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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsChrome’s startup setting controls what appears when you launch the browser: a fresh New Tab page, the pages from your previous session, or websites you choose. On a computer, change it under Settings → On startup. This setting is separate from the homepage shown when you select the Home button.
What the three Chrome startup options do
Google describes the startup page as the one that appears when you first launch Chrome. The three choices determine what Chrome opens then, and whether it restores your previous browsing session.
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| Option | What opens at launch | Restores the previous session? | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open the New Tab page | A New Tab page, which you can customize with shortcuts and themes. | No | Starting with a fresh tab rather than a previous session or selected websites. |
| Continue where you left off | The pages that were open when you quit Chrome. | Yes | Returning to the pages you were using. |
| Open a specific page or set of pages | The URL or URLs you add, or the pages open when you choose Use current pages. | No; it opens the selected pages instead. | Loading the same chosen websites whenever Chrome starts. |
Open the New Tab page
Choose this when you want Chrome to begin with a new tab instead of reopening your previous browsing session or loading a set of chosen sites. Google says the New Tab page can be customized with shortcuts and themes.
Continue where you left off
Choose this to reopen the pages that were open when you quit Chrome. Google says Chrome saves cookies and site data for this option, so a site you were signed into may reopen with you still signed in. The help instructions describe reopening pages from when you quit; they do not promise recovery of every page after a crash or other data loss.
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Open a specific page or set of pages
Choose this to load selected websites at launch. You can enter a URL, use the pages currently open in Chrome, and later edit or delete entries from the list.
How to change Chrome’s startup setting
Google’s instructions apply to Chrome on a computer.
- Open Chrome and select the three-dot menu.
- Select Settings, then On startup.
- Select Open the New Tab page, Continue where you left off, or Open a specific page or set of pages.
- To set chosen websites, select Open a specific page or set of pages, then choose Add a new page and enter its address, or select Use current pages.
- To change or remove an entry, use the menu beside that page in the list and choose the edit or delete option.
Startup page and homepage are different
The startup page appears when Chrome launches. The homepage is the page that appears when you select the Home button. Changing On startup does not automatically change the Home button’s destination.
To set the homepage, open Settings → Appearance, turn on the Home button if needed, and choose either the New Tab page or a custom homepage. Google documents the startup and Home button settings separately in its Chrome homepage and startup instructions.
Keep sites from reopening in a signed-in state
If you use Continue where you left off but do not want sites to retain their signed-in state, Chrome’s help instructions describe an option to delete saved on-device site data when all Chrome windows close. Find it under Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → Additional content settings → On-device site data, then enable deletion of site data when all windows close. Site data deletion can affect how websites remember you.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When you cannot change the setting
Work or school Chromebook
On a Chromebook managed by a work or school administrator, the administrator may control startup and homepage settings. If Chrome prevents you from changing them, contact your administrator.
A startup page changed unexpectedly
Google notes that unwanted software may be involved if a startup page or homepage changes without your action, and points users to its reset guidance. An unexpected change is a troubleshooting clue, not proof that your device is infected. See Google’s Chrome help page for the reset guidance and instructions.
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