Force Link Target Blank

WHAT IT DOES

Force Link Target Blank is a browser extension that forces all links on a webpage to open in a new tab by setting target="_blank" and adding security attributes rel="noopener noreferrer". The tool automatically processes all links on the page, including those added dynamically after page load. Users can toggle the feature on or off at any time, and the setting is saved per site. The tool excludes internal anchor links (starting with #), protocol links (javascript:, mailto:, tel:), and links with specific class names (skip, no-blank, internal). A manual reprocess button lets you reapply the setting to all links on the page. The tool is ideal for users who prefer to keep the original page open while exploring external links, without needing to right-click and select "Open in new tab."

WHERE IT RUNS

Force Link Target Blank runs on any webpage, overlaying a floating panel that does not interfere with page content. It operates entirely in your browser as a lightweight userscript, modifying link attributes on the page. It works on any page, whether static or dynamic, with no external dependencies. All settings are stored locally using GM_setValue—no data is ever sent to any server.

HOW TO USE

After installation, open the floating panel by clicking the extension icon. The panel shows the current status (Enabled or Disabled) and a toggle button to enable or disable the feature. When enabled, all links on the page automatically open in a new tab. Links that already have target="_blank" are preserved. Click the "Reprocess Links" button to manually reapply the setting to all links on the page—useful if new links have been added via AJAX or if you want to refresh the processing. The feature automatically applies to dynamically added links using a MutationObserver. The setting is saved per website, so you can have different preferences for different sites.

REAL MECHANISM — WHY THIS WORKS

Most link handling tools require browser extensions with broad permissions or manual interaction with each link. Force Link Target Blank uses a DOM-traversal and attribute-modification approach that processes links efficiently. The tool uses a WeakSet to track which links have been processed, avoiding redundant processing. When enabled, the tool sets the target attribute to "_blank" and adds noopener and noreferrer to the rel attribute for security. The noopener attribute prevents the new page from accessing the original page's window.opener, and noreferrer prevents the new page from seeing the referrer URL. The tool excludes internal anchors, protocol links, and links with specific classes to avoid breaking navigation or forms. A MutationObserver watches for newly added DOM nodes and processes any links found within them, ensuring that dynamically loaded content is also covered. The toggle simply enables or disables the processing logic and optionally removes target="_blank" from links that were processed when disabled. This approach ensures comprehensive, secure, and fully private link behavior control without requiring any external services or network access.

THE PANEL

The floating panel is fully draggable and remembers its position per site, snapping to the edges of the viewport when dragged near them. You can collapse the panel to a small icon to minimize screen distraction and expand it back with a single click. The panel is resizable from the bottom-right corner, giving you more space to view controls. Press the Escape key to close the panel instantly. The panel remains open across page navigation within the same domain, maintaining your current view state. All preferences—panel position and enabled state—are saved per domain for a seamless experience.

PLEASE NOTE

Force Link Target Blank requires the free BotGentz extension to be installed and enabled, as it relies on the cross-extension messaging API provided by BotGentz for DOM access permissions. The tool modifies link attributes directly on the page; some websites may have JavaScript that overrides these attributes. The tool excludes internal anchors and protocol links to avoid breaking page navigation. The rel attributes (noopener noreferrer) are added for security best practices and may affect analytics referrer tracking. All settings are stored locally in your browser using GM_setValue. No link data, page content, or usage information is ever sent to any server. The extension does not read, store, or transmit any personal information. It only modifies link attributes on the page at your request.