'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Open SharePoint Quick Links Documents in a New Tab
Question details
The user needs a way to force documents accessed via SharePoint Quick Links to open in a separate browser tab, preventing navigation away from the main SharePoint intranet page.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Navigating a modern SharePoint site and clicking on document links within the Quick Links or Link web parts.
- Observed behavior
- Documents open in the same browser tab by default, and modern SharePoint does not provide a native toggle to change this link target behavior.
Ensure you are accessing your SharePoint site using a standard desktop web browser (such as Chrome, Edge, or Firefox) with a connected keyboard or a multi-button mouse.
Use Browser Keyboard Shortcuts to Open Links in a New Tab
Since modern SharePoint lacks a built-in configuration option for this web part, you can use universal browser shortcuts to easily open any document link in a new tab or window.
Modern SharePoint prioritizes in-place navigation, meaning standard Link and Quick Links web parts do not currently feature a 'target=blank' setting to force a new tab. Standard web browser functionality provides the most reliable workaround for this limitation.
Navigate to your SharePoint site and locate the specific document within the Quick Links web part that you wish to view.
Press and hold the 'Ctrl' key on your Windows keyboard. If you are using a Mac device, press and hold the 'Cmd' (Command) key instead.
While holding the key, left-click the document link with your mouse. The document will now load in a completely new background tab, keeping your original SharePoint portal open.
If you prefer to open the document in an entirely new browser window instead of a new tab, hold the 'Shift' key while clicking the link.
Edit Your SharePoint Documents Easily with WPS Office
While SharePoint handles your team's file storage and intranet, WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible desktop suite to open, edit, and collaborate on your downloaded Office documents without the hefty subscription fees.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the 'Download' button to get the free installation package.
- 2. Install the application: Run the downloaded installer and follow the on-screen instructions to set up WPS Office on your device.
- 3. Open downloaded SharePoint files: Right-click any Word, Excel, or PowerPoint document you downloaded from SharePoint and choose to open it with WPS Office for seamless editing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't modern SharePoint have an 'Open in new tab' option for Quick Links?
Microsoft designed modern SharePoint to prioritize seamless in-place navigation and accessibility. This modern architecture intentionally omits the classic 'open in new window' link configurations found in older classic SharePoint versions.
Can site administrators force Quick Links to open in a new tab using custom code?
In modern SharePoint, custom script injection is restricted by default (NoScript policy). This means administrators cannot easily modify the native web part behavior using custom HTML or JavaScript, making browser shortcuts the most effective solution.
Do Highlighted Content web parts have the same new tab limitation?
Yes, most modern document library web parts and Highlighted Content web parts default to opening files in the same tab. The same Ctrl+Click or middle-click shortcuts can be used to bypass this.
