searching for a reason why when I select a tab to switch to it it closes down. I had no idea this was retrievable. You saved a long post I had just begun to fret about losing.

    Why does Firefox behave this way anyway?

    But, now I know.

    Wow!

  8. Emanuelle says:

    Ctrl + Tab = Tabs between tabs

  9. […] Tidbits & Lifehacks: • How to send email to a phone – nice reference. • Top 15 Google Street View Sightings – fun times. • FF Shortcut – retrieve closed tabs. […]

  10. […] Firefox keyboard shortcut to retrieve closed tabs […]

  11. […] Best Firefox keyboard shortcut ever – Retrieve accidentally closed tabs! […]

  12. freppe says:

    Why not use the middle mouse button?
    Push the scrolling on the tabs area and your last closed tab will reopen….

  13. […] Firefox keyboard shortcut to retrieve closed tabs – OS X Daily Retrieve closed tabs in firefox. So simple, so useful. (tags: firefox tips) […]

  14. darkriverguide says:

    Save a finger. On a mac use Command + F12.

  15. […] read more | digg story 0 Comments posted on “Best Firefox keyboard shorcut ever – Retrieve accidently closed tabs!” Post a comment […]

  16. Ruben says:

    [Ctrl]-Z

    That’s even intuitive too. Opera ftw!!! :)

  17. […] The next time you accidentally close a tab with an important webpage and you want it back, simply hit Command-Shift-T (for a Mac, or Shift+Ctrl+T for a PC) and the tab will magically reappear again! Now that you know it, try to live without it.read more | digg story […]

  18. Opera User says:

    Just because a user “found” a feature dosen’t mean that it’s new or it “just arrived” Good to see though that the Opera crowd still feels good about commenting/posting how much better Opera is. I use Opera too, but this post was made to share a feature that a user “discovered”, not one that was just introduced.

    Excitement about a browser = meh

    Knocking someone else’s excitement about a browser because you think yours is better = tasteless

  19. naser says:

    There are far more useful yet rarely exploited features in Firefox. Take a peak

  20. […] Posted in Uncategorized | Trackback | del.icio.us | Top OfPage […]

  21. […] The next time you accidentally close a tab with an important webpage and you want it back, simply hit Command-Shift-T (for a Mac, or Shift+Ctrl+T for a PC) and the tab will magically reappear again! Now that you know it, try to live without it.read more | digg story […]

  22. sultan says:

    Just what I was going to say Anders Lund. I’ve used this feature in Opera for years. Whenever I’m on a friends comp I’m totally lost and my browsing efficency is cut in half due to lack of Opera on there machine. I don’t know whats worse anymore all the noobs promoting the hell out of FF or people still telling me that a Mac runs Photoshop better. It’s just not true.

  23. Anders Lund says:

    You Firefox users are a laugh. You think its sooooo great, when Opera outclasses it 10x fold.

    That option (altho not the same shortcut key) has been availabul for us for years!

    Same thing goes for most of you beoved functions…..go Opera!

  24. Jack Heller says:

    Didn’t know that. Thanks a lot. With the comments I now realize it was common knowledge.

  25. […] Firefox keyboard shortcut to retrieve closed tabs – OS X Daily […]

  26. kl says:

    Yes, it’s great and I’ve been loving my Ctrl+Z in Opera for a long time.

  27. Inner88 says:

    Firefox Keyboard Shortcut To Retrieve Closed Tabs

    We’ve all done it. Accidentally closed a Firefox tab that we were still using. I know now that you can right click another tab and choose Undo Close Tab to bring it back. But another great way to do the same thing is to use Command-Shift-T (M…

  28. kungfu says:

    In Opera you have Recently Closed Tabs-menu when clicking on trash bin. something you just can’t live without

  29. Thor says:

    oops, that’s Ctrl+F12, not Shift+F12

  30. Thor says:

    On a PC, Firefox 2 – right-click and choose Undo Close Tab, or Shift+F12 on the keyboard. If it’s not available like this, then install TabMix Plus and it will be there.

  31. vigge says:

    There should also be a Recently Closed Tabs-menu under History, atleast in Firefox 2.0+

  32. Al Patok says:

    What version of Firefox are you using? It’s not working on my SeaMonkey 1.1.1, and there’s no “Undo Close Tab” if I right-click either.

  33. Shanku says:

    or you can right-click on another tab and select “Undo Close Tab”

  34. w45p says:

    Opera has had Ctrl+Z for quite a while now, even with a trash-can in the lower right corner.

    Nice to see good features copied by others, nonetheless.

  35. […] I just read about this useful Shortcut at OS X Daily. If you’ve closed a tab in Firefox by mistake, you can retrieve that back by pressing “Command + Shift + T”. […]

  36. Brajeshwar says:

    This is freaking awesome. I had the same habit like yours and this shortcut is a just plain cool. Of course, you can use that Mix Tab Add-on or something like that but this shortcut is just cool. Thanks.

  37. jj says:

    CNTRL_SHIFT_T

  38. Tup says:

    Funny, I discovered this sc few weeks ago on the net. When you know it, you just can’t live without it…
    Thumper> indeed.

  39. Thumper says:

    best…. keyboard… shortcut…. ever….

    I am assuming it is control-shift-T on a PC can anyone confirm? I will send this to some PC goobers

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