Internet Explorer 11 and tabs

[IpswichSox]

When I click on links in an Outlook email, I would like a new tab to open on the one Internet Explorer 11 window I already have open. Instead, a new IE window opens.

I’ve gone to Tools --> Internet Options --> Tabs, and under “Open links from other program in:” I’ve checked “A new tab in the current window.”

But unfortunately that’s not solving the issue. I’ve checked the internets, and it seems like most people actually want to open a new window instead of a new tab, but not providing a solution that works for my issue. Some research also indicates the way the Outlook hyperlinks are written can override IE settings and force a new window to open.

I'm on a work-provided Surface Pro 4 with IE 11. The firm also uses Proofpoint, and I'm not sure whether that interferes and redirects to a new window versus new tab.

Any ideas? I’d just like to better manage websites I have open, and it’s easier for me to do that with tabs rather than alt-tab rotating through different IE windows. Thanks.

 

[Hendu for Kutch]

It's not a real solution to your problem, but you should be able to drag the tab of the new window into the tab area of the already open window and it will move over that way. Not automated, but at least you don't have to deal with a bunch of IE windows.

 

[cgori]

It might be treating the outlook link as a popup? Try setting "When a pop-up is encountered:" to "Always open pop-ups in a new tab" (same Tabbed Browsing Settings dialog as you already used to set "Open links from other program in:") Step-by-step here if you need it.

EDIT: I'm assuming "Use Firefox" or "Use Chrome" are not viable solutions to your problem?

 

[IpswichSox]

It's not a real solution to your problem, but you should be able to drag the tab of the new window into the tab area of the already open window and it will move over that way. Not automated, but at least you don't have to deal with a bunch of IE windows.

That's how I handle it now, and it's kind of a pain to do with multiple windows. You would think there would be a quick, automated way to handle this.

 

[IpswichSox]

It might be treating the outlook link as a popup? Try setting "When a pop-up is encountered:" to "Always open pop-ups in a new tab" (same Tabbed Browsing Settings dialog as you already used to set "Open links from other program in:") Step-by-step here if you need it.

EDIT: I'm assuming "Use Firefox" or "Use Chrome" are not viable solutions to your problem?

Thanks -- I tried changing the pop-up setting, but that doesn't work.

Regarding other browsers, the firm gave what seemed like Redmond-written talking points at orientation about updated security of IE11 that's superior to Chrome or anything else, and some worry about non-support, etc. I'll check to see if this is a hard-and-fast rule for some reason on other browsers.

I've used Chrome for several years, and just spent the last three months transitioning to IE11 -- favorites icon on the right, not the left, etc -- does going back now just over this issue make sense? I don't know, it's a pain to manually organize every tab into one window everyday but maybe it's not worth transitioning back. Still, I'll check out more about the allowed use of other browsers.

 

[IpswichSox]

Just putting a bow on this: Switching to Chrome solved this problem (along with several others!).