What tab grouping does and why it matters
Tab groups let you bundle related tabs together, collapse them to save screen space, and color-code them so you can find what you need without scrolling through twenty open tabs. Instead of a flat list of every page you have open, you get folders you can expand or collapse with a single click.
The main benefit is visual clarity. If you are researching a vacation, working on a spreadsheet, reading news, and shopping for shoes all at once, tab groups let you keep those four projects separate on the same browser window. You can collapse the vacation research when you are done with it and expand it again later without losing your place.
Tab groups work differently depending on which browser you use. Chrome, Edge, and Firefox all have built-in grouping features, but the steps to create and manage them vary. Safari does not have native tab groups, though you can use tab sets as a workaround.
Key Takeaways
- Chrome and Edge let you right-click a tab and select "Add tab to new group" to start organizing immediately.
- You can name each group, assign it a color, and collapse it to hide all tabs in that group at once.
- Firefox uses a similar feature called "Tab Groups" that you access through the sidebar or by right-clicking a tab.
- Grouped tabs stay organized only in that browser window — closing the window closes the groups unless you save them as a session.
- Tab groups are temporary by default; if you want to reopen the same set of tabs later, you need to save them as a session or bookmark folder.
How to create and name tab groups in Chrome and Edge
Right-click any open tab and select "Add tab to new group" from the menu. A colored label will appear above the tab with a text field. Type a name for the group — something like "Work", "Shopping", or "Project X" — and press Enter. The tab moves into that group, and you will see a colored bar with the group name at the left edge of your tab bar.
To add more tabs to the same group, right-click another tab and choose "Add tab to group", then select the group name from the list. You can drag and drop tabs into a group as well: click and hold a tab, then drag it over the group label and release.
To change a group's color or name, right-click the group label itself (not a tab inside it) and select "Edit group". A small menu appears where you can pick a new color from the preset options and edit the name. Click outside the menu when you are done.
How to collapse, expand, and remove tab groups
Click the small arrow or chevron icon next to a group's name to collapse it. All tabs in that group disappear from view, and the group label shrinks to show just the color dot and name. Click the arrow again to expand the group and see all its tabs.
To remove a single tab from a group without deleting it, right-click the tab and select "Remove from group". The tab moves back to the main tab bar. To delete an entire group and all its tabs, right-click the group label and select "Close group". A confirmation message will appear — click "Close" to confirm.
If you want to ungroup all tabs at once, right-click the group label and look for "Ungroup" or "Remove group" (the exact wording varies by browser version). This closes the group but keeps all the tabs open in your main tab bar.
Tab groups in Firefox
Firefox calls its feature Tab Groups, and it works similarly to Chrome but with a different interface. Right-click any tab and select "Group Tab" from the menu. A sidebar appears on the left showing your groups. Type a name for the new group and press Enter.
To add more tabs to a group, right-click another tab, select "Group Tab", and choose the existing group name from the list. You can also drag tabs directly into the group in the sidebar. Right-click a group name in the sidebar to change its color or delete it.
The Firefox sidebar takes up a small amount of screen space on the left side of your browser. You can close it by clicking the X or by pressing Ctrl+Shift+E (Windows) or Command+Shift+E (Mac). Your groups stay organized even when the sidebar is closed — just open it again to see them.
Saving tab groups as sessions so you can reopen them later
Tab groups disappear when you close your browser window. If you want to save a set of grouped tabs and reopen them the next day or next week, you need to save them as a session or bookmark folder.
In Chrome and Edge, right-click the group label and select "Save group as bookmark folder". A new folder appears in your bookmarks with all the URLs from that group. Later, you can right-click the folder and select "Open all" to reopen every tab in that group at once.
In Firefox, right-click the group name in the sidebar and select "Save group" or look for a save icon. Firefox will prompt you to name the saved session. You can restore it later from the History menu under "Restore Session" or by opening the sidebar and selecting the saved group.
Another option across all browsers is to use your browser's session restore feature. Most browsers can automatically reopen all your tabs and windows from your last session when you restart. Check your browser settings under "On startup" or "When you open the browser" to turn this on.
When tab groups are useful and when they are not
Tab groups work best when you are juggling multiple projects or topics in one sitting. A researcher might have one group for sources, another for notes, and a third for background reading. A student might separate homework, email, and entertainment. Someone shopping online might group different stores or product categories.
Tab groups are less useful if you only keep a few tabs open at a time, or if you work on one project at a time and close everything when you are done. They also do not sync across devices — a group you create on your laptop does not appear on your phone or tablet, even if you use the same browser account. If you need your organized tabs on multiple devices, bookmarks or a cloud-based note app might work better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do tab groups save automatically when I close my browser?
No. Tab groups exist only while your browser window is open. When you close the window, the groups disappear and the tabs close. If you want to keep a group of tabs for later, save it as a bookmark folder or session before closing.
Can I share a tab group with someone else?
Not directly. You cannot send a tab group to another person. However, you can right-click the group and save it as a bookmark folder, then export that folder and share the file. The other person can import it into their browser and open all the tabs at once.
Will my tab groups sync if I sign into my browser account on another computer?
No. Tab groups are local to your browser window and do not sync across devices. Bookmarks and browser history sync, but active tab groups do not. If you want the same tabs on another device, save the group as a bookmark folder first.
What is the difference between tab groups and bookmark folders?
Tab groups are temporary — they organize your currently open tabs but disappear when you close the window. Bookmark folders are permanent — they store links you can reopen anytime. Use tab groups for active work sessions and bookmark folders for collections you want to keep long-term.
Can I color-code tab groups to make them easier to spot?
Yes. In Chrome and Edge, right-click the group label and select "Edit group" to choose a color. Firefox lets you assign colors when you create the group or by right-clicking the group name in the sidebar. Colors are purely visual and do not affect how the tabs work.