Your Chrome homepage is the page you go to when you select the Home button, and your startup page is what shows when you first launch Chrome; the two aren't the same unless you set them to be. To set the homepage on a computer, select More, then Settings, turn on Show Home button under Appearance, and choose the New Tab page or a custom page.
Here's the catch. Setting a homepage doesn't change what opens when Chrome starts, and the Home button is switched off until you turn it on, so plenty of people set a homepage and never see it. If you want one page every time Chrome opens, it's the startup page setting you need.
Homepage, startup page, Home button and New Tab
| Setting | What it controls, as of October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Startup page | The page or pages that show when you first launch Chrome |
| Homepage | The page you go to when you select Home |
| Home button | The icon on the left of your address bar; it only appears once you turn on Show Home button |
| New Tab page | What you see when you open a new tab, including the shortcuts under the search box |
How to set your Chrome homepage
- On your computer, open Chrome.
- At the top right, select More, then Settings.
- Under Appearance, turn on Show Home button.
- Under Show Home button, choose to use the New Tab page or a custom page.
Once it's on, you'll find Home on the left of your address bar.
Your startup page choices
You control what page or pages appear when you launch Chrome on your computer. Google's help lists four options:
- Have a new tab open.
- Continue where you left off.
- Open a specific set of pages.
- Display Chrome profiles.
If you want Chrome to open on your homepage, choose Open a specific set of pages and add the same address you used for Home. That way the two match.
When your homepage changes by itself
If your startup page, homepage or search engine has suddenly changed and you didn't do it, Google says you may have unwanted software, and on a computer, possibly malware. Its advice is to remove unwanted programs and reset your browser settings, which my guide to resetting Chrome walks through, including what you'll lose. One exception isn't a fault at all: on a Chromebook you use for work or school, you can't choose or change your startup page or homepage, because your network administrator controls them.
Customise the New Tab page
Many people set their homepage to the New Tab page, so it's worth making that page useful. To customise it, you must be signed in to your Google Account and use Google as your default search engine. Under the search box you'll see either sites you visit often or shortcuts you chose.
- Open a new tab and, at the bottom right, click Customize Chrome.
- Under Shortcuts, select My shortcuts or Most visited sites.
- To hide them entirely, turn off Show shortcuts.
To edit or remove one shortcut, point to its icon, click More at the top right of the icon, and select Edit shortcut or Remove. Suggested articles don't appear on your homepage on a computer, and if your list is long, select Show More to expand it. In some countries, you may need to manage your linked Google services before Chrome history can personalise the page.
Google's help lists a few more New Tab page options you can switch on or off: changing the browser theme, Chrome Cards, Resume browsing, the Drive priority card and the New Tab page footer. Depending on your default search engine, you may be able to control what appears below the search box.
On Android: move the address bar
On an Android phone or tablet, Chrome lets you choose whether the address bar sits at the top or the bottom of the screen.
- On your Android device, open Chrome.
- At the top right, tap More, then Settings, then Address bar.
- Tap Top or Bottom.
Or touch and hold the address bar and tap Move address bar to the bottom or Move address bar to the top. It only moves in portrait mode; turn the phone sideways and it stays at the top. With Settings sync on, your choice follows you to all your Android devices, and when you sign in on a new one, Chrome applies your preferred position from your previous device automatically.
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Bringing a homepage from another browser
If you're switching to Chrome, you don't have to set everything up again. Depending on the browser, importing can bring your browsing history, default homepage, bookmarks, default search engines and saved passwords. Go to More, then Bookmarks and lists, then Import bookmarks and settings.
- In your old browser, such as Firefox or Safari, follow its instructions to save or export your bookmarks as an HTML file.
- In Chrome, at the top right, select More, then Bookmarks and lists, then Import bookmarks and settings.
- Select Choose file.
- Choose the file and select Open, then Done.
If you didn't have any bookmarks in Chrome, the imported ones appear in the bookmarks bar. If you already did, they go into a folder called Other bookmarks at the end of the bookmarks bar.
My verdict on the Chrome homepage
Decide what you want first. If it's one page every time Chrome opens, set the startup page. If it's one click back to a favourite page while you browse, turn on the Home button and set the homepage. I'd make both the same page so there's nothing to remember. And if Chrome isn't the browser your links open in yet, here's how to make Chrome your default browser.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between the Chrome homepage and startup page?
Your startup page shows when you first launch Chrome. Your homepage is the page you go to when you select Home. They aren't the same unless you set them to be.
Why can't I see the Home button in Chrome?
It's off until you turn it on. Go to Settings and, under Appearance, turn on Show Home button.
Why did my Chrome homepage change by itself?
If your startup page, homepage or search engine suddenly changed, you may have unwanted software or malware. Google suggests resetting your browser settings.
Why can't I change the homepage on my school Chromebook?
On a work or school Chromebook, your network administrator controls the startup page and homepage, so contact them.
Can I make Chrome open on my homepage?
Yes. In your startup page settings, choose Open a specific set of pages and add the same page you use as your homepage.
