How to close open tabs in Google Chrome for Android 5.0 and higher
I'm using various web browsers on my Moto G device running Android 5.0.2 including Google Chrome and Firefox. The reason I do that is that I check these browsers out regularly to check out new features and stay up to date with their development.
Lately, I have started to use Google Chrome regularly on the device and one thing that I had lots of trouble with initially was to find a way to close open tabs in the browser.
While I had no problems finding the list of tabs open in the browser on the device, I could not figure out at first how to close tabs that I did not need anymore.
In case you are wondering, you open the list of open tabs on the device with a tap on the three dots in the address bar and the selection of recent tabs in the context menu.
Anyway, it took me a while to figure it out and what I found out may help other Chrome users who run the browser on Android 5.0 or higher devices.
The main issue that I had was that Google used one of the three buttons at the bottom of the Android interface for the browser's tab switching functionality and not a button or link in the browser interface itself.
To switch tabs, tap on the square button in the lower right corner of the interface. This opens a visual representation of all open tabs in Chrome for Android that you can use to switch between tabs and other open applications on the device.
To close a tab or app simply swipe it to the left or right, or tap on the x-button displayed next to it to do so.
If you have used Chrome on a device running pre-Android 5.0 then you may still remember that the browser displayed a box indicating the number of open tabs in the interface at the top similar to how Firefox displays the information on Android.
Google removed the option to close all tabs in one operation in Android 5.0 as well. The "Close all tabs" option in previous versions of Android is missing in Android 5.0 and higher.
3 dots > Settings > Merge tabs and apps if you want the old behaviour.
Thanks, that is helpful!
Think they have removed this “merge tabs” option in Mashmallow.
Guess Google wants us to see just how many open tabs we can open in Nexus.
Any other alternatives?
Yes I did the same thing, I love chrome, but I had to disable this feature. Mending each page with my apps got a bit ridiculous.
I want to closed old tab
It really help me to close tabs easily in chrome. Thanks for sharing martin
If you’re using the classic tabs manager (Madis’ post), swipe down from the address bar, then swipe the tab away.
I dont know how to close apps like it dont give me a option in the bottom right cornor
Thank you it is very helpfulðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘
How about if you DON’T want swipe to close open tabs. If I want to scroll on page, pinch, etc. inadvertently the page will close. The only saving grace is that an UNDO pops up.
But even after recovering a page, and ‘s l o w l y trying to use any basic gestures, better than 50pc is going to happen again.
So in 2016 I’m slowing down so I can carefully, slowly, scroll or pinch right in middle of screen, at exactly vertical. Any slight angle toward left/right and page closes. And worst is if you don’t catch the undo, you may end up accidentally closing multiple pages which kills the first undo options.
Between the bizarre autocorrect dictionary Samsung provided (full of surnames but missing lots of common nouns),Chrome data hog plus gesture weirdness, productivity has dropped and frustration has increased. Any suggestions? BTW I kinda expected Settings/Accessibility to give some options, but all it does is increase font size). TYIA