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 personalised New tab page.

Some of the ways that you can customise your New tab page content are with:

  • Different themes
  • Your basket
  • Your shortcuts
Learn how to personalise your New tab page.

Learn how to manage suggested articles.

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 and Linux: Ctrl + click a link
  • Mac: + click a link

Organise 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 that both windows are signed in to the same profile.
  2. Right-click the tab that you want to move.
  3. Scroll to 'Move tab to another window'.
  4. Select the window that you want to move the tab to.
Group your tabs
You can organise your tabs with groups.
 
  1. On your computer, open Chrome Chrome.
  2. Click 'New tab' New tab.
  3. Right-click a tab and then select Add to new group.
    • To edit your tab group: Right-click the coloured circle or name to the left. You can:
      • Name your group.
      • 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.
Collapse and expand tab groups

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

  1. Create a tab group.
  2. To expand or collapse the group, select its name or coloured circle.
Search open tabs with tab search

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

  1. Open Chrome Chrome.
  2. At the top left, select Tab search Down arrow.
    • If you have Chrome open on a Mac, at the top right, select Tab search Down arrow.
  3. Enter keywords for the site that you want to find.
  4. In the list of open tabs:
    • To open a tab, find the tab that you want and click it.
    • To close a tab, find the tab that you want and on the right, click Close .
Search open tabs from the address bar
  1. Open Chrome Chrome.
  2. In the address bar, enter @tabs.
  3. Press tab or space. You can also click Search tabs Search in the suggestions.
  4. Enter keywords for the tab that you want to find.
  5. Select the tab from the list.
Organise your windows
To organise your open windows, you can name each one. Your computer displays this name when you:
  • Point to the minimised 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 that 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 Organise and then More tools and then Name window.
  3. Enter a name for your window.

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 Organise.
    • 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 and 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 Organise.
  2. Click More tools and then Task manager.
  3. Select the page, extension or app that you'd like to close.
  4. Click End process.

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