How to group and organize your tabs in Chrome

One of the first things anybody learns when using Google Chrome is that tabs can seemingly multiply. For most of us, opening new tabs is like breathing; it just happens, whether we’re acutely aware of it or not. When you open so many tabs that you can barely recognize the text next to each icon, you may wonder whether there’s a better way to organize your browser. Luckily for you, there is a way to group tabs in Chrome.

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When you aren’t actively keeping track of your open tabs on Google Chrome, things can get out of hand quickly. This goes for the Chrome web browser on your computer as well as the Google Chrome app on your Android or iOS device.

In 2020, a Google Chrome update added a new feature known as tab groups. This essentially allows you to organize groups of tabs in a functional, easy-to-use way. You can give each tab group a custom name and color, and you can choose to delete Chrome tabs from the group or move them out of the group.

How to group tabs in your Chrome browser (desktop)

Grouping tabs is currently the most efficient way to organize your browsing activity on Google Chrome. To do so, you must start a tab group and then add other tabs to that group.

Starting a new tab group in Chrome

To start a new tab group, right-click any of your open tabs and click Add tab to new group.

Type in a name for the tab group in the Name this group field, then click one of the colored circles underneath to give the group a color.

Adding tabs to your tab group

After starting the tab group, you can add other tabs to it. You can either add a brand new tab to the group or add tabs that are already open.

If you want to add a brand new tab to the group, you can right-click the tab group and click New tab in group. This will open a new tab within the group.

If you want to add tabs that are already open, right-click the tab that you want to add to the group.

Hover your cursor over the option that reads Add tab to group. From the extended menu, click on the name of the tab group you want to add it to.

How to group tabs on the Chrome mobile app

Before starting, make sure your Android version is up-to-date, and you’ve also updated the Google Chrome app to the latest version.

Open the Google Chrome mobile app and tap the Tabs button in the top right corner.

Next, press the ⋮ button in the top right. From the subsequent dropdown, select Group tabs.

Each tab will have empty circles in the top right. Select whichever tabs you want to group by tapping the empty circles; this will highlight them and check them off.

When finished, tap Group in the top right.

READ MORE: How to restore tabs on Google Chrome

A faster way to group Chrome tabs on mobile

Open Google Chrome on your phone and press the Tabs button in the top right.

Now, on the tabs screen, long-press (press and hold) one of the tabs you want to group.

While holding the tab, drag it directly on top of the other tab you want to group it with. When you see a larger box appear around both tabs, release the tab to drop it into your new tab group.