How to open links in a new tab or a new window on a Mac

Command click opens a link in a new tab. How to open one in a new window instead, and the Safari setting that decides whether pages open as tabs or windows.

Guide · Updated 22 October 2026

How do I open a link in a new tab?

  • Hold ⌘ and click the link. It opens in a new tab behind the current one.
  • Hold ⌘ ⇧ and click to open it and switch to it at once.
  • On a trackpad, click with two fingers and choose Open Link in New Tab.

How do I open a link in a new window?

  • Safari: hold ⌥ ⌘ and click, or right click and choose Open Link in New Window.
  • Chrome: hold ⇧ and click, or right click and choose to open it in a new window.

Careful: in Safari, ⇧ click adds the link to your Reading List instead.

How do I stop Safari opening links in new windows?

Open Safari Settings (⌘ ,), click Tabs, and set the option to open pages in tabs instead of windows to Always. Links that a website asks to open in a new window then open as tabs.

Why does a link open in a new window anyway?

Some sites open a separate small window on purpose, for sign in or payment. Those close themselves when done. Closing one early can stop the sign in.

Send a tab to its own window later: move a tab to a new window. Too many windows already? Merge all windows.

Checked on 22 October 2026 on a MacBook Air (M1) with Safari 27.0.1: the setting to open pages in tabs instead of windows is still in Safari.

Questions

How do I open a link in a new tab on a Mac?

Hold Command and click it.

How do I open a link in a new window in Safari?

Hold Option Command and click it, or right click and choose Open Link in New Window.

How do I make Safari open links in tabs instead of windows?

In Safari Settings, Tabs, set the option to open pages in tabs instead of windows to Always.

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