How to Close Tabs in a Mobile or Desktop Browser

Download Article

A user-friendly guide to close tabs in a desktop or mobile browser

Written by Rain Kengly

Last Updated: April 12, 2024

Download Article

Using Mobile Browsers

|

Using Desktop Browsers

|

Video

|

Q&A

|

Tips

|

Warnings

Do you want to close your Internet browser tabs? You can close all tabs, a single tab, or an entire window with a simple click. You can also use a keyboard command to quickly close a tab. Whether you use a mobile or desktop browser, you can keep your tabs uncluttered with these helpful tips. This wikiHow will show you how to close individual and all tabs in a web browser on your iPhone, Android, Mac, or Windows computer.

Closing Tabs on a Phone or Computer

To close tabs in a mobile browser, click the "Tabs" icon, then click the "X". For some browsers, you can swipe left. When using a desktop browser, click the "X" on the right side of the tab. You can also use "CTRL + W" (Windows) or "CMD + W" (Mac).

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Mobile Browsers

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b5\/Close-Tabs-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Close-Tabs-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b5\/Close-Tabs-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Close-Tabs-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

1
Open a mobile browser. Tap the app icon of the browser that you want to open.
- You can close tabs on Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox for both iPhone and Android, as well as Safari for iPhone or iPad .
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/60\/Close-Tabs-Step-2-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Close-Tabs-Step-2-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/60\/Close-Tabs-Step-2-Version-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Close-Tabs-Step-2-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

2
Tap the "Tabs" icon. Doing so will bring up a list of your currently open tabs. This icon's appearance and location varies depending on the browser:
- This may look like a numbered box or two overlapping boxes on the top or bottom of the screen.
- Tapping the "Tabs" icon will show you all your open tabs.
Advertisement
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d6\/Close-Tabs-Step-3-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Close-Tabs-Step-3-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d6\/Close-Tabs-Step-3-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Close-Tabs-Step-3-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

You can scroll up or down through the currently open tabs until you find the one you want to close.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b7\/Close-Tabs-Step-4-Version-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Close-Tabs-Step-4-Version-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b7\/Close-Tabs-Step-4-Version-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Close-Tabs-Step-4-Version-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

4
Tap X . It's in the top-right corner of the tab that you want to close. This will immediately close the tab.
- If you don't see an X , you can also close tabs on some browsers by swiping them to the left.
- Make sure you're in the "All tabs" viewing page. If you're actively looking at a single mobile tab, you won't see the X .
- Close all tabs by holding the "Tabs" icon. Tap Close All Tabs .
  - On some mobile browsers, you may need to tap Edit to find the option.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Desktop Browsers

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/97\/Close-Tabs-Step-5-Version-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Close-Tabs-Step-5-Version-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/97\/Close-Tabs-Step-5-Version-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Close-Tabs-Step-5-Version-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

1
Manually close the tab. Locate the X at the right corner of the tab.
- Click the X to close the tab.
- You can also right-click the tab and select Close tab .
- On Safari, the X icon won't appear until you place your mouse cursor over the tab.
- If you have an ongoing process on the tab (e.g., you're creating an email account), you may have to confirm your decision to close the tab.
- Be sure to update your browser consistently.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5d\/Close-Tabs-Step-6-Version-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Close-Tabs-Step-6-Version-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5d\/Close-Tabs-Step-6-Version-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Close-Tabs-Step-6-Version-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

2
Use a keyboard shortcut. Navigate to the tab you want to close. ^{[1]
X
Research source}
- On Mac, press CMD + W .
- On Windows, press CTRL + W .
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/de\/Close-Tabs-Step-7-Version-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Close-Tabs-Step-7-Version-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/de\/Close-Tabs-Step-7-Version-7.jpg\/v4-728px-Close-Tabs-Step-7-Version-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

3
Close all tabs in a browser. To close all tabs, you'll need to close the entire browser window. You can always view your browsing history to find specific pages again.
- On Mac, click the red button in the top-left corner. This will be next to a yellow button and a green button.
- On Windows, click the X in the top-right corner. This will be next to a square icon and a dash icon.
- You can also use the keyboard shortcuts ALT + F4 (Windows) or CMD + Shift + W (Mac) to quickly close the active browser window.
- You may have to confirm that you want to close all tabs by clicking something like Yes, close all tabs when prompted.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a1\/Close-Tabs-Step-8-Version-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Close-Tabs-Step-8-Version-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a1\/Close-Tabs-Step-8-Version-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Close-Tabs-Step-8-Version-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

4
Change your browser's "On startup" settings. Some web browsers, such as Google Chrome, save your tabs for the next startup. This means when you close the window, you will continue where you left off after launching the browser again.
- To turn this feature off, go to your browser's Settings. Check for a On startup tab.
- With most browsers, you can select between Open the New Tab page , Continue where you left off , or Open a specific page or set of pages .
- Be sure to apply and save your preferences.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

How do I open a new tab after I've close the old one?

Community Answer

On a PC, CTRL+T opens a new tab, or just re-launch your web browser app if on a mobile device.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 12 Helpful 7
Question

How can I close the tabs on iPhone 6?

Community Answer

Double-click the Home button, and all your open apps will show up in a line. Swipe directly up on each one of them to close them.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 13 Helpful 21
Question

Why am I being told I have too many tabs open when I currently only have one?

Community Answer

Check if there are any other windows open. If there are, close the window to get rid of the extra tabs.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 33 Helpful 17

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

Most browsers also have a "re-open closed tab" command on the drop-down menu that appears when you right-click a tab.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
Right-click a tab to see advanced options for it.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 2

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

In most cases, closing a tab during a process (e.g., setting up an email account) will reset your progress.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

[1]

Log in

How to Close Tabs in a Mobile or Desktop Browser

Closing Tabs on a Phone or Computer

Steps

Using Mobile Browsers

Using Desktop Browsers

Community Q&A

Video

Tips

Warnings

You Might Also Like

References

About This Article

Is this article up to date?

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Quizzes

Explore Categories