What it means to open tabs across devices

When you have a Chrome tab open on your phone, you can send it to your computer so it opens there instead — or opens in addition to what you already have open. This works because Chrome syncs your account across all your devices. The tab doesn't move; Chrome straightforward tells your computer to open that same webpage.

This is useful when you're reading something on your phone and want to continue on a bigger screen, or when you find a link on your phone that you'd rather deal with on your computer. You don't need to copy the web address or email it to yourself.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be signed into the same Google account on both your phone and computer for this to work.
  • On your phone, long-press the tab you want to send, then tap "Send tab to your devices" and choose your computer.
  • The tab opens automatically on your computer in a new window or tab, depending on your Chrome settings.
  • Your phone and computer must both have Chrome open and connected to the internet for the transfer to happen.

Sign into the same Google account on both devices

Chrome syncs tabs between devices only when you're logged into the same Google account on each one. On your phone, open Chrome and tap the three-dot menu in the bottom right corner. Tap "Sign in to Chrome" and enter your Google email and password. On your computer, click the three-dot menu in the top right corner of Chrome, select "Sign in to Chrome," and use the same Google account.

Once you're signed in on both devices, Chrome will remember this setting. You only need to do this once. If you're already signed in but tabs still aren't sending, sign out and back in on both devices to refresh the connection.

Send a tab from your phone to your computer

Open Chrome on your phone and find the tab you want to send. Long-press (hold your finger on) that tab until a menu appears. You'll see several options, including "Send tab to your devices." Tap that option.

A list of your devices will appear — your computer should show up by name. Tap your computer's name. Chrome will when ready send the tab to your computer. If your computer is asleep or Chrome isn't running, the tab will still send, but it won't open until Chrome is active on that computer.

Where the tab appears on your computer

When you send a tab from your phone, it opens on your computer in a new tab or new window depending on your Chrome settings. Most often it opens as a new tab in whatever Chrome window you have open. If Chrome isn't running on your computer, the tab won't open until you launch Chrome — but it will still be waiting for you.

The tab appears at the top of your browser window with the webpage already loaded. You don't need to do anything on your computer to receive it; the transfer is automatic once you tap "Send tab to your devices" on your phone.

Troubleshooting when tabs won't send

If you tap "Send tab to your devices" and your computer doesn't appear in the list, check that both devices are signed into the same Google account. Open your account settings on each device to confirm. Also make sure both devices are connected to the internet — the transfer happens over the web, not through Bluetooth or a direct connection.

If your computer appears in the list but the tab doesn't show up on your computer, make sure Chrome is actually running on your computer. Tabs sent while Chrome is closed will appear the next time you open Chrome. If you've waited several minutes and the tab still hasn't arrived, try signing out of your Google account on both devices and signing back in.

Sending tabs from your computer to your phone

You can also send tabs the other direction. On your computer, click the three-dot menu in the top right corner of Chrome. Hover over "Send tab to your devices" and select your phone from the list. The tab will open in Chrome on your phone within a few seconds.

This works the same way as sending from phone to computer — both devices must be signed into the same Google account, and both must be connected to the internet. The tab opens automatically on your phone without any action needed on your part.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be on the same Wi-Fi network for this to work?

No. As long as both devices are connected to the internet — whether that's the same Wi-Fi network, different networks, or cellular data — the tab will send. Chrome uses your Google account to sync, not your local network.

What if I send a tab but then close Chrome on my phone?

The tab will still arrive on your computer. Closing Chrome on your phone doesn't stop the transfer. The tab was already sent the moment you tapped "Send tab to your devices."

Can I send multiple tabs at once?

No. You can only send one tab at a time. If you need to send several tabs, long-press each one individually and repeat the process. It takes only a few seconds per tab.

Will the tab stay open on my phone after I send it to my computer?

Yes. Sending a tab to your computer doesn't close it on your phone. The tab remains open on both devices until you close it yourself.