How to group tabs in Chrome
In two clicks you can bundle tabs on the same topic, give them a name and a color, and tuck them away when you're not using them.
With twenty tabs open, finding the one you need becomes a guessing game. Chrome's tab groups fix that without installing anything: you bundle tabs on the same topic, give them a name and a color, and hide them when you don't need them.
This guide shows you how to create a group, organize it, save it for later and reopen it. At the end, we'll show you how to open your everyday work groups in one go.
How to create a tab group
Right-click a tab
Choose Add tab to group and then New group. To add several at once, select them first with Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) or Shift and right-click one of them.
Give it a name
When the group is created, a box appears where you can type its name. Keep it short: "Acme client", "Invoices" or "Trip". If you leave it empty, you'll only see a colored dot.
Pick a color
In the same box you choose the group's color. Use the same color for the same kind of task and you'll recognize it at a glance.
Add more tabs
Drag any tab into the group, or right-click it, choose Add tab to group and pick the group's name.
Name, color and other options
- Change the name or color: right-click the group's name or its colored dot.
- Collapse and expand: click the group's name. Its tabs are hidden and only the label stays in the tab strip; click again to show them.
- Move the whole group: drag the group's label to another position or another window.
- Take a tab out: right-click it and choose Remove from group. The tab stays open.
- Undo the group: right-click the name and choose Ungroup. The tabs stay open, but the group is gone.
Save and reopen a group
Chrome saves your groups automatically. If you right-click the name and choose Close group, its tabs close but the group isn't deleted: you'll find it in the More menu (the three dots), under Tab groups, or in the bookmarks bar.
To show them in the bookmarks bar, go to Settings, Appearance, and turn on Show tab groups in bookmarks bar. If you're signed in to Chrome and sync your tabs, your groups are also saved on your other devices.
Be careful with Delete group: it erases the group and, if you sync, it disappears from your other devices too. If you just want it out of sight, use Close group.
Handy shortcuts for moving between tabs
| What it does | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Go to the next tab | Ctrl+Tab | Cmd+Option+→ |
| Go to a specific tab (1 to 8) | Ctrl+1 … Ctrl+8 | Cmd+1 … Cmd+8 |
| Go to the last tab | Ctrl+9 | Cmd+9 |
| Reopen the last closed tab | Ctrl+Shift+T | Cmd+Shift+T |
Space or Enter. You'll find more shortcuts in our guide to Chrome keyboard shortcuts.Tips for working with lots of tabs
- One group per task, not per website: "Brightline proposal" works better than "Documents".
- Collapse what you're not using: keep only the group for your current task in view.
- Close the group when you're done: it stays saved and frees up your tab strip.
- Review your saved groups now and then and delete the ones you no longer use, so the list doesn't grow out of control.
- If tabs keep piling up, save the whole session before closing it. We explain how in how to save all open tabs.
Your daily groups, one click away
Chrome's groups are perfect for what you're doing right now. For the pages you always open together, like your month-end close or your Monday meeting, NexoPad lets you save them as a link group and open them all at once from the popup or the side panel.
When you open one, NexoPad creates a Chrome tab group with the group's name and the color you picked (the same nine colors Chrome offers). In browsers that don't support tab groups, the pages open as regular tabs.
To create one, open the + menu in the popup and choose Save all tabs: NexoPad takes the tabs in the current window and you just add a name and a color. You can also use Create group to bundle links you'd already saved. Each group counts as a single link, so they fit nicely within the free plan's 20 links.
With Pro, you can also tick Force tab name on any link so the tab shows the name you gave it instead of the page title. It's handy when several open tabs share the same title.
Frequently asked questions
Do tab groups disappear when I close Chrome?
No. Chrome saves them, and you'll find them in the More menu under Tab groups. If you also have "Continue where you left off" turned on, they reopen when you start Chrome.
What's the difference between closing and deleting a group?
Closing a group closes its tabs but keeps it saved so you can reopen it later. Deleting it erases it, also on your other devices if you sync.
Is there a keyboard shortcut to create a group?
Chrome doesn't include one. The fastest way is to select several tabs with Ctrl or Shift, right-click one of them and add them to a new group.
Are there other tools for managing lots of tabs?
Yes, from extensions that turn your tabs into a list to project-based managers. We compare them in OneTab alternatives.
Published on October 14, 20266 min read
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