How To Stop Google Chrome From Opening a New Window When You Click On A Link [2026 Guide]

I’m going to teach you how to stop Google Chrome from opening a new window when you click on a link. If you’ve ever clicked a result on Google search and been bounced into a fresh window or an extra new tab, it can clutter your screen fast. The fix lives in Google’s own search preferences, and it only takes a moment.

If your issue is tabs opening on their own for other reasons, check this troubleshooting guide to fix Chrome opening new tabs.

Quick fix to stop Google Chrome from opening a new window

Open Google Chrome and go to google.com.

Make sure you’re on the actual Google homepage or a Google search results page, not the browser settings screen.

If your window is small, maximize it so everything on the page is visible.

Look to the lower right corner of the Google page and click Settings. Depending on your layout, it may appear as a gear icon labeled Settings.

Choose Search settings from the menu.

On the left side of the screen, click Other settings.

Locate Results in a new window and toggle it off.

Your changes are applied automatically in most layouts, so there’s nothing else you need to save here. From this point on, your Google search results will open in the same tab instead of launching a new window. That means fewer distractions and a cleaner browsing session while you research or compare pages.

If you want more control over background tabs started by sites, see how to stop automatic new tabs in Chrome.

Tips for occasional new tabs

If you still want to open a specific link in a new tab occasionally, hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) while clicking. You can also click with your mouse’s middle button. That gives you control on a case-by-case basis.

Scope of this setting

This preference affects links you click from Google search itself. Some websites may still choose to open their own links in new windows, which is outside of Google’s control. While you’re tuning behavior, you can also learn to allow notifications from a specific site in Chrome.

Revert anytime

Return to google.com.

Open Settings and go back to Search settings.

Re-enable Results in a new window if you change your mind.

Final thoughts

You adjusted a single preference in Search settings to open results in the same tab and keep your workflow tidy. It’s quick, reversible, and puts you back in control of how Google Chrome handles links. That keeps your tabs under control while you research or compare pages.