To make Chrome reopen your last tabs on startup, open Settings, go to the On startup section, and select Continue where you left off. Chrome will then restore the tabs and windows you had open when you last closed it. This works on Windows and Mac. On Android and iPhone, Chrome has no such setting but keeps your tabs open between sessions by default.
Why this happens
By default, Chrome may be set to open a New Tab page or a specific set of pages instead of restoring your session. Chrome does save your last session, but it only reopens it automatically when the On startup option is set to continue where you left off.
Is this normal?
Yes. Which pages Chrome opens at startup is a normal, adjustable setting. Some setups default to the New Tab page, so needing to switch it on to restore tabs is expected.
Does it cause any problems?
Restoring tabs is convenient, but reopening many heavy pages at once can briefly slow startup and use more memory. If you share the device, note that it also brings back whatever you last had open.
How to fix or check it
- On Windows or Mac, open Chrome Settings from the three-dot menu.
- Select On startup in the left menu.
- Choose Continue where you left off. Chrome will now restore your previous tabs each time it opens.
- To reopen a tab you just closed, press Ctrl plus Shift plus T on Windows, or Cmd plus Shift plus T on Mac. Repeat to reopen more.
- To find older tabs, open the menu, History, and look under Recently closed.
- On Android and iPhone, Chrome keeps tabs between sessions automatically. Use the tab switcher or the Recent tabs option in the menu to return to them.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my tabs not come back after a restart?
Common reasons are that On startup was set to open the New Tab page or specific pages, Chrome crashed before saving the session, or a setting clears data on exit. Switching to Continue where you left off usually solves it.
What is the difference between Continue where you left off and Open a specific page?
Continue where you left off restores whatever you had open last time. Open a specific page or set of pages always launches the same fixed pages, regardless of what you had open before.
How do I reopen just one tab I accidentally closed?
Press Ctrl plus Shift plus T on Windows or Cmd plus Shift plus T on Mac. Chrome reopens the most recently closed tab, and pressing it again reopens earlier ones in order.