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MissyQ's avatar
MissyQ
Bronze Contributor
Oct 20, 2020

Discussion: Add ability to close tabs via double-click

Hey Insiders, thanks for your continued feedback to help us improve Microsoft Edge! Recently we have noticed a growing trend in requests to support double clicking on a tab to close it. Even just rec...
archtech's avatar
archtech
Iron Contributor
Nov 09, 2021
I agree, it seems like IMO an unnecessary feature that can cause accidental closing of tabs even for users who wish to use it. We need a usability test for this and put a feature flag for Edge Dev. Considering that middle mouse button is a standard mouse button, all mouse that have scroll wheel will have one, this double-clicking to close convenience is already renders it unnecessary. Good thing with middle-click, it is already a universal way to open new tab and close an app or tab. Task View and Alt+Tab, it already does this behavior that it will close an app with middle-click and on Taskbar, it creates new instance. Why create new interaction especially when double-click is now well known for "opening files", and in case of a web browser like Edge, the empty area of tabs means to maximize and restore a window. This adds complexity and confusion to regular users.

jarenduan's avatar
jarenduan
Copper Contributor
Nov 29, 2021

archtech 

Hi, I have used windows for more than 20 years, and I just learned from you today that I can use middle button to close app during alt-tab. Very good trick. Thank you.

 

Since that, I don't believe "middle button to close" is a universal operation, and I bet 99% Windows user don't know this.

 

The biggest reason why I hate to use middle button is that the middle button is usually the scroll wheel, which is hard to press down, because it scrolls! Even if it doesn't scroll, it feels not good to press. A wheel is not design to press down, but to scroll up or down, cos' it is not a button in the first place!

 

And of course, instead of scroll wheel, many mouse has a independent middle button, but it is still not good to use. You have to move your finger from the left(or right) button to middle, which slows down.  Staying at where you are is fast and convenient.

 

Come on, Edge is not the first browser in the world, don't worry at all. Double-click closing tab is a feature that exists for very long period time in many popular browsers. It is reasonable to add this feature.

 

I suggest make it optional, so it won't bring anything of complexity or confusion to regular users. 

 

And last , I have used this feature for many years, I can assure you that I never accidentally close tab that I don't want to close. Double-click is safe to use. Trust me.

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