# Can the devtools be open by default

**URL:** <https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/can-the-devtools-be-open-by-default/48063>\
**Category:** Developer Tools\
**Created:** [November 4, 2019, 12:15pm UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/can-the-devtools-be-open-by-default/48063 "2019-11-04T12:15:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![christatedavies](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/discourse.mozilla.org/christatedavies/32/31432_2.png) [@christatedavies](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/christatedavies)\
**Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 12:15pm UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/can-the-devtools-be-open-by-default/48063/1 "2019-11-04T12:15:22Z")

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I’ve found I can open the devtools by appending --devtools to the command line. However, when I click a link which opens a new tab, the devtools is not open. Can it be please?

TIA, Chris

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**Author:** ![digitarald](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c77e96/32.png) [@digitarald](https://discourse.mozilla.org/u/digitarald)\
**Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 3:26pm UTC](https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/can-the-devtools-be-open-by-default/48063/2 "2019-11-04T15:26:43Z")

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We have some work lined out in [bug 1569859](https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1569859). Making that work initially for the `--devtools` flag seems like a pretty good idea.

I actually like the idea of opening devtools by default when opening links from a tab with devtools open, but am still gathering input on that.