How to Quickly Switch Tabs in Google Chrome

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Use keyboard shortcuts to navigate between tabs with ease
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There are several ways to switch tabs on the Chrome browser efficiently, whether you're using a computer or a mobile device. If you frequently have many tabs open on your computer, learn additional tricks such as "pinning" a tab or reopening one you just closed. This wikiHow article teaches you how to switch tabs in Google Chrome.

Switching Between Tabs in Chrome: The Basics

The easiest way to move between tabs in Chrome on a desktop or tablet is to click or tap the tab you want to view. On a phone, swipe left or right from the top of the page to move through your tabs. You can also navigate tabs using keyboard shortcuts.

Section 1 of 4:

Switching Tabs in Chrome for Windows

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  1. Click the plus (+) icon to create a new tab. It's next to all currently open tabs listed at the top of the screen in Google Chrome. You can then enter a separate web address in the address bar at the top of the screen below the tabs.
    • The Ctrl+T shortcut will cause you to jump directly to the new tab. [1]
    • These keyboard shortcuts described in this section also work for Linux.
  2. There are many ways to switch tabs in Google Chrome. The easiest way is to simply click the tab you want to switch to at the top of the screen.
    • You can also click and drag the tabs at the top of the screen to change the order of the tabs. Click and drag a tab out of the tabs bar at the top of the screen to open the tab in a separate window.
    • If you don't see the tab you want to switch to at the top of the screen, it may be open in a separate window. Click the Google Chrome icon in the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. This displays all open windows as thumbnail images above the Google Chrome icon. Click a thumbnail image to open that window.
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  3. This will move you to the tab to the right of your current tab listed at the top of the screen. If you are already on the furthest tab to the right, this will send you to the one on the far left. [2] [3]
    • Alternatively, you can also press Ctrl + PgDn to change tabs.
  4. If you are already on the furthest tab to the left, this will send you to the furthest tab on the right.
    • Alternatively, you can press Ctrl + PgUp to switch to the previous tab.
  5. Use one the following key combinations to switch to a specific tab:
    • Press Ctrl + 1 to open the first tab on the left.
    • Press Ctrl + 2 to open the second tab.
    • Press Ctrl + 3 to open the third tab.
    • Press Ctrl + 4 to open the fourth tab.
    • Press Ctrl + 5 to open the fifth tab.
    • Press Ctrl + 6 to open the sixth tab.
    • Press Ctrl + 7 to open the seventh tab.
    • Press Ctrl + 8 to open the eighth tab.
  6. Regardless of how many tabs you have open, this will always jump to the last tab on the right.
  7. This opens previously closed tabs in the order they were closed. [4]
    • You can keep repeating this command to open as many as ten recently closed tabs. [5]
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Section 2 of 4:

Switching Tabs in Chrome for Mac

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  1. Click the plus (+) icon to create a new tab. It's to the right of all currently open tabs listed at the top of the screen in Google Chrome. You can then enter a separate web address in the address bar at the top of the screen below the tabs. [6]
    • Pressing Command+T will take you directly to the new tab.
  2. There are many ways to switch tabs in Google Chrome. By far, the easiest way is to simply click the tab you want to switch to at the top of the screen.
    • You can also click and drag the tabs at the top of the screen to change the order of the tabs. Click and drag a tab out of the tabs bar at the top of the screen to open the tab in a separate window.
    • If you don't see the tab you want to switch to, it may be open in a separate window. To switch to a different window, click and hold the Google Chrome icon in the Dock at the bottom of the screen. This displays a pop-up menu. All open windows are listed at the top of the pop-up menu. The window you currently have open has a checkmark next to it. Click a different window in the pop-up menu to switch to it.
  3. Pressing Command, Option, and the Right Arrow switches to the next tab to the right of the current tab you have open in the list of tabs at the top of the screen. If you are already on the tab furthest to the right, this opens the first tab on the left.
  4. Pressing Command, Option, and the Left Arrow switches to the previous tab to the left of the current tab you have open in the list of tabs at the top of the screen. If you are already on the first tab to the left, this moves you to the last tab on the right.
  5. Use one of the following key combinations to switch to a specific tab:
    • Press Command + 1 to open the first tab on the left.
    • Press Command + 2 to open the second tab.
    • Press Command + 3 to open the third tab.
    • Press Command + 4 to open the fourth tab.
    • Press Command + 5 to open the fifth tab.
    • Press Command + 6 to open the sixth tab.
    • Press Command + 7 to open the seventh tab.
    • Press Command + 8 to open the eighth tab.
  6. Regardless of how many tabs you have open, this will always jump to the last tab on the right.
  7. This opens previously closed tabs in the order they were closed.
    • You can keep repeating this command to open as many as ten recently closed tabs. [7]
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Section 3 of 4:

Switching Tabs in Chrome for Mobile or Tablet

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  1. It's the icon that resembles a square with a number in the middle. It's in the upper-right corner next to the address bar on an Android or iPad, and at the bottom of the screen on an iPhone. This displays all the tabs you currently have open.
    • If you have incognito tabs or tab groups as well as regular tabs open, you can access them using the menu at the top of this screen. On some devices, you can also use this menu to access tabs that are open on other devices (if you have your tabs and history set to sync in Chrome ).
  2. Tabs are displayed as a thumbnail image containing the web page for each tab you have open. Tap the thumbnail image for the tab you want to open.
  3. You can switch to the next tab by swiping right across the toolbar at the top of the screen. It contains the address bar at the top of the screen. [8] [9]
    • If you’re already on the last tab, swiping right won’t do anything.
  4. This switches to the previous tab.
  5. A tablet should display all the open tabs along the top of the screen, just like a computer browser. Touch the tab you want to switch to.
    • To reorder tabs, press and hold on a tab name, then drag to a different position.
  6. If you’re using an iPad with an external keyboard, you can use keyboard shortcuts much like you would on a Mac . For example: [10]
    • Command+T or Command+N opens a new tab.
    • Option+Command+Right Arrow switches to the next tab.
      • You can also use Control+Tab or Command+} .
    • Option+Command+Left Arrow switches to the previous tab.
      • Alternatively, use Shift+Control+Tab or Command+{ .
    • Shift+Command+T opens the last closed tab.
    • Command+(1-8) goes to the specified tab number, while Command+9 goes straight to the last tab, regardless of how many tabs are open.
  7. You can also use keyboard shortcuts with an external keyboard on Android devices. However, first you need to enable TalkBack. Open Settings and go to Accessibility > TalkBack > Use TalkBack . [11] Once you’ve done this and connected a Bluetooth keyboard , you can use the following shortcuts to navigate tabs:
    • Control+T opens a new tab.
    • Control+Tab or Control+PgDown switches to the next tab.
    • Control+Shift+Tab or Control+PgUp switches to the previous tab.
    • Control+(1-8) goes to the specified tab number, while Control+9 goes to the last tab, no matter how many tabs are open.
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Section 4 of 4:

Learning Other Useful Shortcuts and Tricks

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  1. in a new background tab. On most operating systems, hold Ctrl (or Command on Mac) while you click a link to open it in a new tab, without navigating to that tab.
    • You can instead hold Shift to open it in a new window.
    • Hold Ctrl + Shift , or Command + Shift on Mac, to open the link in a new tab and navigate to it.
  2. Right-click a tab name and select Pin . This will shrink the tab to the size of the icon and keep it on the left side of your tabs until you right-click it again and select "Unpin Tab." [12]
    • If you don't have a two-button mouse, hold Control while clicking, or enable two-finger clicking on a trackpad.
  3. Right-click (or Ctrl-click ) a tab name and select "Close Other Tabs" to close everything except the tab you're looking at. Select "Close Tabs to the Right" to close all tabs to the right of the currently active tab. Making this a habit can save a lot of time if you tend to end up with a couple of dozen tabs slowing down your browsing.
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  • Question
    How do I reorder browser tabs in Chrome?
    Community Answer
    Long press on a tab that you want to move, then drag it over to where you want it.
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  • Question
    Why are my tabs closing in Chrome when I click on them?
    Community Answer
    A tab can be closed if you click on it by using the mouse's middle button. Make sure you are not clicking on a tab with the middle button, or that the middle button isn't stuck with the left button. Try a new mouse; if the problem stops, then there was an issue with the middle button of your mouse.
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    How do I open a new tab in Chrome without using the mouse?
    Community Answer
    Hold down the CTRL button and press the 'T' key to create a new tab.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/157179?sjid=16505193509696107381-EU&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&oco=1#zippy=%2Ctab-window-shortcuts
      2. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/157179?hl=en
      3. ↑ http://support.google.com/chromeos/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=183101
      4. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/157179?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop#zippy=%2Ctab-and-window-shortcuts
      5. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/157179?hl=en
      6. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/157179?sjid=16505193509696107381-EU&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&oco=1#zippy=%2Ctab-window-shortcuts
      7. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/157179?hl=en
      8. ↑ http://9to5google.com/2013/10/01/chrome-for-android-updated-w-new-gestures-for-quick-tab-switching-more/
      9. ↑ http://9to5google.com/2013/10/01/chrome-for-android-updated-w-new-gestures-for-quick-tab-switching-more/
      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/157179?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DiOS&oco=1#zippy=%2Ctab-window-shortcuts
      2. ↑ https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/6007100?sjid=7521058624334706809-NC
      3. ↑ http://mashable.com/2010/09/09/chrome-tips-tricks-shortcuts/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Click the plus icon (+) at the top of Chrome to open a new tab.
      2. Click one of the tabs at the of the screen to switch to the tab.
      3. Tap the icon that resembles a square with a number to view all open tabs on mobile.
      4. Tap the thumbnail image of a tab on mobile to switch to that tab.

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