You probably open dozens of new tabs in Chrome every day. Each time, you see the same page: a Google search box, a row of shortcuts, and maybe a background image. Most people never change it, but a few minutes of setup can make that page faster, cleaner, and more useful for work.
Here’s how to customize Chrome’s New Tab page, plus how to control what Chrome opens on startup and how to spot extensions that try to take over your new tabs without asking.
How to Open Chrome’s Customization Panel
- Open a new tab in Chrome (press Ctrl + T, or Command + T on a Mac).
- In the bottom-right corner of the page, select Customize Chrome.
- A side panel opens with all of your New Tab page options.
Google walks through every option in its guide to customizing your New Tab page.
Change the Background and Colors
In the Customize Chrome panel, under Appearance:
- Change theme to pick a background from Google’s collections, upload your own image, or browse themes from the Chrome Web Store. You can even set the background to change daily.
- Choose a color to change the color of Chrome’s tabs and toolbar.
- Choose a mode, Light, Dark, or Device (to match your computer’s setting).
A simple, low-contrast background makes the shortcuts easier to read, and dark mode can be easier on the eyes during long days.
Customize Your Shortcuts
The row of shortcuts below the search box can show either your most-visited sites or sites you pick yourself.
- In the Customize Chrome panel, under Shortcuts, choose My shortcuts to pick your own, or Most visited sites to let Chrome choose based on your browsing.
- To add a shortcut, select Add shortcut on the New Tab page and enter a name and web address.
- To edit or remove one, hover over it, select the three-dot menu, and choose Edit shortcut or Remove.
- To hide the shortcuts entirely, turn off Show shortcuts.
For work, consider adding shortcuts to the tools you use most, like Outlook, Teams, your CRM, or your accounting software. And for apps you use all day, installing them as web apps can be even faster. Our guide on how to install web apps in Google Chrome shows how.
Show or Hide Cards
Chrome can show cards on the New Tab page, like items you recently viewed or files you were working on. If you’d rather keep the page clean, turn them off in the Customize Chrome panel. This is also a small privacy win if you often share your screen during meetings.
Choose What Chrome Opens on Startup
Chrome doesn’t let you replace the New Tab page with a different website on its own, but you can control what opens when Chrome starts:
- Select the three-dot menu, then Settings.
- Select On startup.
- Choose one of these options:
- Open the New Tab page for a clean start
- Continue where you left off to reopen the tabs from your last session
- Open a specific page or set of pages to start every day with, say, your email, calendar, and project tool
Add a Home Button
If you’d like a one-click way back to a favorite page, turn on the Home button:
- Go to Settings > Appearance.
- Turn on Show home button.
- Choose New Tab page or enter a custom web address, like your company intranet.
Watch Out for Extensions That Take Over Your New Tab
Some browser extensions change your New Tab page, search engine, or homepage, sometimes without making it obvious. A few are legitimate productivity tools, but many are “browser hijackers” that redirect searches through ad-filled pages or collect browsing data.
Warning signs include:
- Your New Tab page or search engine changed and you don’t remember doing it
- Searches go through an unfamiliar search site before showing results
- Chrome shows a message that a setting is controlled by an extension
To fix it, go to chrome://extensions, remove anything you don’t recognize, and then reset your settings under Settings > Reset settings if needed. For a full cleanup, see our guide on how to get rid of Gmail apps, and for more time-saving browser tips, see our list of useful Google Chrome shortcuts and commands.
LG Networks Can Help Your Team Work Smarter in Chrome
A well-organized New Tab page saves a few seconds every time someone opens a browser. Across a whole team, consistent browser setup, and protection from extensions that hijack searches, saves a lot more.
LG Networks provides IT support in Dallas and across DFW, including cybersecurity services, managed updates, 24/7 monitoring, and a 24/7 helpdesk your team can call with any browser question. We help businesses set up the tools their people use every day so they’re fast, consistent, and secure.
What’s the first thing your team sees every time they open a new tab?
Take the first step. We’ve got you covered.
Want help setting up secure, consistent browsers across your team? Contact Us Today.
