KeeptabHow to save all open tabs in Chrome
Published · Keeptab
In short: Press Ctrl + Shift + D (⌘ + Shift + D on a Mac). Chrome saves all your open tabs as bookmarks in a new folder.[1] To keep a copy outside Chrome, export your bookmarks to an HTML file from the Bookmark Manager.[2]
Too many tabs, and no time to sort them
You have 30 tabs open for a project. You need to restart, switch tasks or just breathe. But closing them feels risky: what if you never find those pages again? Chrome has a built-in answer, and it takes one shortcut.
The shortcut: save all tabs as bookmarks
Chrome's official list of keyboard shortcuts includes: “Save all open tabs as bookmarks in a new folder”.[1]
| Action | Windows / Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Save all open tabs as bookmarks in a new folder | Ctrl + Shift + D | ⌘ + Shift + D |
| Show or hide the bookmarks bar | Ctrl + Shift + B | ⌘ + Shift + B |
| Open the Bookmark Manager | Ctrl + Shift + O | ⌘ + Option + B |
| Reopen closed tabs, in the order they were closed | Ctrl + Shift + T | ⌘ + Shift + T |
Source: Google Chrome Help, keyboard shortcuts.[1]
To open the saved tabs later, find the new folder in the bookmarks bar or in the Bookmark Manager.
Keep a copy outside Chrome: export your bookmarks
A bookmark folder lives inside your Chrome profile. To keep a separate copy, Google explains how to export bookmarks:[2]
- Open Chrome and select More (the three dots) › Bookmarks and lists › Bookmark Manager.
- At the top right, select More › Export Bookmarks.
Chrome saves your bookmarks as an HTML file. You can import it later with More › Bookmarks and lists › Import bookmarks and settings.[2]
The limits of this method
- Your tabs stay open. The shortcut saves them, but it does not close them. You still have to close the window yourself.
- A deleted bookmark is gone. Google's help is clear: “After you delete a bookmark, you can't get it back.”[3]
- The export is manual. Your HTML file is only as recent as the last time you exported it.
- Tab groups are another story. Chrome saves closed tab groups too, but deleting a group removes it on all devices signed in to the same account.[4] See also our guide to recovering tabs after a Chrome crash.
Close tabs without fear. Keeptab saves your tabs in one click, backs them up every hour and notes your open tabs every 5 minutes. Free for Chrome.
Add to Chrome — it's freeA safer way: Keeptab
Keeptab is a free tab manager for Chrome, made by us. It was built for one job: stop losing your tabs.
- One click saves your open tabs into a list and closes them.
- Automatic backup every hour, and a note of your open tabs every 5 minutes in case Chrome crashes.
- A 30-day trash: a list you delete can still be brought back.
- A daily backup file that survives even if you uninstall the extension.
- OneTab import in one paste, if you are moving from it.
Keeptab Sync, to get your lists on several computers, is an optional paid add-on. Everything else is free.
FAQ
How do I save all my tabs in Chrome at once?
Press Ctrl + Shift + D on Windows or Linux, or ⌘ + Shift + D on a Mac. Chrome saves all open tabs as bookmarks in a new folder (Google Chrome Help, keyboard shortcuts).
How do I back up my Chrome bookmarks?
Open More › Bookmarks and lists › Bookmark Manager, then select More › Export Bookmarks. Chrome saves them as an HTML file that you can import later (Google Chrome Help).
Can I recover a deleted bookmark in Chrome?
No. Google Chrome Help says that after you delete a bookmark, you can't get it back. Export your bookmarks regularly, or use a tool with a trash.
Sources
- Google Chrome Help. Chrome keyboard shortcuts. https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/157179?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop
- Google Chrome Help. Import Chrome bookmarks & settings. https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/96816?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop
- Google Chrome Help. Create, find and edit bookmarks in Chrome. https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/188842?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop
- Google Chrome Help. Manage tabs in Chrome. https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/2391819?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop
Close tabs without fear
Keeptab saves your tabs in one click, backs them up every hour and notes your open tabs every 5 minutes. Free for Chrome.
Add to Chrome — it's free