How to save all open tabs in Chrome
You have ten tabs open for a project and need to close the browser. Here are five ways to save them and open them again later.
It happens all the time: you're researching, preparing a proposal or comparing vendors, and you end up with a crowded tab bar. Closing the tabs feels risky because finding them again takes time; keeping them open eats memory and clutters the bar.
Chrome has several built-in ways to save them. Here's what each one does, when to use it, and how to do it with NexoPad if you want to open the same set of pages with one click.
1. Save all tabs as bookmarks
This is the quickest way. Press Ctrl+Shift+D (Cmd+Shift+D on Mac) and Chrome saves every tab in the window to a new bookmarks folder. Give it a clear name, like "Acme proposal", and choose where to keep it.
To open them again, right-click the folder on the bookmarks bar or in the bookmark manager and choose the option to open all bookmarks. It's a great way to archive a work session and close the window with peace of mind.
2. Use a Chrome tab group
Right-click a tab, choose Add tab to group and then New group. You can give it a name and a color, and drag in the other tabs on the same topic.
When you close it with Close group, it isn't deleted: according to Chrome Help, it's saved in the bookmarks bar or under More > Tab groups, and you can reopen it from there. If you're signed in with your Google Account, groups sync to your other devices. We cover this in more detail in our guide to Chrome tab groups.
3. Let Chrome remember them when you close it
If you just want to shut down your computer and find the same tabs tomorrow, go to Settings > On startup and choose Continue where you left off. Chrome will reopen the pages you had open when you closed it.
It's handy, but it isn't an archive: if you close a tab yourself or open a new window, that session changes. For anything you want to keep, use bookmarks or a group instead.
Ctrl+Shift+T (Cmd+Shift+T on Mac) to reopen it. You can press it several times. More tricks in our list of Chrome keyboard shortcuts.4. The Reading List, for things to read later
If some of your tabs are articles you want to read later, you don't need to keep them open. Right-click the tab and choose Add tab to reading list. You'll find them under More > Bookmarks and lists > Reading list > Show reading list.
It works one tab at a time, so it's for individual reads, not for saving a whole session at once.
5. Save them as a NexoPad group and open them in one click
Open the popup and press +
With your tabs open, open the NexoPad popup and press the + button in the header. Choose Save all tabs.
Name the group
NexoPad collects the pages in the current window (leaving out the browser's internal pages) and asks for a name, for example "Q4 market research". Press Create group and it's saved with your links.
Pick a color, if you like
When you edit the group you see all its addresses, can add or remove one, and choose the color it will open with in Chrome.
Open it whenever you need it
Click the group in the popup or the side panel: all its pages open at once, together in a Chrome tab group with its name and color.
When does NexoPad make sense?
When there's a set of pages you open again and again: your morning tools, a client's pages or the sources for a report. Each group counts as a single link: the free plan lets you save up to 20 links; Pro, up to 1,000. And your groups sit right next to your notes and quick replies.
NexoPad doesn't save your tabs on its own or remember your session when you close Chrome: you save a group when you choose to. For that, the Chrome options above work very well. More details in the links and groups guide.
Which method should you use?
| Saves | Best for | |
|---|---|---|
Bookmarks (Ctrl+Shift+D) | All tabs in a folder | Archiving a work session |
| Tab group | The group's tabs, with a name and color | Separating topics while you work |
| Continue where you left off | The tabs open when you close Chrome | Picking up tomorrow where you stopped today |
| Reading List | Individual pages | Articles to read later |
| NexoPad group | The window's tabs, as one link | Opening pages you reuse in one click |
FAQ
How do I save all my tabs at once in Chrome?
Press Ctrl+Shift+D (Cmd+Shift+D on Mac). Chrome creates a bookmarks folder with every tab in the window.
Do I lose my tab groups when I close Chrome?
No. A closed group isn't deleted: it stays in the bookmarks bar or the Tab groups menu, and it syncs if you use your Google Account.
Do lots of open tabs slow down my computer?
Yes, every tab uses memory. Saving and closing them helps. If you want an extension for that, we compare several in OneTab alternatives.
Does NexoPad save my tabs automatically?
No. You decide when to save a group with Save all tabs. Then you open it in one click as often as you like.
Published on October 14, 20266 min read
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