How to cancel browser close window?

Question

Is it possible to cancel the browser close window event? Or at least add a message prompting the user whether they are sure they want to leave the page? I tried doing this with the beforeunload event, but it still closes the browser. I am looking for something similar to Microsoft's exchange website.

Thanks!

enter image description here

I'd strong advise against this. One of the most annoying features you can implement from a user experience perspective. But you can try this:http://api.jquery.com/unload/ — Abe Petrillo, Mar 13 '12 at 16:40
Sorry, C# was the server side code I was using. I guess it doesn't matter, I'll remove the tag. — ntsue, Mar 13 '12 at 16:56
See this StackOverflow question: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1119289/how-to-show-the-are-you-sure-you-want-to-navigate-away-from-this-page-when-ch — Michael Rice, Mar 13 '12 at 17:00

score 3 · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-13T16:48:22.277

3

Here is an Html Code:

<html>
<head>
<script language="javascript" type="text/javascript">
window.onbeforeunload = askConfirm;
function askConfirm(){
        return "You have unsaved changes.";
        }
</script>
</head>
<body>
</body>
</html>

Paste this code into the text area on this page: http://www.htmlpreview.richiebrownlee.com press the button, then exit out of the page that comes up..

edited Mar 13 '12 at 16:48

answered Mar 13 '12 at 16:41

I don't think this is widely supported. It'll work in IE but some Mozilla browsers, etc. don't support it – Liam Mar 13 '12 at 16:46
i tried it on chrome and it works, but thanks for the notification! – Mar 13 '12 at 16:49

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 13 '12 at 16:52

2

a ha!

It appears there's a supported JQuery solution

   $(window).unload(function() 
{
  //...
});

http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=927093

this should be cross browser supported...hopefully....

answered Mar 13 '12 at 16:52

Liam

27,717
28
128
190

score 1 · Answer 3 · edited Oct 08 '12 at 22:23

1

window.onbeforeunload

Will work on Safari, IE, Firefox, Chrome, but not Opera.

edited Oct 08 '12 at 22:23

Peter O.

32,158
14
82
96

answered Oct 08 '12 at 22:19

peopleopinion

11
1

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 13 '12 at 16:45

0

onbeforeunload should work fine. Bind this on body/window attribute of the html. For more details check this detailed blog post, blog

answered Mar 13 '12 at 16:45

Teja Kantamneni

17,402
12
56
86

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Mar 13 '12 at 16:50

use onbeforeunload event http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms536907%28VS.85%29.aspx

<HTML>
<head>
<script>
function closeIt()
{
  return "Any string value here forces a dialog box to \n" + 
         "appear before closing the window.";
}
window.onbeforeunload = closeIt;
</script>
</head>
<body>
  <a href="http://www.microsoft.com">Click here to navigate to 
      www.microsoft.com</a>
</body>
</html>

How to cancel browser close window?

5 Answers5