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Cannot open multiple Internal Web Browser views #4125
Description
Description
It is not possible to open multiple instances of the Internal Web Browser view simultaneously in Eclipse. When trying to open the view again via Window → Show View → Internal Web Browser, Eclipse simply re-focuses the already open view instead of creating a new instance.
Steps to Reproduce
- Open the Internal Web Browser view:
Window → Show View → Other... → General → Internal Web Browser - Attempt to open a second Internal Web Browser view the same way
- Eclipse focuses the existing view instead of opening a new one
Expected Behavior
A new, independent Internal Web Browser view instance should open, allowing users to view multiple web pages side by side in the workbench.
Actual Behavior
Only one Internal Web Browser view can be open at a time. Re-opening the view just activates the existing one.
Environment
- Active View Class:
WebBrowserView - Contributing Plug-in:
org.eclipse.ui.browser(3.8.700.v20251031-0712) - Active View Identifier:
org.eclipse.ui.browser.view - Source Repository: https://github.com/eclipse-platform/eclipse.platform.ui.git
Possible Fix
The view could support multiple instances by setting allowMultiple="true" in the org.eclipse.ui.views extension point definition for org.eclipse.ui.browser.view, similar to how other multi-instance views are implemented in Eclipse.
Activity
iloveeclipse commentedon Jun 19, 2026
I see no reason why it shouldn't allow multiple views. Feel free to contribute, note, just changing the flag will be not enough, one would need to contribute a "New browser view" or "Pin" action to the view toolbar, so that there is a possibility to create new one.
merks commentedon Jun 19, 2026
It seems a little bit "misguided", no insult intended! The action Show View, not Create New View. I expect that if we change it "arbitrarily" the next person is likely going to complain that they expect the opposite behavior (from the last 25 years).
Note that one can open many browser editors, if you configure the preference to open the internal browser:
Philipp0205 commentedon Jun 21, 2026
@merks no worries! You are right my way via "show view" is probably a bit misleading. The main thing I am missing is an "open new browser view" button in the web browser view, similar to how the terminal view does it.
Thanks for the thin! I did not know that you can open multiple browser views, I am still not entirely sure how I can open an a new web site with this. Using the setting I need to click onto a link inside eclipse or open multiple html files to trigger a new browser right?
merks commentedon Jun 22, 2026
Yes, here's no File -> Open for a URL In an Editor you can use
Open link in new windowbut that literally opens a new window. it's all not really designed to make Eclipse like a browser... As suggested, one might use pinning and add actions to open new views, like the terminal view.