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URL: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/2391819?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop

⇱ Manage tabs in Chrome - Computer - Google Chrome Help

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Manage tabs in Chrome

You can open multiple tabs in Chrome. You can also check and switch between all your tabs. Learn how to use split view for multitasking in Chrome.

When you open a new tab, Chrome opens a personalized New Tab page. Some of the ways you can customize your New Tab page content are with:

  • Different themes
  • Your shortcuts
Learn how to customize your New Tab page.

Open a new tab or window

At the top of your Google Chrome window, next to the last tab on the right, click New tab 👁 New tab
. Or, use a keyboard shortcut:
  • Windows and Linux: Ctrl + t
  • Mac: Command ⌘ + t
  • Chromebook: Ctrl + t

Click and drag the tab outside the Google Chrome window.

To open a new window, use a keyboard shortcut:

  • Windows and Linux: Ctrl + n
  • Mac: Command ⌘ + n
  • Chromebook: Ctrl + n
From your computer's desktop or folder, drag the file into a Google Chrome tab. If the action is successful, your cursor will display Add 👁 Add
.

Browse and select the file from your computer. Open a new tab, then use a keyboard shortcut:

  • Windows and Linux: Ctrl + o
  • Mac: Command ⌘ + o
  • Chromebook: Ctrl + o
  • Windows and Linux: Ctrl + click a link
  • Mac: Command ⌘ + click a link
  • Chromebook: Drag the link to a blank area on the tab strip

Organize your tabs and windows

To change the order of your tabs, drag a tab along the top of the browser window.

Pin a tab: Right-click the tab and select Pin. Pinned tabs are smaller and only show the site's icon.

Unpin a tab: Right-click the tab and select Unpin.

Move a tab to a different window:

  1. Make sure both windows are signed in to the same profile.
  2. Right-click the tab you want to move.
  3. Scroll to "Move tab to another window."
  4. Select the window you want to move the tab to.
When browsing history and tabs are synced with your Google Account, changes to tab groups are automatically saved and synced across all of your devices.
  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. Select New tab 👁 New tab
    .
  3. Right-click a tab.
  4. Select Add tab to group 👁 and then
    New group or an existing group.
    • To edit your tab group: Right-click the colored circle or name to the left. You can:
      • Name your group.
      • Select the tab group color.
      • Add more tabs to the group.
      • Remove the group.
    • To add a tab to an existing group: Drag the tab into the group.
    • To remove a tab from a group: Right-click the tab, then select Remove from group.
    • To close a tab group in the tab strip:
      1. Right-click a tab group.
      2. Select Close group.
        • A closed group isn't deleted and is saved in the bookmarks bar or in the menu. You can open a closed group again.
    • To open a tab group:
Tips:
  • To find tab groups in the bookmarks bar, in Settings, under “Appearance,” turn on Show tab groups in bookmarks bar.
  • To automatically pin new tab groups to the bookmarks bar, in Settings, under “Appearance,” turn on Automatically pin new tab groups to the bookmarks bar.
    • This will also pin new tab groups created from your other devices using the same Google Account.

Important: When you delete a tab group, it'll be removed on your device and other devices that use the same Google Account.

  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. Right-click a tab group.
  3. Select Delete group.
  4. Confirm Delete group.

Tip: You can also delete a tab group:

Important: When you ungroup tabs, it'll leave the tabs open on your device. However, it'll also delete the group on your device and other devices that use the same Google Account.

  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. Right-click a tab group.
  3. Select Ungroup.
  4. Confirm Ungroup.

You can collapse your tab groups so only the group's name or colored circle shows in your tab strip. 

  1. Create a tab group.
  2. To expand or collapse the group, select its name or colored circle.

When you have multiple tabs open in Chrome, you can find the specific tab you want.

  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. From the tab strip, select Tab Search 👁 Image
    .
    • If you arrange your tabs vertically, select Tab Search 👁 Image
      .
  3. Enter keywords for the site you want to find.
  4. In the list of open tabs:
    • To open a tab, find the tab you want and select it.
    • To close a tab, find the tab you want and on the right, select Close 👁 Image
      .

Tips:

  • By default, Tab Search is on and is automatically pinned in the tab strip. If you choose not to use this feature, you can unpin this:
    1. From the tab strip, right-click Tab Search 👁 Image
      .
    2. Select Unpin.
  • You can also open Tab Search with the following keyboard shortcuts:
    • Windows and Linux: Ctrl + Shift + a
    • Mac: Command ⌘ + Shift + a
  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. In the address bar, enter @tabs.
  3. Press tab or space. You can also select Search tabs 👁 Search
    in the suggestions.
  4. Enter keywords for the tab you want to find.
  5. Select the tab from the list.
To organize your open windows, you can name each one. Your computer displays this name when you:
  • Point to the minimized window with your cursor.
  • Press Alt + Tab to move between windows.
  • Right-click on a tab and select Move tab to another window.

To name a window:

  1. Go to the window you want to name or open a new window.
  2. At the top, right-click the empty space next to New Tab 👁 New tab
    , then select Name window.
  3. Enter a name for your window.

Important: These steps only apply for Windows, Linux, and ChromeOS.

  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. At the top right, select More 👁 Image
    👁 and then
    Settings.
  3. On the left, select Appearance.
  4. Under “Tab hover preview card,” turn Show tab preview images on or off.

To organize your tabs, you can highlight multiple tabs to group, move, drag to a new window, or close as one:

  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. To highlight multiple tabs:
    • If you have a mouse:
      • To select specific tabs: Press Ctrl and select each tab you want to add.
      • To select a range of tabs: Select the first tab, press Shift, and select the last tab. This highlights the entire range, along with the active tab.
    • If you don’t have a mouse: Press F6 twice 👁 and then
      Ctrl + Shift + H.
  3. To perform bulk actions, right-click any of the highlighted tabs.
  4. Select an action:
    • Add tabs to group
    • Move tabs to another window
    • Pin or Unpin
    • Mute or Unmute
    • Close

Tip: If you encounter any issues when you highlight multiple tabs, deselect and select them again.

Vertical tabs move your tab strip to the side of your window. You can:
  • Find all page titles
  • Scroll through list of tabs
  • Resize the width of tab strip to fit your needs
To enable vertical tabs:
  • From tab strip:
    1. Right-click the blank space on your tab strip.
    2. Select Show Tabs Vertically.
      • Or, to disable vertical tabs, you can also select Show Tabs Horizontally.
  • From a tab:
    1. Right-click a tab.
    2. Select Show Tabs Vertically.
      • Or, to disable vertical tabs, you can also select Show Tabs Horizontally.
  • From Settings:
    1. Go to Settings 👁 and then
      Appearance.
    2. Under “Tab position,” select Vertical or Horizontal.
  • From Customize and control Google Chrome button:
    1. At the top right, click More 👁 Image
      .
    2. Select More Tools 👁 and then
      Shows Tabs Vertically.
      • Or, to disable vertical tabs, you can also select Show Tabs Horizontally.
  • From Mac’s View menu:
    1. Go to View.
    2. Select Show Tabs Vertically.
      • Tip: You can check or uncheck the option to view your tabs vertically.

Unpin tab search or tab groups button

  1. Right-click the tab search or tab groups button.
  2. Select Unpin
Tip: To re-pin your tab search or tab groups:
  1. Go to Settings 👁 and then
    Appearance.
  2. Turn on Show tab search button or Show saved tab groups.

Close a tab or window

At the top right of the tab, click Close 👁 Close
. Or, use a keyboard shortcut:

  • Windows and Linux: Ctrl + w
  • Mac: Command ⌘ + w
  • Close all tabs in the window.
  • At the top corner of the window, click Close 👁 Close
    .
    • Windows and Linux: At the top right.
    • Mac: At the top left.

    You can also use the keyboard shortcuts to close a window:

    • Windows and Linux: Alt + F4
    • Mac: Command ⌘ + Shift + w

You can close Google Chrome entirely.

  1. Open the Chrome menu.
    • Windows and Linux: On the top menu bar, click More 👁 Image
      .
    • Mac: On the top menu bar, click Chrome.
  1. Close Google Chrome.
  • Windows and Linux: Click Exit.
  • Mac: Click Quit Google Chrome.

You can also use the keyboard shortcut to close Google Chrome:

  • Windows and Linux: Alt + f then x
  • Mac: Command ⌘ + q

If you accidentally close a tab or window, you can open it again using a keyboard shortcut:

  • Windows and Linux: Ctrl + Shift + t
  • Mac: Command ⌘ + Shift + t

If a tab, window, or extension doesn't work, you can force it closed with Chrome's task manager. 

  1. At the top right, click More 👁 Image
    .
  2. Click More tools 👁 and then
    Task manager.
  3. Select the page, extension, or app you'd like to close.
  4. Click End process.

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