- Create your first tab group
- Add and remove tabs
- Collapse a group to free up space
- Edit, ungroup or close a group
- Saved groups and syncing
- Pinned tabs versus groups
- Use groups with the keyboard
- Ways I'd use tab groups
- When a group gets too big
- Tab groups on Android and iPhone
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To group tabs in Chrome, right-click a tab and choose Add tab to new group, then give the group a name and a colour. To add more tabs, right-click each one and pick Add tab to group, or drag it into the group. Click the group's name to collapse it.
If your Chrome window regularly has more tabs than you can read, tab groups are the fix. They let you bundle related tabs under a coloured label, such as Client A, Reports or Holiday, and fold each bundle away when you're not using it. It's built into Chrome, there's nothing to install, and once you've used it for a week you'll wonder how you managed without it.
Create your first tab group
- Right-click a tab you want in the group.
- Choose Add tab to group, then New group.
- Type a name for the group, or leave it blank for just a colour.
- Pick a colour.
- Press Enter or click away to finish.
The tab now sits behind a coloured label at the left of the group. Everything you add to the group is underlined in that colour, so you can see at a glance what belongs where.
Add and remove tabs
- Add: right-click another tab, choose Add tab to group and pick the group by name.
- Drag: drag a tab into the coloured area of the group.
- Several at once: hold Ctrl (Command on a Mac) and click several tabs, then right-click one and add them all.
- Remove: right-click a tab and choose Remove from group, or drag it out.
Collapse a group to free up space
Click the group's label and the tabs fold away, leaving just the name. Click it again to open them. Google's help notes that while a group is collapsed you can only select the group, not the tabs inside, so open it when you need a particular page. Collapsing is the real point of groups: a window with forty tabs becomes five tidy labels.
Edit, ungroup or close a group
| What you want | Right-click the group label, then |
|---|---|
| Rename or recolour | Type a new name or pick a colour |
| Add a new tab to the group | New tab in group |
| Keep the tabs, drop the group | Ungroup |
| Close all its tabs | Close group, or Delete group |
| Open it in its own window | Move group to new window |
Saved groups and syncing
Google says that when your browsing history and tabs are synced with your Google Account, changes to tab groups are saved and synced across all your devices. In practice that means you can close a group to tidy your window and reopen it later from the bookmarks bar, and a group you built on your laptop can be picked up on another computer. Make sure you're signed in to Chrome with sync on to get this.
Pinned tabs versus groups
Pinning is a different tool. Right-click a tab and choose Pin, and it shrinks to just the site's icon at the far left and stays there. Pinned tabs suit things you keep open all day, such as email or a calendar. Groups suit projects: bundles of tabs you want together for a while, then out of the way.
Use groups with the keyboard
Google lists a keyboard route for anyone who prefers not to use the mouse. On Windows, press F6 until your tabs are in focus, move between them with Tab or Shift and Tab, then press the Menu key to open the tab group options. With the focus on a group's label, press the Space bar or Enter to collapse or expand it.
Ways I'd use tab groups
- One group per client or project, closed at the end of the day.
- A Reading later group, collapsed, instead of fifty loose tabs.
- A Daily group of the same tools every morning.
- A Research group for a purchase or trip you'll come back to.
When a group gets too big
Groups work best with a handful of tabs. Once a group has more than you can scan, split it: right-click the tabs that belong together, add them to a new group, and give it a clearer name. Or move the whole group into its own window from the group's menu, so a big project gets its own space and doesn't crowd your everyday tabs. A short, specific name like Q4 plan beats a vague one like Work, because you'll know what's inside without opening it.
Tab groups on Android and iPhone
Chrome on phones has groups too. Open the tab switcher, then press and hold a tab and drag it onto another to create a group, or use the option to add a tab to a group from the menu. Groups you create sync with your computer when you're signed in.
If you find yourself juggling tabs because you're switching between tools all day, a few keyboard shortcuts help. My list of ChatGPT keyboard shortcuts works alongside the Chrome ones, and if you want a browser built around tab organisation, see my Arc alternatives.
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My verdict
Right-click a tab, choose Add tab to group, give it a name and colour, and start collapsing groups you're not using. That one habit makes a crowded Chrome window manageable. Keep pinned tabs for the two or three sites you live in all day, and sign in with sync on so your groups are saved and follow you between computers.
Frequently asked questions
How do I group tabs in Chrome?
Right-click a tab, choose Add tab to group, then New group, and give it a name and colour.
How do I collapse a tab group in Chrome?
Click the group's label. Click it again to expand.
How do I ungroup tabs in Chrome?
Right-click the group label and choose Ungroup.
Do Chrome tab groups sync between devices?
Yes, when your history and tabs sync with your Google Account.
Can I save a tab group in Chrome?
Yes. With sync on, groups are saved and you can reopen them later.
What's the difference between pinning and grouping tabs?
Pinned tabs shrink to an icon and stay put; groups bundle related tabs under a label.
