648469 - Cmd+W (Ctrl+W on Linux) doesn't close app tab

Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX

(Firefox :: Tabbed Browser, defect)

Description

[Ginn Chen]

The document at
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/what-are-app-tabs#w_how-do-i-remove-an-app-tab

says app tab can be closed by Cmd+W.

It doesn't work.
Also, when I switch to a app tab, the File menu on Mac OS X, "Close Tab" doesn't have Cmd+W as accel.

I guess we're doing this on purpose, the document should be updated.

On Linux, Ctrl+W doesn't close app tab, but if I press Alt+F, I can see "Ctrl+W" as accel for "Close Tab" and "Ctrl+W" doesn't work.

It is inconsistent.

Comment 1

[Henrik Skupin [:whimboo][⌚️UTC+2]]

(In reply to comment #0)
> The document at
> http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/what-are-app-tabs#w_how-do-i-remove-an-app-tab
> 
> says app tab can be closed by Cmd+W.
> 
> It doesn't work.
[..]
> I guess we're doing this on purpose, the document should be updated.

That's right. We don't allow users to close app tabs with the keyboard shortcut. CC'ing Cheng so we can get this updated on SUMO.

Comment 2

[Ginn Chen]

Then you should hide "Ctrl+W" as accel on Linux.
Filed bug 648488.

Comment 3

[WBT]

(In reply to comment #1)
> We don't allow users to close app tabs with the keyboard shortcut. 

Why not?  

I observed this on my Windows machine and it left me puzzled.  There's no X to close the tab, the keyboard shortcut doesn't work, there's no Close Tab option in any of the Firefox Button or Menu Bar menus, and I started wondering if it was even possible to close an app tab (!!!!).  Right clicking on the app tab and selecting Close Tab (or Unpin first) seems to be the only way.

This was a very concerning process from the user perspective - why don't we allow users to close app tabs like they can close other tabs?