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When I click a link in any non-browser, it opens the URL in my default browser, Orion. I would like an option to have links from external apps always open in a private window.

Possible option:
Open links from external applications in:

  • a new tab
  • a new window
  • a new private window

Could be included as a dropdown on the Settings -> General tab, grouped with the "New window/tab opens with" options.

    bluedaisy If you create a new Profile, set it to open in New Private window and make it default, you should achive that?

        I updated to the latest version to try out the profiles. It almost works, but I am still having issues. Also, managing multiple profiles requires changing a lot of my established browsing habits.

        So, if I follow your suggestion, it works sometimes, up until I have closed and opened multiple windows.
        Works:

        • No orion process open - external link opens in default profile in private window
        • Orion default profile as first opened orion window
          • other profiles can be open, still works as expected
            • external links open in an existing private window
            • if default profile process is alive, but no windows open, opens in private window
            • if default profile process is alive, and only has non-private window open, opens in new private window

        doesn't work:

        1. launch orion (default profile opens)
        2. open other profile window
        3. close default profile process (cmd+q)
          • now external links open in the currently open non-default profile in a non private window
        4. open default profile from non-default profile
          • again, external links open in the currently open non-default profile in a non private window

        OR

        1. pin non-default profile to dock, launch from there
          • external links open in the current non-default profile window
        2. open default profile window (either from main orion icon in dock or launching from the non-default profile window)
          • same thing - external links open in the current non-default profile window

        I've tried so many combinations that I can't list them all here. Besides, this is a feature request thread, not a bug report. Even without the profiles, opening external links was flaky. Sometimes they would open in a current private window, sometimes in a non-private window, sometimes in the most foreground window, sometimes in the 3rd most back... It seemed that whichever window I had last created a new tab in would receive the external link.

        Issues that make me not want to use profiles:

        • I can't get profile shortcut keys to work
          • suggested shortcut is cmd+f1, i try that and get a "that is a global shortcut". nothing in system prefs -> keyboards -> shortcuts has cmd+f1 set.
          • i set cmd+f2, cmd+shift+f2 control+r, control+shift+r - all can be set, but none work
          • orion already has so many shortcut keys that every handy one i try is already in use
        • the multiple windows with different / highlighted icons clutters up the dock
        • i can pin the separate profiles to the dock, but the icons revert from my chosen one to the ugly square one when i close the program, so all the separate profiles pinned to the dock have the same icon
        • using profiles, i have to login to my password manager extension repeatedly
        • have to install and sync settings for the extensions i use for each profile

        honestly, the multiple profiles just doesn't work well for me (i'm not used to it, and really don't need it). Adopting profiles based browsing just to have all external links open by default in a private window is overkill.

        A simple option that says "Open external links in a private window" would resolve everything I have mentioned so far. I wouldn't care what profile it opened in (or no profile) - as long as it opens in a private window. Usually, I copy external urls, switch to Orion, open a new private window, paste & go; but some programs make links un-copyable in their dialogs. i have even used screenshots + preview's "copy text from image" to get around that, but it isn't reliable. either way, its a hassle.

        I would appreciate it if the browser i chose to use because of their focus on privacy allowed me to just browse (privately) as simply as if I was browsing normally.

        • Vlad replied to this.

          Heck, I'd satisfied if someone could point me in the right direction to figure out how to edit the command line that the OS runs when launching the default browser & what command line flag would tell Orion to use a private window.

            bluedaisy

            A simple option that says "Open external links in a private window" would resolve everything I have mentioned so far.

            We are trying to make a balance here. We can not have an option for everything or the settings would be huge. But if you get enough upvotes here we will consider it, sure. I was offering an alaternative and I understand there are some bugs with profile. What you want to do is to report those bugs separately/upvote those cards and it stands it is not easy for us to parse your feedback.

                That wasn't meant as bug reports, just (too much of) an explanation why the suggestion to use profiles isn't going to work for me. I appreciate the suggestion, but it isn't consistent enough for me to start using profiles to get this functionality.

                it should be as simple as possible for a person to browse normally in a privacy first manner
                every extra hassle a user goes through to maintain their privacy

                • introduces the possibility of forgetting to do it
                • creates friction for adoption of privacy preserving practices

                that is why i recommended this feature and hope to see it implemented.

                  7 months later

                  Just upvoted. I need to be able to open external links in a new window by default instead of a new tab. The lack of this option prevents me from adopting Orion as my default browser — otherwise I'm on board.

                  bluedaisy's suggestion seems like a reasonable approach to me:

                  Open links from external applications in:

                  • a new tab
                  • a new window
                  • a new private window

                  Could be included as a dropdown on the Settings -> General tab, grouped with the "New window/tab opens with" options.

                  Personally, I don't need it to be a new private window — just a new window, instead of a tab.

                  For reference, I'm currently using Safari, and the analogous setting is Settings > Tabs > Open pages in tabs instead of windows: Never

                  I'm happy to elaborate if it would be helpful.

                  • Uli replied to this.
                  • Uli likes this.
                      4 months later

                      phrsn Personally, I don't need it to be a new private window — just a new window, instead of a tab.

                      I second this. I find it very annoying the Orion opens external links in new tabs instead of windows.

                      I tend to use windows with several tab to organize topics, i.e. one topic per window. If I click on a new link e.g. in Mail, the link probably does not belong to the topic of the current front window of Orion. Opening it in a new window instead would force me to consider where it belongs, so this is the behavior I’d like to configure.

                          Vlad Can we settle on a minimal ask to satisify this request

                          Depends on a what a minimal ask is 😝, but yes, every setting that makes this possible at all would suffice.

                          Vlad and also the needs of users who want external links to open in their current window as a new tab.

                          Of course, everyone according to their taste!

                          I don’t see how this is related. The latter is about to pre-check if I want to open a link, not where.

                                  My minimal ask is to have an option to open links from external sources (clicked a link in VSCode / terminal / pdf / email client / etc) in a new private window. Orion now has an "Advanced" settings tab. This would be the perfect place to include such an option.

                                  A more flexible / inclusive ask would be to have other options as well:

                                  • open incoming links in a new tab (current behavior)
                                  • open incoming links in a new window (Uli's request, other browsers have this option)
                                  • open incoming links on a new private window (the option I am requesting).

                                  My request is not related at all with the "open in popup similar to arc" request.

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