If you're on android (which is what it sounds like) then the app can use the webview api which will render in a webview browser, not your selected browser. The app would need to give you the option to open webpages externally if you didn't want to use the webview browser.
this post was submitted on 27 Jan 2024
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No its not the webview, its actually Firefox.
I could not find anything to disable it. Its an Android thing.
Ok, so take for instance Jerboa here that I'm using to make this comment. It has the option to open links directly in the app, or in my chosen browser (Firefox). When I set it to open links in the browser, it opens this "intermediary" browser, which then has a menu with the option "Open in Firefox". I want it to skip that entirely and just open it directly in my Firefox browser.
Yeah, I'm saying jerboa should have an option to open links in an external browser. And then they wild open in your default browser and not the in-app webview browser. I'm not sure if jerboa has this, but I use boost and it does.
It does have this and I have it set that way (to open in my browser). It does not open in the app OR the browser. It's some kind of "intermediary" browser. I want it to skip this and just open in Firefox proper.
In that case I'd submit an issue on the Jerboa github.
I'm just using Jerbo as an example. It does this no matter what app. It's something with Firefox. DDG and Chrome never had this issue. (But I ain't going back to that garbage!)
I understand what you're saying, but it's not necessarily a Firefox issue. I use Boost and the boost developer has given an option to bypass the in-app and custom tabs browsers and open directly in the external browser. See the screenshot I linked
Both Chrome (eww) and DDG didn't have this issue. I never had to set any special settings aside from "open links in browser" for the app I'm using.
I have never heard of this before. I have no solution, but I wish you luck
What you are referring to are androids custom tabs. It's an android feature where an app can request an "in-app" browser window from the systems default browser. The system also allows the app to specify some customizations like the color of the action bar and I think its possible to add some buttons as well.
Firefox supports this feature and many apps give you an option to turn it off, but it's up to the app opening the links.
Yeah and Firefox is the only browser that doesn't let you turn it off.
Yeah DDG browser is horrible. Snakeoil, not actually fingerprint protecting too.
Their App Tracking protection is too. If you want privacy
- use a trackerblocking DNS server
- set apps to "battery restricted"
- isolate apps in the work profile using shelter
- use GrapheneOS
I dont know how that tracking protection is supppsed to work, but either DNS or some VPN, and both will be weak and unconfigurable.
Their browser extension is snakeoil too. Use noscript and ublock origin.
Please read what the actual problem is:
Example: I'm here using the Jerbo app. I have it set to open links in my browser, Firefox. It does not do this. It opens some sort of "Intermediary" browser (NOT Jerboa, NOT Firefox) that has a menu with the option "Open in Firefox". I want it to skip doing this and just open links directly in Firefox.
It does this no matter what app I'm trying to open links in.
I already commented on that. There is no setting and it is not webview. The page is opening in Firefox, simply a different UI.
Some apps allow to edit how links are opened, for example Feeder. You can select browser "custom tab" or how it is called or real browser.
It matters what app you use because that is a wanted feature and not every browser supports it.
Sorry, I missed that because you replied to someone else with that. So it is Firefox...but does it still clear all data on exit an utilize uBlock Origin like the normal ui? I'm just trying to protect my data as much as possible and not create any more of a footprint than I already have over the years.
- https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/pgllur/android_disable_custom_tabs_function_entirely/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/jkrpnm/is_it_possible_to_disable_custom_tabs_on_firefox/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/t2u0lw/how_to_disable_custom_tabs_on_android/
- https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/5513
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1356412
"Custom Tabs" was the keyword
Goddammit. THREE FUCKING YEARS, MOZILLA. I remember now that this is why I dumped Firefox on my phone last time. This is the most basic fucking thing that EVERY OTHER BROWSER CAN DO. This is un-fucking-acceptable. Well, thanks for the info. I'm about to go light up Mozilla's support.
Every other browser can disable that? Hmm, yeah sucks
Ok, maybe not EVERY browser, but Chrome (eww) and DDG both do not have this issue. They just open right in the browser. I didn't even have to change settings.
I have the layout with the URL bar at the bottom, its just 2 small clicks.
Really, FF Android has other problems like the missing sanbox and I suppose using their own malloc instead of hardened_malloc when the OS uses it.
It's not just about the clicks; I still can't find an answer on tracking and security. Like, does this custom tab still run uBO? Does it still provide the tracker blocking I have set in the main browser? Does it clear all browsing data when I x out or go back?
Yes it does. Not sure about cookies, I think not. There is an option to open links in private tabs
Thank you for all this help. You da man/woman/person!