If you’re encountering issues with YouTube’s middle click not working or “Open in a new tab” feature not working or missing, you’re not alone.
This issue might seem minor, but it has a significant impact on the user experience. Opening videos in new tabs allows for seamless browsing while still being able to keep track of the original content.
Some users have reported that even attempting to open a video in a new tab by clicking the middle button of the mouse fails to work as expected.
In this video, we will discuss why YouTube Middle Click Not Working and how to fix it.
Why Is YouTube Middle Click And Open In New Tab Not Working
A significant number of users have reported the same issue, including difficulties with using the ‘CTRL + click’ combination and the middle mouse click bringing up the scroll wheel instead of opening the video in a new tab.
This issue primarily in two ways:
- The absence or malfunction of the ‘Open in a new tab’ option when right-clicking on a video. Users have reported that this option, which was previously a staple in the context menu, no longer appears.
- Another problem arises when users attempt to open a video in a new tab by clicking the middle mouse button. Instead of opening the video in a new tab, it instead activates the scroll wheel, disrupting the expected functionality.
This issue seems to occur across various browsers including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge.
“@YouTube broke the ‘open in a new tab/window’ and the ‘CTRL+click’ so no longer is it possible to open a few videos in tabs.”
“@YouTube @TeamYouTube when I middle click a thumbnail it started bringing up my scrollwheel instead of opening the video in a new tab and this has had a considerable negative impact on my mental health, please reconsider this change.”
How To Fix YouTube Middle Click And Open In New Tab Not Working Or Missing
If you’re encountering issues with the middle click not working on YouTube, here are some steps you can follow to troubleshoot and potentially fix the issue:
1. Use Keyboard Shortcut ‘CTRL + Left Click’
Instead of using the middle mouse click, try using ‘CTRL + left click’ on the video title (not the thumbnail). This should open the video in a new tab.
- Navigate to the video you want to open in a new tab.
- Press and hold the ‘CTRL’ key on your keyboard.
- While holding the ‘CTRL’ key, perform a left-click on the title of the video (not the thumbnail).
- The video should open in a new tab.
2. Toggle OFF Inline Playback
Some users suggest that this issue might be related to the ‘Inline Playback’ setting on YouTube. To turn this setting off, follow these steps:
- Go to the YouTube website and log in to your account.
- Click your profile picture on the top right corner of the YouTube homepage.
- A drop-down menu will appear. Click “Settings.”
- From the left sidebar, click “Playback and performance.”
- Here, you’ll see the “Inline playback” option. Toggle this setting off by clicking on the switch.
3. Check Your Mouse
It’s important to verify that the issue isn’t with your mouse. To do this:
- Open a different application or website where you would usually use the middle-click function.
- Try using the middle-click button.
- If the middle click works in other places but not on YouTube, your mouse is likely not the issue.
4. Update Your Browser
Keeping your browser updated ensures that it’s compatible with all the latest features and security fixes. Here’s how to update some popular browsers:
- For Chrome: Click on the three dots in the top right corner > Help > About Google Chrome.
- For Firefox: Click on the menu button > Help > About Firefox.
- For Safari: Go to the Apple menu > App Store, then click on “Updates”.
5. Clear Browser Cache And Cookies
- For Chrome: Click on the three dots in the top right corner > More tools > Clear browsing data.
- For Firefox: Click on the menu button > Options > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Clear Data.
- For Safari: Go to Safari > Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data, then select “Remove All”.
6. Disable Browser Extensions
Sometimes browser extensions can interfere with certain functionalities. To disable them:
- For Chrome: Click on the three dots in the top right corner > More tools > Extensions.
- For Firefox: Click on the menu button > Add-ons and Themes > Extensions.
- For Safari: Go to Safari > Preferences > Extensions.
