Send 'close tab' request to other device via sync / remotely close tabs

[b-k]

Story 1: I am one of the legion of people with dozens of tabs open on device A that I would love to read or otherwise process (read it, fill in the form, finally buy the shirt ...). They aren't worth bookmarking but I have to get to them someday. Later, while device B is in front of me, I have some time to process tabs. Using Firefox sync, I open a few of the tabs on A and do what I need to do. I am now done with these tabs, they no longer spark joy, and I can finally remove some clutter in the list of synced tabs and on device A.

Story 2: Device A is a work computer where some tabs are useful only at work, but a dozen of them are shopping tabs I was browsing while on company time. I have time to finally pick a shirt and buy it at home, but the clutter of work-related tabs makes it hard to find the shopping tabs. I never want to see the work tabs on the computer at home--they're more clutter and some I can't even access outside of the work network--but I don't want to turn off sync entirely.

Solution: First, allow me to remove items from the list of tabs hosted on device A displayed in the list of tabs on device B. For example, right-click on the tab in the list of synced tabs and select 'hide tab on this device'.

Second, just as we can push an "open tab" request from one device to another, use the proposed right-click menu to push a "close tab" request. When I get back to device A at work tomorrow, I can accept the close tab requests, one at a time or all at once.

Alternatively, I have an "open tab" option, but also a "steal tab" option. The steal (or transfer) option simultaneously opens that tab on device B and closes it on device A (or if that is technically not possible, sends a close tab request).

[Tho-mas]

@Jaime:

Thanks for pointing out that the feature is available in version 130! 😀 Unfortunately, I can't find it on Firefox 130 (desktop, Windows). Can you share a screenshot of the menu? A screenshot would be helpful because I use Firefox in German and the command might have a different name.

Which menu and which command do you use?

[kisscoool18]

Same here, I've tested on Windows, and Android, can't find any options or button related to this 😕

[ddurst]

The ability to close remote tabs was pushed to 131 (now on beta). You can find the control (an X on the rightmost part of the item) on the list of remote tabs in the account menu and under the application menu.

[Tho-mas]

Spoiler

Hello @ddurst,

thank you for your contribution and the explanation of where to find the command. I was able to test the feature successfully (Firefox Nightly Android). Are you involved in the development of the feature?

Can you share the bug ID from Bugzilla? I am interested in following the development.

[Jaime]

@Tho-mas When you open the Mozilla account menu, next to the open tabs list items, there is a new button to close each one. When you click it, the command is sent to the other device, and automatically (after a few seconds of waiting for the sync), the tab is closed and a notification is generated indicating that. The closed tab can be reopened in the "recently closed tabs" window.

Maybe it's still under testing with a slow rollout, and the feature isn't available to everyone yet. It wasn't included in the release notes, but it's working for me.

@nudazz No, it's been developed and is available for me.

I don't know the reason because it's said that it's been pushed to Firefox 131, but I'm on Firefox 130, and I am already using it (just in desktop browsers, and I was said before).

[okeibrruuzbdl]

@JaimeThanks, I can also see it on 130 (Snap on Ubuntu).

I'm surprised to see they haven't added the close option in the Synced Tabs sidebar. The UX would be a lot better for users that need to manage multiple devices/tabs.

[ddurst]

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I'm surprised to see they haven't added the close option in the Synced Tabs sidebar. The UX would be a lot better for users that need to manage multiple devices/tabs.

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This was a bug: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1917342. This bug also shows the parent for those who wish to look at that.

[Tho-mas]

@ddurst

Thanks for pointing out the bug ID from Bugzilla! I'm now happy to be able to track the development and contact the developers involved. Linked to the entry 1917342 is the following entry:

[meta] Remote Tab Management for Desktop

There are over ten more bugs and bug fixes listed, which have been and are being worked on diligently. Many thanks for that!

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However, I am irritated that it took Mozilla a very long time to answer the question about the bug ID. I first asked on May 24, 2024, which is more than three months. https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/ideas/send-close-tab-request-to-other-device-via-sync-remotely-close/...

• Is it normal that it takes more than three months to get a bug ID from Mozilla Connect?
• What could be the reason that it takes so long that you can lose interest in using Mozilla Connect?
• Who should I ask these questions?

[Tho-mas]

@Jaime  Thank you for your helpful screenshot and explanation! 😀

[Tho-mas]

 There is a separate entry for Firefox for Android at Bugzilla

[meta] Remote Tab Management for Fenix (1891158) 

[Jaime]

The feature has been enabled for me now in Firefox for Android, also in Firefox 130. I've been able to close tabs opened in my mobile phone from desktop, and it's working so good.

[MK21]

I cannot close tabs from and on iphone. Everywhere FF is on latest 131 version.
My main device is windows and secondary is iphone . IMHO this should sync tabs whenever is am using them. Is there any config ?

[piojan]

I also don't see an option on Windows FF 131.0.2 to close remote tabs opened on Android - there is no X and nothing about closing in context menu.

However the Android FF has an option to close tabs opened in Windows.

[Jon]

Hey all...

Updating status here as we shipped being able to close tabs from other devices on desktop and Android in Fx 133. Meanwhile, iOS will be live in 134.

What this feature lets you do is close tabs that are on your other synced devices. You can do this anywhere you see your synced tabs.

Thanks again for your feedback and votes in this thread—it played a valuable role in pushing this work forward 💪