Prevent window.open from focusing

Question

I want to open a page in a new tab in Google Chrome with window.open(), but I don't want that window to gain focus after it's opened, but to stay in the background.

Is this possible? It only has to work on Google Chrome. It can also use the Google Chrome extension API.

Thanks

score 12 · Accepted Answer · edited Jan 20 '21 at 06:25

12

The proper way would be to use extension API:

chrome.tabs.create({url: "http://...", selected: false});

Code should be placed in a background page. If you need it inside a content script you can pass a message to a background page, like so:

//content script
chrome.runtime.sendMessage({link: link});

//background page
chrome.runtime.onMessage.addListener(function(message, sender, sendResponse) {
    if(message.link) {
        chrome.tabs.create({url: message.link, selected: false});
    }
});

edited Jan 20 '21 at 06:25

fatihsolhan

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answered Aug 01 '11 at 15:37

serg

109,619
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2

hey any generic way to do the above so that it will work for all browsers ? the focus function is not working for me – Deepanshu Goyal Mar 29 '13 at 05:57
1

@dcastro: Appreciate the example, but do not use years-deprecated APIs – Xan Feb 07 '16 at 12:26
@Xan Ah, sorry about that! I got those examples from a video from [google's own documentation](https://developer.chrome.com/extensions/content_scripts) (see the video at the bottom). I guess they haven't been keeping those up to date. – dcastro Feb 07 '16 at 20:45

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 01 '11 at 11:06

2

window.open(url, name, features);
window.focus();

You will see the new window for a short moment though.

answered Aug 01 '11 at 11:06

Amit

1,174
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score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 01 '11 at 11:06

There is a way out in all the browser

function openURL(url, opt){
  if (opt == 0){ // current window
    window.location = url;
  }else if (opt == 1){ // new window
    window.open(url);
  }else if (opt == 2){ // background window
    window.open(url); self.focus();
  }
}

so By using this you can do anything you want.

openURL( "http://www.google.com", 0 ) --> open in same window
openURL( "http://www.google.com", 1 ) --> open in new window
openURL( "http://www.google.com", 2 ) --> open in new window but in background.

score -1 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 14 '16 at 14:35

-1

Yes you can do that just use:

var myWindow = window.open(url,name,features);
myWindow.blur();

answered Mar 14 '16 at 14:35

Jouhny_Jo

7
3

1

Does not seem to work on the latest version of Chrome – Julien Le Coupanec Jul 31 '20 at 17:22

score -3 · Answer 5 · answered Aug 01 '11 at 11:00

-3

Activate parent window from child or activate self once child is opened.

answered Aug 01 '11 at 11:00

hungryMind

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Prevent window.open from focusing

5 Answers5

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