How to search and switch tabs on Google Chrome to better navigate your browser tab clutter

• You can search and switch tabs on Google Chrome with its Version 87 update, which introduced in-browser shortcuts for tabs.
• Upon rollout, some of these features were only available on Chrome OS, so you may need to enable them through the Experimental Features menu on Windows, Mac, Linux, and more. 
• Google Chrome allows users to open an unlimited number of tabs within the browser, but having too many tabs open simultaneously may slow down both your computer and your productivity. 
• Visit Business Insider’s Tech Reference library for more stories.

Between email, social media, news sites, and work resources, it’s easy for your internet browser to become cluttered with open tabs. These can cause you to lose track of what’s most important on your screen. 

For those who frequently have several tabs open at once, Google Chrome has added new in-browser features that make it easier to switch between tabs efficiently and search open tabs to find the one you need. 

The ability to search and switch between your open tabs on Chrome, introduced with its Version 87 update, eliminates the frustrating guesswork of multitasking, supercharging your ability to navigate your tab clutter. 

If your Chromebook or Chrome browser doesn’t have the latest version – or you don’t think these features haven’t been rolled out to you yet – you’ll need to activate these tools through the browser’s “Experimental Features” menu before you can use them. 

Here’s how to search and switch your tabs on Google Chrome. 

How to enable tab switch on Google Chrome

1. In the Chrome URL bar, type chrome://flags/#omnibox-tab-switch-suggestions

2. Click enter. 

3. You’ll be taken to the Chrome Browser’s Experimental Features menu and a highlighted box that says, “Omnibox switch to tab suggestions.” 

4. Click the drop-down box to the right of the feature and set it to “Enabled.” 

5. Relaunch your browser for the changes to take effect. 

How to switch tabs on Google Chrome

1. Open a Google Chrome browser window. 

2. With multiple tabs open, type a title or keyword in the URL box of any existing or new tab. 

3. In the drop-down suggestions, select the tab you want to switch to by clicking the “Switch to this tab” button that appears. 

How to enable tab search on Google Chrome

1. In the Chrome URL bar, type chrome://flags/#enable-tab-search

2. Click enter. 

3. You’ll be taken to the Chrome Browser’s Experimental Features menu and a highlighted box that says “Enable Tab Search.”

4. Click the drop-down box to the right of “Enable Tab Search” and set it to “Enabled.” 

 

5. Relaunch your browser for the changes to take effect. 

How to search tabs on Google Chrome

1. Launch a Google Chrome session. 

2. With multiple tabs open, click the down arrow in the window’s top right corner. 

3. In the drop-down that appears, select either a listed tab or use the search bar to find an open tab using keywords. 

Related coverage from Tech Reference:

• What are Chrome Actions? How to use Google Chrome’s address bar shortcuts to update passwords or payment methods, delete search history, and more

• How to find which version of Google Chrome you’re currently using, and update it if needed

• How to change your default search engine in Google Chrome, and switch between Google, Bing, and more

• ‘What is Google Chrome?’: How to use Google Chrome and set it as the default browser on your computer

• How to stop pop-ups in Google Chrome by turning on the browser’s built-in blocker