Stop Chrome Opening Old Tabs at Startup

If Chrome restores your previous browsing session every time you open it, you can change this in a few clicks. This guide shows you how to make Chrome start fresh with a blank tab, your homepage, or a specific set of pages, and how to fix it if the setting doesn’t stick.

What You’ll Need

• Google Chrome installed on Windows, macOS, Linux, or ChromeOS.
• Ability to access Chrome’s Settings menu (no admin rights required).

Step-by-Step

1. Open Chrome. Launch the browser as you normally would.
2. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of the window (the vertical ellipsis icon).
3. Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu. This opens a new tab with Chrome’s settings.
4. Click “On startup” in the left sidebar. If you don’t see the sidebar, the settings may be in a single column—scroll down until you find the “On startup” section.
5. Choose your preferred startup behavior:
   • Open the New Tab page: This is the default and shows the search bar and shortcuts. It does not restore old tabs.
   • Continue where you left off: This is the option that reopens all your previous tabs. Select one of the other options to stop this.
   • Open a specific page or set of pages: You can set Chrome to open one or more specific URLs (e.g., your email or news site). Click “Add a new page” and enter the URL.
6. Close the Settings tab when you’re done. The change is saved automatically.

That’s it. The next time you launch Chrome, it will follow your chosen startup behavior instead of reopening the old session.

Common Mistakes

• Choosing the wrong option: The most common mistake is accidentally selecting “Continue where you left off” when you intended to pick “Open the New Tab page.” Double-check which radio button is highlighted.
• Confusing startup pages with homepage: The “On startup” setting controls what appears when you first open Chrome. The “Appearance” > “Show Home button” setting controls what happens when you click the house icon—these are separate.
• Forgetting to restart Chrome: The change only takes effect after you fully close and reopen Chrome. If you just close the Settings tab, the old session may still appear if Chrome was already running.
• Using a shortcut with a special flag: If you launch Chrome via a custom shortcut that includes the --restore-last-session flag, it will override your settings. Check your shortcut’s target field for this flag.

Tips

• Use a pinned tab for frequently used sites: Instead of restoring old tabs, pin your email or calendar. Right-click a tab and select “Pin.” Pinned tabs are always visible and open automatically, but they don’t clutter your tab bar.
• Set multiple startup pages: If you want a few specific sites to open at startup, choose “Open a specific page or set of pages” and add each URL. This is handy for work or daily reading.
• Use bookmarks for temporary tasks: If you often have many tabs open for a project, bookmark them all (right-click any tab > “Bookmark all tabs”) and close them. You can reopen the folder later without cluttering your startup.
• Check for extensions: Some extensions (like session managers) can override Chrome’s startup behavior. If you have one, check its settings or disable it temporarily to test.

Troubleshooting

If Chrome still opens old tabs after you’ve changed the setting, try these steps in order:

1. Fully quit Chrome: Closing the window may not quit the browser on Windows or Linux. Click the three-dot menu and select “Exit” (or press Ctrl+Shift+Q on Windows/Linux, Cmd+Q on macOS). Then reopen Chrome.
2. Check for a forced restart: If Chrome crashed or was force-quit, it may offer to restore the previous session on the next launch. Click “No” or dismiss that prompt—the setting should still apply afterward.
3. Review your shortcuts: Right-click your Chrome shortcut (desktop, taskbar, or Start menu) and select “Properties.” In the “Target” field, look for --restore-last-session. If it’s there, remove it and click OK.
4. Disable extensions: Temporarily disable extensions that manage tabs or sessions. Go to Settings > Extensions, toggle them off, and restart Chrome. If the problem stops, re-enable them one by one to find the culprit.
5. Reset Chrome settings: As a last resort, go to Settings > Reset settings > “Restore settings to their original defaults.” This disables extensions, clears temporary data, and resets startup settings—but it won’t delete bookmarks, passwords, or history.
6. Check for malware: In rare cases, unwanted software can hijack browser settings. Run Chrome’s cleanup tool (Settings > Reset and cleanup > “Clean up computer”) or a reputable antivirus scan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Chrome keep restoring old tabs even after I changed the setting?

This usually happens because Chrome wasn’t fully closed—it was still running in the background. Make sure to exit Chrome completely (not just close the window) and try again. If that doesn’t help, check for the --restore-last-session flag in your shortcut or a session-managing extension.

Can I set Chrome to open a specific set of tabs every time?

Yes. In Settings > On startup, choose “Open a specific page or set of pages,” then click “Add a new page” for each URL you want. Chrome will open all of them in separate tabs at launch.

What’s the difference between “On startup” and the home button?

“On startup” controls what appears when you first launch Chrome. The home button (the house icon) is a separate button in the toolbar that opens a page you set under Appearance > “Show Home button.” They are independent.

Will changing this setting close my currently open tabs?

No. The setting only affects future launches. Your current tabs stay open until you close them. If you close Chrome with tabs open and have “Open the New Tab page” selected, those tabs won’t reappear next time.

Does this setting sync across devices?

No, startup settings are local to each device. If you sign in to Chrome, your bookmarks and history sync, but the startup behavior is stored on the individual computer.

I use Chrome on macOS. Are the steps different?

The steps are nearly identical. The only difference is that to fully quit Chrome, you press Cmd+Q or click the Chrome menu > “Quit Google Chrome” instead of using the three-dot menu’s “Exit” option.

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