Manage tabs in Chrome

You can open multiple tabs in Chrome. You can also check and switch between all your tabs. 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

Open a new tab
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 & 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 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

Organize your tabs and windows

Arrange tabs
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.
Group your tabs
You can organize your tabs with groups. When you create or edit a tab group, your changes are automatically saved and synced across your devices where you're signed in to the same Google Account.
  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:
      • From the bookmarks bar: Select Grid Grid view and then [Tab group name].
      • From the menu:
        1. Select More More and then Tab groups.
        2. Select 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.
Delete a tab group

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:

  • From the bookmarks bar: Select Grid Grid view and then [Tab group name] and then Delete group.
  • From the menu:
    1. Select More More and then Tab groups.
    2. Right-click a tab group.
    3. Select Delete group.
Ungroup your tabs

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.
Collapse and expand tab groups

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.
Search open tabs with Tab search

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

  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. At the top left, select Tab search .
    • If you have Chrome open on a Mac, at the top right, select Tab search .
  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 .

Learn how to organize your tabs with Tab organizer.

Search open tabs from the address bar
  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.
Organize your windows
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.
    • Alternatively, at the top right, select More More and then More tools and then Name window.
  3. Enter a name for your window.
Show images in tab hover preview card

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

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

Close a tab or window

Close a tab

At the top right of the tab, click Close 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 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 More.
    • Mac: On the top menu bar, click Chrome.
  1. 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: Alt + f then x
  • 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 doesn't work, you can force it closed with Chrome's task manager. 

  1. At the top right, click More More.
  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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