When researching or shopping online, browser tabs can quickly multiply into dozens. Tabs shrink until only favicons are visible, making it hard to find the page you actually need. Fortunately, Google Chrome offers a built-in way to organize and collapse these open tabs under clean, color-coded labels.
Quick Summary
- How to create: Right-click a tab and select “Add tab to new group” (drag to add or move tabs)
- Visual sorting: 9 colors and custom names with emoji support
- Space saving: Left-click the group label to collapse or expand all grouped tabs
- Sync & storage: Cross-device sync via Google Account; inactive Android groups automatically close after 6 months
How to Create a Tab Group with a Right-Click
Google Chrome’s Tab Groups work just like sorting loose papers into color-coded folders on your desk. Introduced as a built-in feature in Chrome 83 (2020), it works right out of the box without any extensions.
Getting started is straightforward. Right-click on any tab you want to group and select Add tab to new group. In the menu that appears, enter a group name and choose a color.
| Item | Details & Options |
|---|---|
| Supported OS | Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS, Android |
| Available Colors (9) | Grey, Blue, Red, Yellow, Green, Pink, Purple, Cyan, Orange |
| Naming | Custom text and emoji support |
According to Google’s official documentation, there is no single dedicated keyboard shortcut like “Ctrl + G” to create a tab group, so using the right-click menu is the most reliable method.
How to Collapse and Manage Tab Groups with One Click
Once you create a group, you can reclaim your tab strip space. Left-click the group label (or color dot), and all tabs inside will instantly collapse under the label. Click it again to expand them back out.
To add a new page to an existing group, simply drag the open tab into the group header. To remove a tab, right-click it and select Remove from group.
Dragging the group label itself lets you reposition the entire group along the tab strip or tear it away into a new window. When you are finished, right-click the group label: choose Close group to hide and save it to your bookmarks bar, or Ungroup to keep the tabs open while removing the grouping.
Mobile Sync and Inactive Tab Retention Rules
Chrome Tab Groups work on mobile devices running Android as well. In the tab switcher view, touch and hold a tab and drag it over another tab, or tap the menu and choose Group tabs.
When signed in with the same Google Account and sync enabled, your tab groups stay synced across both desktop and mobile devices.
Keep in mind the retention timeline for mobile tabs. In Chrome for Android, inactive tabs and tab groups are automatically closed after 6 months. However, synced groups are not permanently deleted and can be reopened whenever needed.
Try it now: right-click an open tab, choose “Add tab to new group,” and start organizing your browser.