When conducting deep research for a project, planning a complex vacation, or comparing products across multiple retailers, it is easy to accumulate dozens of open tabs in Google Chrome. If you need to shut down your computer or simply want to clear your workspace to focus on something else, you face a dilemma: lose all your research, or painstakingly bookmark each of the 25 tabs one by one.
Fortunately, Google Chrome includes a powerful, time-saving feature that allows you to instantly save your entire browsing session. With two clicks, you can sweep every open tab into a single, organized bookmark folder, allowing you to close your browser with peace of mind.
The Shortcut Method
The fastest way to achieve this is by using a keyboard shortcut.
- Ensure you have all the tabs you want to save open in your current Chrome window. (Note: This feature only saves the tabs in your active window. If you have a second Chrome window open on another monitor, those tabs will not be included).
- Press Ctrl + Shift + D (on Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + D (on Mac).
A dialogue box titled “Bookmark all tabs” will immediately appear.
The Menu Method
If you prefer using your mouse, you can access the exact same feature through the tab interface.
- Move your cursor to the empty space at the very top of the Chrome window, right next to your last open tab (do not click the “+” button, click the blank area next to it).
- Right-click in that empty space.
- Select Bookmark all tabs… from the context menu.
Organizing Your Saved Session
Regardless of which method you used, the “Bookmark all tabs” dialogue box will ask you to name the new folder and choose where to save it.
- In the Name field, type a highly descriptive title (e.g., “Q3 Financial Reports Research” or “Tokyo Hotel Options”). Avoid generic names like “Saved Tabs”, or you will quickly lose track of them.
- Use the folder tree below to select a location. The “Bookmarks Bar” is the most convenient option for easy access.
- Click the blue Save button.
You will now see a new folder on your Bookmarks bar. Inside that folder is a neat list of every single web page you had open.
How to Restore Your Session Later
The true brilliance of this feature becomes apparent when you want to resume your work days or weeks later.
- Open a fresh Google Chrome window.
- Locate the folder you created on your Bookmarks bar.
- Right-click on the folder itself.
- Select Open all (#) from the menu. (The # will be the number of tabs stored inside).
Chrome will instantly generate a new tab for every link in that folder, perfectly recreating your exact workspace so you can pick up exactly where you left off. Once you have finished the project, you can simply right-click the folder and select “Delete” to keep your bookmarks clean.