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Instagram website disables Firefox back ( < ) button, why?

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Whenever I open an Instagram profile or anything on that site the Back button will be greyed out as if the current (instagram) site was the first site that I visited in the current window or tab. No matter how many navigation moves and page/site changes I made previously in the same window/tab, it all just vanishes and I can't go back!

Whenever I open an Instagram profile or anything on that site the Back button will be greyed out as if the current (instagram) site was the first site that I visited in the current window or tab. No matter how many navigation moves and page/site changes I made previously in the same window/tab, it all just vanishes and I can't go back!

Chosen solution

Since it is owned by Facebook, I always need to start by asking: do you use the Facebook Container extension?

Assuming you do:

When you click a link to Facebook or Insta in a page on a different site, Firefox opens the link in a new Container tab and closes the original tab. You can re-open the original tab using any of these methods:

  • right-click any tab > Undo Close Tab
  • Ctrl+Shift+T
  • menu button > Library > History > Recently Closed Tabs
  • (menu bar) History > Recently Closed Tabs

I'm not really sure why it works that way, but a workaround would be always open links to FB and Insta by directing them to a new tab. Either:

  • right-click > Open Link in New Tab
  • Ctrl+click the link
  • middle-click the link with the mouse wheel
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All Replies (2)

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Chosen Solution

Since it is owned by Facebook, I always need to start by asking: do you use the Facebook Container extension?

Assuming you do:

When you click a link to Facebook or Insta in a page on a different site, Firefox opens the link in a new Container tab and closes the original tab. You can re-open the original tab using any of these methods:

  • right-click any tab > Undo Close Tab
  • Ctrl+Shift+T
  • menu button > Library > History > Recently Closed Tabs
  • (menu bar) History > Recently Closed Tabs

I'm not really sure why it works that way, but a workaround would be always open links to FB and Insta by directing them to a new tab. Either:

  • right-click > Open Link in New Tab
  • Ctrl+click the link
  • middle-click the link with the mouse wheel
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Thank you so much! Yes, now I see that it's caused by the FB Container. When I go to Instagram the back button resets. I navigate around on the site, the back button becomes active. Once I leave Instagram (in the same tab) the back button resets again. Your suggested workaround works well, thanks! :)