How do I stop Google Docs from opening documents in new tabs?

Question

Is there any way to stop Google Docs from opening documents in new tabs?

For example, when I use Google Docs, and when I click on a document, the UI always opens a new tab. It's really frustrating (I would like it to open the new page on the same tab).

Is there anyway we can tell the browser that I would like documents not opened in new tabs?

Answer 1

As noted by Felipe Alvarez, this is no longer available as an option. Therefore, while this answer was correct two years ago when the product was Google Docs, it no longer applies to the current Google Drive app.

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Assuming you mean opening documents from your list, that's in the Google Docs settings on the "General" tab.

Where items open:

Your choices are:

• In a new window
• In the current window

Screen shot:

Select the latter for what you want.

Answer 2

I don’t know if the links from within a Google doc are always opening in a new tab on a global basis (all browsers) has been solved, but if not, I found that when a Google doc is called from outside, it is opened in the same tab as the host document.

But, I had put a menu in a Google doc in which each link within the menu to another Google Doc opened in a new tab.

To solve this, I took the menu and put it into a page/post on my host site (WordPress site/blog).

All links within the Google Docs continued to be opened in a new tab, but at least the main menu problem was resolved.