The Unsolicited Content Feed
When you open a new tab in Google Chrome, you are greeted by a page that typically includes a search bar, your most-visited site shortcuts, and—increasingly—a feed of “Trending searches” and “Suggested articles” curated by Google based on your browsing history, location, and current news events. For users who prefer a clean, distraction-free workspace when opening a new tab, these trending search cards are an unwelcome intrusion. They surface clickbait headlines, spoil news stories you haven’t read yet, and generally transform what should be a blank canvas into a noisy social media timeline.
Removing Trending Content from the New Tab Page
To stop Google Chrome from automatically displaying trending searches and suggested article cards on the New Tab Page, you need to customise the page layout and disable the content feed.
Open a New Tab in Google Chrome (Ctrl + T). In the bottom-right corner of the New Tab Page, look for a small pencil icon or a button labelled Customize Chrome. Click on it. A customisation side panel will open. Navigate to the section labelled Cards (or “Content” depending on your Chrome version). You will see toggles for various content types, including Trending searches and Suggested content. Toggle both of these switches to the Off position. If you want an even cleaner experience, you can also disable the “Most visited sites” shortcuts from the same panel. Click Done to save your preferences. Your New Tab Page will now display only the Google search bar and, optionally, your pinned shortcuts—free of algorithmically generated distractions. These settings are tied to your Chrome profile and will sync across devices if you are signed in.