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).

[crivaronicolini]

Looking forward to this!

[Tho-mas]

I am pleased that the feature has been in development for some time.

1. How far is the development of the feature currently?
2.  Can the feature already be tested in an alpha version of Firefox?
3. When will the feature be available in the released version of Firefox?
4. Is there an entry for the feature in Bugzilla?

I would be happy to receive feedback from the developers.

[cheese]

I second the questions from @Tho-mas 

[cris13dan]

I would like this as well. It would be even grater if I could open all of device A's links as a new instance of Firefox. Upon exiting the one's in that instance of Firefox (new, removed) get pushed to device A.

The tabs for device B would have their own instance and would persist is all instances of Firefof are closed.

User story: I have Firefox on mobile as well as laptop. Usually I search something while on the go, meaning on my phone. Even though phone has a nice display and is user friendly, laptop is user friendlier :). I would like to review some of the "on the road" tabs on my laptop. Subsequently, if I plan on doing something outside of the house, I might need some info on my phone so when I'm at home researching, I would like to take with me, that research.

[Jon]

Hey all,

Wanted to jump in here with a quick update from the team working on this feature...

We're aiming for a Firefox 130 release on desktop and Android, then on iOS in 131. And if you're interested in checking it out early, it should be available tomorrow (July 23) on Firefox Nightly.

Stay tuned for more updates 😀

[cheese]

Thanks!

[cris13dan]

Hurray!

[Tho-mas]

@Jon 
Thanks for your personal message and for sharing great news! I'm glad to hear that the feature has been developed and the release has been scheduled 😊

@allwho are testing the feature with Firefox Nightly
1) Does the feature only work if I use Firefox Nightly on desktop (Windows) and Firefox Nightly on mobile (Android)?

2) Can the feature also be used in the combination of Firefox Nightly on the mobile phone and Firefox 128 on the desktop?

[Tho-mas]

@Jon 

Is there an entry for the feature or patch in Bugzilla? I am interested in following the comments of the developers on Bugzilla.

[Tho-mas]

08-06-2024

I have installed the latest version of Firefox Nightly on my Android phone. I have not found the feature "Send 'close tab' request to other device via sync". As with normal Firefox, I use the share function and can send tabs to another device (Firefox Desktop). However, the sent tab is not closed.

• 1) Do I have to activate the feature through settings in Firefox?
• 2) Where is the feature documented?
• 3) As asked ago: Is there an entry for the feature or patch in Bugzilla? I am interested in following the development on Bugzilla.
• 4) Who submitted the patch for the feature?
• 5) Can someone successfully test the feature?

I also sent an email with the 5 questions to Jon, the community manager, today.

[BiminiParrot]

Can we track progress through Bugzilla?

Is it https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1330816 ?

[Tho-mas]

Hi @Jon!

Is there any news about the requested feature for Firefox? What can you say about the questions I asked four weeks ago in my posts of 07-25-2024 and 08-06-2024?

I find it a pity and I am very irritated that for so long no answer from you or a Mozilla developer has been published on this platform, which could at least theoretically enable contact between Mozilla and users!

[Jaime]

Firefox 130 has been launched. Is this feature included in that release for desktop and Android as it was planned?

[Jaime]

After updating to Firefox 130, I can answer my own question: yes, it's included, and it works as expected. 👏 We finally got it developed!

However, it would have been great to receive more information from the team in this forum, as @Tho-mas also mentioned. Moreover, especially when it's a community request...

[nudazz]

I'm guessing this feature is removed from the roadmap then?