How to Use tabs in Chrome

You can open as many tabs as you want in Chrome. You can also view all your tabs and switch among them.

Learn how to manage suggested articles.

On Computer

Open a new tab

At the top of your Google Chrome window, next to the last tab on the right, click New tab . Or, use a keyboard shortcut:

• Windows & Linux: Ctrl + t
• Mac: ⌘ + t

Open a tab in a new window

Click and drag the tab outside the Google Chrome window.

To open a new window, use a keyboard shortcut:

• Windows & Linux: Ctrl + n
• Mac: ⌘ + n

Open a file in a new tab

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 .

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

• Windows & Linux: Ctrl + o
• Mac: ⌘ + o

Open a link in a new tab

• Windows & Linux: Ctrl + click a link
• Mac: ⌘ + click a link

Customize your new tab page

When you open a new tab, under the search box, you’ll find websites you visit often or shortcuts to websites you’ve chosen.

• To hide shortcuts or your most visited websites, or to switch between them, open Chrome and go to the shortcuts tab under Customize . 
• To visit a site, click the icon.
• To remove or edit a site, point to the icon. At the top right of the icon, click More .

Add a custom background image

You can upload a photo or use a background from Chrome.

1. In the bottom right of the new tab page, click Customize .
2. In the “Background” tab, select a Chrome background to customize your browser, or upload your own photo. 

Change your browser color

You can change the color of your Chrome browser. 

1. In the bottom right of a new tab, click Customize . 
2. In the “Color and theme” tab, select a color. 
3. After you select a color, click Done. 

Arrange tabs

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

• To pin a tab to the left, right-click the tab and select Pin. Pinned tabs are smaller and only show the site’s icon.
• To unpin a tab, right-click the tab and select Unpin.
• To move a tab to a different window, right click on the tab and point to Move tab to another window, then select the window you want to move it to. 

Group your tabs

You can organize your tabs with groups.

1. On your computer, open Chrome .
2. Click New tab .
3. Right-click a tab and then select Add to new group.
   • To edit your tab group, select the circle to the left of your tab. You can:
     • Name your group.
     • Add additional 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 on the tab, then select Remove from group.

Close a tab

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

• Windows & Linux: Ctrl + w
• Mac: ⌘ + w

Close a window

• Close all tabs in the window.
• At the top corner of the window, click Close .
  • Windows & Linux: At the top right.
  • Mac: At the top left.
  You can also use the keyboard shortcuts to close a window:
  • Windows & Linux:Alt + F4
  • Mac:⌘ + Shift + w

Close Google Chrome

You can close Google Chrome entirely.

1. Open the Chrome menu.
   • Windows & Linux: On the top menu bar, click More .
   • Mac: On the top menu bar, click Chrome.

2. Close Google Chrome.

• Windows & Linux: Click Exit.
• Mac: Click Quit Google Chrome.

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

• Windows & Linux:Ctrl + Shift + q
• Mac:⌘ + q

Bring back a tab or window

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

• Windows & Linux: Ctrl + Shift + t
• Mac: ⌘ + Shift + t

Force a page or app to close

If a tab, window, or extension isn’t working, you can force it closed with Chrome’s task manager. 

1. At the top right, click More .
2. Click More tools  Task manager.
3. Select the webpage, extension, or app you’d like to close.
4. Click End process.

On Android

Open a new tab

1. On your Android phone, open the Chrome app .
2. At the top right, tap More   New tab.

Open a new tab on Android tablet

1. On your Android tablet, open the Chrome app .
2. At the top, next to your open tabs, tap New tab .

Customize your new tab page

When you swipe up on the address bar or open a new tab, you’ll see websites you visit often. If you haven’t used Chrome before, you’ll see some popular sites.

• To visit a site, tap the icon.
• To remove a site, touch and hold an icon. Tap Remove.

Close a tab

1. On your Android phone, open the Chrome app .
2. To the right, tap Switch tabs . You’ll see your open Chrome tabs.
3. At the top right of the tab you want to close, tap Close . You can also swipe to close the tab.

Close all tabs

1. On your Android phone, open the Chrome app .
2. To the right of the address bar, tap Switch tabs . You’ll see your open Chrome tabs.
3. Tap More   Close all tabs.

Close tabs on Android tablet

1. On your Android tablet, open the Chrome app .
2. On any tab you want to close, tap Close .

Close all tabs

1. On your Android tablet, open the Chrome app .
2. On any tab, touch and hold Close .
3. Tap Close all tabs.

Switch to a new tab

1. On your Android phone, open the Chrome app .
2. To the right of the address bar, tap Switch tabs . You’ll see your open Chrome tabs.
3. Swipe up or down.
4. Tap the tab you want to switch to.

Switch tabs on Android tablet

1. On your Android tablet, open the Chrome app .
2. Tap the tab you want to switch to.

Reorder tabs

1. On your Android tablet, open the Chrome app .
2. Touch and hold the tab you want to move.
3. Drag the tab to a different position.

Refresh tabs

1. On your Android phone, open the Chrome app .
2. To the right of the address bar, tap More .
3. Tap Reload .

Refresh tabs on Android tablet

1. On your Android tablet, open the Chrome app .
2. At the top left, tap Reload .

On iPhone & iPad

Open a new tab

1. On your iPhone, open the Chrome app .
2. At the bottom right, tap More .
3. Tap New tab.

Open a new tab

1. On your iPhone, open the Chrome app .
2. At the bottom right, tap More .
3. Tap New tab.

Open a new tab on iPad

1. On your iPad, open the Chrome app .
2. At the top, next to your open tabs, tap New tab .

Learn how to read pages offline.

Customize your new tab page

When you open a new tab, under the search box, you’ll see icons of the websites you visit often. If you haven’t used Chrome before, you’ll see some popular sites.

• To visit a site, tap its icon.
• To remove a site, touch and hold its icon. Then, tap Remove.

Close a tab

1. On your iPhone, open the Chrome app .
2. At the bottom, tap Switch tabs . You’ll see your open Chrome tabs.
3. At the top right of the tab you want to close, tap Close .

Close all tabs

1. On your iPhone, open the Chrome app .
2. At the bottom, tap Switch tabs . You’ll see your open Chrome tabs.
3. At the bottom left, tap Close All.

Close tabs on iPad

1. On your iPad, open the Chrome app .
2. On any tab you want to close, in the upper right corner, tap Close .

Switch to a new tab

1. On your iPhone, open the Chrome app .
2. At the bottom, tap Switch tabs . You’ll see your open Chrome tabs.
3. Tap the tab you want to switch to.

Switch tabs on iPad

1. On your iPad, open the Chrome app .
2. Tap the tab you want to switch to.

You can also swipe left or right at the top to switch tabs.

Reorder tabs

1. On your iPad, open the Chrome app .
2. Touch and hold the tab you want to move.
3. Drag the tab to a different position.

Refresh tabs

1. On your iPhone, open the Chrome app .
2. At the bottom right, tap More .
3. Tap Reload .

Refresh tabs on iPad

1. On your iPad, open the Chrome app .
2. At the top left, tap Reload .