What Chrome does when you open it

By default, Google Chrome opens to your home page or the last pages you had open. If you want it to open to a blank page, a specific website, or a set of websites every time you launch the browser, you can change this in Chrome's settings. The setting is called "On startup" and it takes about one minute to change.

This is useful if you want a clean slate each time you open Chrome, or if you want the browser to always load a particular page — like your email, a work dashboard, or a news site — without you having to navigate there manually. Many people use this feature to jump straight to the tools they use most, saving a few clicks every single day.

Key Takeaways

  • Chrome's "On startup" setting controls what page or pages load when you open the browser, and you can change it in Settings under the On Startup section.
  • You can choose to open a blank page, your home page, your last open pages, or specific websites you add to a list.
  • To make Chrome open to a specific website, paste the full web address (including https://) into the URL field under "Open a specific page or set of pages".
  • If you add multiple websites to the startup list, Chrome will open each one in a separate tab when you launch the browser.

Open Chrome settings and find the On Startup section

Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome. A menu will drop down. Click "Settings" near the bottom of that menu.

On the left side of the Settings page, click "On startup". This is where you control what Chrome does when you open it. The page will show you all the options available and any pages you have already added.

Choose what you want Chrome to open

You will see three radio button options. Click the one that matches what you want:

  • Continue where you left off — Chrome opens all the tabs and windows you had open the last time you closed the browser.
  • Open the New Tab page — Chrome opens to a blank page with your shortcuts and search bar. This is the cleanest option if you want a fresh start each time.
  • Open a specific page or set of pages — Chrome opens to one or more websites you choose.

If you choose the third option, you will see a field that says "Add a new page". Click it to begin adding websites to your startup list.

Add specific websites to open on startup

A text field will appear. Type or paste the full web address of the page you want Chrome to open. Include the https:// at the beginning — for example, https://www.gmail.com or https://www.bbc.com/news. Make sure you copy the address exactly as it appears in your browser's address bar.

Click "Add". The website address will appear as a card below the text field. When you open Chrome next time, that page will load automatically in a tab.

If you want Chrome to open multiple pages at startup, repeat this step. Each website you add will open in its own tab. You can add as many as you want, though opening too many tabs at once can slow down your computer when Chrome first launches. Most people find that three to five startup pages is a good balance.

Remove or reorder your startup pages

If you change your mind about a page, hover over its card and click the trash icon that appears. The page will be removed from your startup list when ready.

To change the order in which pages open, click and drag a page card up or down in the list. The page at the top will open first, the next one second, and so on. This is helpful if you want your most important page to load before the others.

What happens if you use a work or school account

If your Chrome browser is managed by your workplace or school, the On Startup setting might be locked and you will not be able to change it. You will see a message saying "This setting is managed by your administrator" if this applies to you. In that case, contact your IT department or help desk to request a change.

Some organizations lock this setting to make sure all employees or students see the same page when they open Chrome — often a company intranet or learning portal. Your administrator may have set a specific startup page for security or workflow reasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make Chrome open to different pages on different days?

No, Chrome does not have a scheduling feature. The pages you set in On Startup will open every time you launch the browser. If you need different pages on different days, you will need to change the setting manually or open them by hand.

What if I want Chrome to open a page that requires me to log in?

Chrome will open the page, but you will need to log in each time. Chrome does not automatically fill in passwords on startup pages for security reasons. If you want to stay logged in, use the "Continue where you left off" option instead, which remembers your logged-in sessions.

Does changing the On Startup setting affect other devices where I use Chrome?

If you are signed into the same Google account on multiple devices and have sync turned on, your startup pages will sync across those devices. If you do not want this, turn off sync in Chrome Settings under "Sync and Google services".

Can I set different startup pages for different user profiles in Chrome?

Yes. Each Chrome profile has its own settings. If you have multiple profiles set up, you can give each one different startup pages. Open the profile you want to change, go to Settings, and adjust the On Startup section for that profile only.