These settings are controlled by several preferences ... and some Linux distros disable them by default, so if they don't work for you, check your preferences. To access preferences, type about:config into your URLbar to see all of Firefox's preferences, then use middle as the search term. Double-click on a preference to change its value.

clipboard.autocopy

controls whether Firefox will automatically copy any text you select with the mouse.

middlemouse.paste

controls whether the middle mouse button will paste into Firefox's URLbar and text fields in forms.

middlemouse.contentLoadURL

controls whether a middle mouse click in Firefox's content area will go to that URL.

Going straight to the URLbar

So what if you like using Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V for copy and paste, and see no need for middle mousing? Firefox has a shortcut you'll want. Have you ever been frustrated when you double-click in the URLbar to delete what's there so you can paste ... only to find that you just replaced your previous selection with what was already in the URLbar?

Here's a tip for folks who like the keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl-L. It takes you to the URLbar and highlights what's there -- without copying anything. Ctrl-L Ctrl-V replaces the URLbar with whatever you previously copied with Ctrl-C. Even if you don't have something to paste, you can use Ctrl-L as a fast way of getting to the URLbar to type in a new destination.

Next: Instant Scrollbar Positioning »