Browsing space is important; especially for smaller netbook PCs out there.  So, why have the menu bar, bookmark bar and navigation bar shown if you don’t need them?  The Hide GUI bars extension for Firefox will let you hide all three, or bring them back with one single keyboard combination.

Once the Hide GUI bars add-on is installed, customizing it to fit your needs is pretty self explanatory.  In the options you can choose which toolbars get hidden:

• Menu Bar
• Navigation Bar
• Tab Bar
• Bookmarks Bar
• Status Bar

Next, you just choose the keyboard combination you wish to use to hide or show all the Firefox toolbars.

How to Hide Toolbars Manually in Firefox

Can you do this without the use of the Hide GUI bars add-on? Yes, but it is a little more complicated.  One of the new features in Firefox 3.6 is the ability to hide the menu bar.  The navigation bar and bookmarks bar were already hide-able before this most recent release. To hide them, just right-click one of the toolbars, and uncheck the one you wish to hide:

You can pick up the Hide GUI bars add-on for Firefox on the Firefox add-ons web site.

So, for those of you who live the Apple lifestyle, here is the way you can navigate around the navigation bar without having to ever lay your fingers on your one button mouse.  If you know of any more (because as you can see, I am not a big Apple user) please share in the comments.  Would love to build up a database of more keyboard shortcuts for everybody to use.

Navigation Bar Keyboard Shortcuts

Choose Your OS: Windows | Linux | Mac OS

Cmd + [ or Cmd + Left Arrow or Delete = Go Back a Page

Cmd + ] or Cmd + Right Arrow or Shift + Delete = Go Forward a Page

Opt + Home = Go to your Homepage

F5 or Cmd + R = Reload a Page

Cmd + . or Esc = Stop a Page from Loading

Cmd + P = Bring up the Print Options

Cmd + J = Launch the Download Window

Cmd + Shift + H = Open Your History in the Sidebar

Cmd + B = Open Your Bookmarks in the Sidebar

Cmd + T = New Tab

Cmd + N = New Browser Window

Cmd + X = Cut

Cmd + C = Copy

Cmd + V = Paste

For the Apple fans out there, here are a few more bonus keyboard combinations, that should help assist you in getting your browsing done a little faster.

• Cmd + F = Find
• Cmd + Home = Go to the Top of a Web Page
• Cmd + End = Go to the Bottom of a Web Page
• Cmd + Shift + T = Reopen the Last Closed Tab

Know of anymore Firefox keyboard shortcuts that would be useful for your fellow Apple fans to know?  Drop in a comment and share!

Navigation Bar Keyboard Shortcuts

Choose Your OS: Windows | Linux | Mac OS

Alt + Left Arrow or Backspace = Go Back a Page

Alt + Right Arrow or Shift + Backspace = Go Forward a Page

Alt + Home = Go to your Homepage

F5 or Ctrl + R = Reload a Page

Esc = Stop a Page from Loading

Ctrl + P = Bring up the Print Options

Ctrl + J = Launch the Download Window

Ctrl + H = Open Your History in the Sidebar

Ctrl + B = Open Your Bookmarks in the Sidebar

Ctrl + T = New Tab

Ctrl + N = New Browser Window

Ctrl + X = Cut

Ctrl + C = Copy

Ctrl + V = Paste

There is at least one (and sometimes two) keyboard combinations you can use to get the navigation toolbar tasks done.  Anymore keyboard tips you’d like me to go over as we all become Firefox keyboard ninjas?