Chrome opens to a blank page or Google by default — you can change that to any website you want
When you open Chrome, it shows either a blank page with a search box or Google's homepage. You can change this to load any website instead — your email, a news site, your work dashboard, or anything else. The setting takes about 30 seconds and lives in Chrome's startup options, not in a general browser preference.
This is different from setting your default search engine (which controls what happens when you type in the address bar) or your home page button. Those are separate settings. This one controls what loads when you first open the browser or open a new window.
Key Takeaways
- Chrome's startup page setting is in Settings under "On startup" — you choose between a blank page, your home page, or specific websites you list.
- You can set multiple websites to open at once, and Chrome will load them all in separate tabs when you start the browser.
- The "home page" button (if you turn it on) is a separate setting from the startup page, and they can point to different websites.
- If you use Chrome across multiple devices with the same Google account, your startup settings sync automatically unless you turn off sync.
Open Chrome Settings and find the startup section
Click the three-line menu icon in the top right corner of Chrome. Select Settings from the dropdown. On the left side, click On startup.
You will see three radio button options. The first two are "Open the New Tab page" (which shows a blank page with a search box) and "Continue where you left off" (which reopens the tabs you had open when you closed Chrome). The third option is Open a specific page or set of pages — this is the one you need.
Add the website or websites you want to open
Click the radio button next to "Open a specific page or set of pages." A new section appears below it with an Add a new page button.
Click that button. A text box opens where you type the web address. Type the full URL — for example, gmail.com, bbc.com, or dashboard.mywork.com. Chrome will add https:// automatically if you do not type it. Press Enter or click Add.
The website now appears in the list below. If you want Chrome to open multiple websites when it starts, click Add a new page again and repeat the process. Chrome will open each one in a separate tab.
Remove or reorder websites from your startup list
Each website in your startup list has an X button on the right side. Click it to remove that site from the list. You can add and remove sites anytime without restarting Chrome.
If you have multiple sites in the list, you can drag them up or down to change the order they open in. The site at the top of the list opens first, in the active tab.
Turn on the home page button if you want a separate shortcut
The home page button is optional and separate from your startup setting. It puts a house icon in your toolbar that takes you to a website you choose — useful if you want a quick way back to a page without changing what opens when you start Chrome.
To turn it on, go back to Settings and click Appearance on the left. Find the toggle for Show home button and turn it on. A new section appears below it asking which page the button should go to. You can choose "New Tab page" or "Custom URL" and type a website address. This setting is independent of your startup page.
Understand what happens with sync across devices
If you sign into Chrome with a Google account, your startup page setting syncs to any other device where you sign in with that same account. This means if you set your startup page to open Gmail on your laptop, it will also open Gmail when you start Chrome on your phone or tablet.
If you do not want this to happen, you can turn off sync for settings. Go to Settings, click Sync and Google services on the left, and look for the sync toggle at the top. You can also click Manage what you sync to turn off sync for specific categories like settings while keeping other data synced.
What to do if your startup page is not loading
If you set a startup page but it does not load when you open Chrome, first check that you typed the address correctly. Go back to Settings > On startup and look at the URL in your list. Common mistakes are forgetting https:// or typing a page that requires you to log in first — Chrome cannot log in automatically.
If the website is correct but still does not load, the site itself might be down, or your internet connection might not be ready when Chrome opens. Try closing Chrome completely and opening it again. If the problem continues, try removing the site from your startup list and adding it again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set a different startup page for work and personal browsing?
Not within a single Chrome profile. However, you can create multiple Chrome profiles (one for work, one for personal use) and set a different startup page for each. Click your profile icon in the top right, then Manage other people, and add a new profile. Each profile has its own settings, bookmarks, and history.
What if I want Chrome to open where I left off, but also load a specific website?
Chrome does not support both at once. You can either open your previous tabs or open specific pages, but not both. If you want to see a specific page every time, set it as your startup page. If you want to resume your work, choose "Continue where you left off."
Does setting a startup page slow down Chrome when it opens?
Slightly, because Chrome has to load the website before it is fully ready. A blank page opens faster than a website with images and content. If startup speed matters to you, use "Open the New Tab page" instead, or remove extra websites from your startup list.
Can I set a startup page that requires a password?
Chrome will load the login page, but it cannot automatically enter your password. You will need to log in manually each time you open the browser. If you want a page to load automatically, use a site that does not require login, or consider using Chrome's password manager to fill in credentials quickly.