# Switch To Previous Active Tab & Reload All Tabs

> Activate the last accessed tab in the same window, or any window. Right-click the toolbar button for a most recent tabs list (MRU) and options. Adds "Reload All Tabs" to the tab right-click context menu. (For Fx115/Fx128, use "See all versions".)

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/switch-to-previous-active-tab](https://chrome-stats.com/d/switch-to-previous-active-tab)

## Overview

- **ID:** `switch-to-previous-active-tab`
- **Platform:** Firefox
- **Type:** Firefox add-on
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** jscher2000
- **Category:** tabs
- **Daily users:** 806
- **Weekly downloads:** 27
- **Rating:** 4.90 / 5 (30 ratings)
- **Version:** 2.6.1
- **Last updated:** 2026-04-27
- **First published:** 2018-04-07
- **Size:** 73 KB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-05
- **Store listing:** [Firefox Add-ons Store](https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/switch-to-previous-active-tab/)
- **Website:** [https://github.com/jscher2000/switch-to-previous-active-tab](https://github.com/jscher2000/switch-to-previous-active-tab)

## Description

Switch To Previous Active Tab & Reload All Tabs is a powerful Firefox extension that enhances tab management by allowing you to effortlessly switch back to the last active tab in any window with a single click or keyboard shortcut. It tracks the most recently used tabs (MRU) and offers a right-click toolbar button menu listing these tabs and various customization options.

Additional features include a convenient "Reload All Tabs" option in the tab context menu, letting you refresh all non-media-playing tabs with options to bypass cache, skip pinned or active tabs, and control reload behavior. Keyboard shortcuts like Alt+Shift+Left Arrow (Ctrl+Shift+Left Arrow on Mac) enable quick navigation to previous tabs. Designed for users who miss features from legacy extensions like FLST or Tab Mix Plus, this extension improves productivity by streamlining tab switching and management without altering default tab-click behavior.

## Rankings

- #3,737 — Overall
- #361 — Tabs
- #27 — reload
- #29 — switch
- #60 — activity
- #118 — preview

## Permissions and access

### Permissions

- `menus`
- `tabs`
- `storage`
- `contextualIdentities`
- `tabGroups`

## Safety

- **Risk impact:** Moderate risk impact
- **Risk likelihood:** Moderate risk likelihood

### Analysis details

- Grants access to browser tabs, which can be used to track user browsing habits and history, presenting a privacy concern.
- This extension has low user count. Unpopular extensions may not be stable or safe.

> Some risk analysis details are omitted from this free response. [Upgrade to view the full analysis](https://chrome-stats.com/pricing).

## Review summary

Users appreciate this add-on for restoring and improving tab navigation, especially for switching to the previous active tab using Ctrl-Tab by recent usage rather than tab order. It is highly valued by users who miss full tab group management features. The developer's responsiveness is also praised. However, multiple reviews mention problems with the tab reloading functionality causing instability, initial bugs with skipping unloaded tabs, and occasional interface issues possibly due to compatibility with other add-ons. Users also desire more customization options and keyboard shortcuts.

### Pros

- Allows switching to the previous active tab quickly, enhancing navigation efficiency.
- Replaces and improves Ctrl-Tab functionality, especially useful for users accustomed to Tab Groups.
- Developer is responsive and open to suggestions.
- Works well as a must-have for users wanting to traverse tabs by last visited order rather than by natural order.
- Helps restore desired tab switching behavior lost in newer Firefox versions.

### Cons

- Reloading multiple tabs functionality does not work properly and can cause browser or system freezes.
- The option to skip unloaded/discarded tabs did not initially work but was later fixed.
- Some users experience issues with the add-on's options menu or interface, possibly due to conflicts with other extensions or system problems.
- Lack of a keyboard shortcut to directly switch to the previous active tab was noted as a missing feature.
- Request for additional features like loading all tabs to the right was made but not implemented.

## Similar extensions and apps

- [Last Tab](https://chrome-stats.com/d/last-tab) — 159 users, 4.67 / 5
- [Reload All Tabs](https://chrome-stats.com/d/reload-all-tab) — 21 users, 5.00 / 5
- [Reload All Tabs](https://chrome-stats.com/d/reload-all-tabs) — 4,521 users, 4.20 / 5
- [Switch to Last Tab](https://chrome-stats.com/d/switch-to-last-tab) — 7 users
- [Cycle Last Used Tabs](https://chrome-stats.com/d/clut-cycle-last-used-tabs) — 224 users, 4.42 / 5
- [Most Recent Tab - Keyboard shortcut for last tab](https://chrome-stats.com/d/most-recent-tab) — 379 users, 4.72 / 5
- [Reload All Tabs in Window](https://chrome-stats.com/d/reload-all-tabs-in-window) — 220 users, 4.90 / 5
- [Tab Click Order](https://chrome-stats.com/d/tab-click-order) — 2 users, 4.50 / 5
- [Active Tab History](https://chrome-stats.com/d/active-tab-history) — 56 users, 4.75 / 5
- [Hotkeys to Switch Tabs Left and Right](https://chrome-stats.com/d/hotkeys-for-tabs-left-right) — 157 users, 4.41 / 5
- [Last Used Tab](https://chrome-stats.com/d/last-used-tab) — 33 users, 5.00 / 5
- [Refresh All Tabs](https://chrome-stats.com/d/refresh-tabs) — 7 users

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/switch-to-previous-active-tab)