Chrome on Android just got two huge upgrades that can fix your messy tabs - what's new
Source: ZDNet
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The latest Chrome for Android has a handy new feature.
- You can now better organize your tabs on Chrome for Android.
- The feature is available in Chrome v144.
One of the biggest issues with mobile browsing is how tabs are managed. Mobile browsers have long lagged behind desktop browsers in tab organization—something that tools like Opera’s Workspaces address on Android. This has been a major reason many users avoid extensive web browsing on their phones.
Chrome for Android now introduces pinned tabs and tab groups, arriving in version 144 (released February 2026). Although the rollout is still in progress, these features are already reaching many users.
Both features are straightforward to use, but you need to know where to find them. Until now, working with tabs on Chrome for Android often meant ending up with dozens of open tabs, which can slow the device and consume resources. Chrome also retains inactive tabs for up to three months before automatically deleting them, so it’s easy to accumulate clutter.
Pinned tabs let you keep essential pages readily accessible while you close everything else.
How to pin tabs on Android
- Locate the tab you want to keep.
- Long‑press the tab.
- Tap Pin tab in the context menu.
Once pinned, the tab appears at the top of your tab list and remains there even if you close all other tabs.
A bonus feature: Tab groups
Tab groups let you bundle related tabs together, effectively creating a folder for easier navigation.
- Create a group: Long‑press a tab and select Add tab to group. Choose an existing group or create a new one in the pop‑up dialog.
- Add tabs to a group: Open the group, tap the + symbol at the top right, and navigate to the desired page; it will automatically join the group.
- Manage groups: You can rename, reorder, or delete groups as needed.
Better than bookmarks
Since pinned tabs and tab groups arrived, many users (including the author) have moved away from traditional bookmarks. The combination offers faster access and more intuitive organization, especially when compared to static bookmark folders.
If you still rely on bookmarks in Chrome for Android, give the pinned tabs / tab groups combo a try—you may find yourself never looking back.
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