How To Stop Google Chrome From Opening New Tabs [2026 Guide]

I'm going to teach you how to stop Google Chrome from opening new tabs unexpectedly. If you're frustrated by new tabs popping up every time you click a link or open the browser, you're not alone. There are straightforward steps to fix this and get your browsing back to normal.

For a deeper walkthrough of common causes and fixes, see detailed troubleshooting for Chrome opening new tabs.

Stop Google Chrome From Opening New Tabs [2026 Guide]

Startup behavior

Your On startup settings determine how Chrome behaves the moment you launch it. Choosing the right option prevents Chrome from spawning extra tabs at startup.

Click the three vertical dots in the upper right of Chrome and select Settings. Scroll to On startup. Choose either Open the New Tab page or Continue where you left off.

Selecting one of these options can prevent Chrome from opening multiple new tabs every time you start the browser. If you prefer a direct route, paste this into the address bar and press Enter:

chrome://settings/onStartup

For additional tips on curbing automatic tab creation, see how to stop automatic new tabs in Chrome.

Check extensions

Extensions can interfere with Chrome’s tab behavior if they’re not properly managed. It helps to disable or remove anything you don’t recognize or no longer use.

Click the three dots, hover over More tools, then click Extensions. Toggle off any extension you don’t recognize to test if the issue stops. If you find one responsible for opening new tabs, click Remove.

You can jump straight to the extensions page here:

chrome://extensions/

Reset Chrome

If changes to settings and extensions don’t fix the issue, resetting Chrome to its default settings is a stronger measure that’s often effective. This restores Chrome to its original state and removes all your customized settings and extensions.

Open Settings, scroll to Advanced, and click it to reveal more options. Click Reset settings and review the warning. Proceed only if you’re comfortable restoring Chrome to defaults.

You can open the reset page directly:

chrome://settings/reset

If your problem is new windows instead of new tabs, see how to stop Chrome from opening a new window.

Keep it updated

Keeping Chrome and your extensions up to date can prevent many of these issues. Updates often include stability improvements that reduce unexpected tab behavior.

Final thoughts

These steps should help stop Google Chrome from opening new tabs unnecessarily and give you greater control over your browsing. Start with On startup, review your extensions, and use Reset settings only if needed. Staying updated reduces the chance of this problem returning.