New Tabs Keep Opening in Chrome? Try These Fixes

Have you been having issues with Chrome opening new tabs? Both Mac and Windows users have reported this problem, so you’re not alone. This issue can be frustrating and confusing, turning what should be an easy and pleasant web browsing experience into something undesirable and stressful.

This article will outline why you might have the unpleasant experience of tabs opening in Chrome. We’ll also offer some suggestions on what you can do to remedy the situation.

New Tabs Keep Opening in Chrome on a Mac

Why do new Chrome tabs keep opening on my Mac? There are a few reasons why this could happen. Perhaps there was an issue when you installed the Chrome browser, or maybe you have some uninvited malware hidden somewhere. Maybe you’ve installed some third-party plug-ins which are causing Chrome to operate erratically. Regardless of the reason, there are a few things you can check to remedy the problem, like:

• Reinstalling Chrome
• Checking which apps/programs/extensions you have installed
• Trying using a different browser
• Reverting to Chrome’s default settings
• Scanning your device with antivirus software
• Disabling pop-ups and redirects
• Try clearing your device’s cookies and cache

New Tabs Keep Opening in Chrome on a Windows PC

Why do new Chrome tabs keep opening on my Windows PC? There are a variety of different reasons why this could happen. There may have been issues with Chrome not installing properly, or maybe you have some third-party apps that are causing Chrome to act erratically. You could have inadvertently downloaded something, and now there’s malware running behind the scenes somewhere that’s causing the issue.

Some solutions you can try include:

• Reinstall Chrome
• Check to see if there are any apps/programs/extensions you don’t recognize
• Install a different browser
• Revert to Chrome’s default settings
• Run antivirus software
• Adjust your Chrome settings to disable pop-ups and redirects
• Clear cookies and cache

How Do I Stop Chrome From Opening New Tabs Automatically?

There are a few different ways to stop Chrome from opening new tabs automatically on a Mac or Windows PC, but you’ll first have to determine why it’s happening. This is sometimes not all that easily diagnosed, but there are a few things that can be easily checked and just as easily corrected. To stop Chrome from opening new tabs automatically, take a look at our suggestions below:

Reinstall Chrome

It’s possible that either Chrome has been corrupted or it was never installed properly. This can be a pain to do, and you’ll lose all of your saved bookmarks and browser history, but it should correct the issue if Chrome has been compromised.

Check to See What Programs You Have Installed

Open your computer’s “Control Panel” and look at what programs you have. If you see anything that you didn’t install, it could possibly be malware that is causing the tabs to open. Delete the questionable ones that you don’t recognize.

Check to See What Extensions Chrome is Running

You could have picked up a malicious extension at some point.

1. Open your Chrome browser.
   
2. Type “chrome://extensions/” in the address bar and hit “Enter.”
   
3. Take a look at which extensions Chrome has. If you see any that you don’t recognize, delete them.
   

These unrecognized extensions could be causing Chrome to keep opening unwanted tabs. Deleting them should remedy the situation.

Use a Different Browser

There are plenty of reliable browsers other than Chrome. Try installing one and check to see if you have the same issues in the new browser. Although this doesn’t entirely solve the problem, this could be a quick and easy fix for unwanted tabs opening.

Switch to Chrome’s Default Settings

Sometimes going back to Chrome’s default settings will correct the problem.

1. Go to Chrome’s “Settings,” then “Advanced.”
   
   
2. Navigate to “Reset and Clean Up” and “Reset Settings.”
   
3. Click the “Reset Settings” button.
   

Note that you’ll remove all extensions, cache, and browser history when resetting to default settings.

Scan for Malware

Malware could be the cause of unwanted tabs opening. There are plenty of free antivirus apps available to keep your computer running properly.

A full system scan with one of these apps could solve your problem. The free versions don’t offer full functionality, but they are a good starting point to see if they help stop new tabs from opening. If a free version doesn’t eliminate the problem, you can always upgrade to a more premium antivirus app.

Disable Popups and Redirects

Some websites send traffic to a landing page or a promotional offer, while others could send you into a never-ending loop of unwanted pop-up windows. Fortunately, Chrome allows you to block these redirects. Follow the steps below to configure your Chrome browser to block this type of activity.

1. Navigate to Chrome’s “Settings” or “Preferences,” depending on which device you use.
   
2. Click on “Privacy and Security.”
   
3. Select “Site Settings”
   
4. Scroll down to “Pop-ups and Redirects.”
   
5. Select “Don’t allow sites to send pop-ups or use redirects.”
   

A simple change to your Chrome settings could be all you need to do to stop additional tabs from opening.

Try Clearing Cookies and Cache

Perhaps your issue is that your device’s cached data is resulting in unwanted tabs opening. Clearing cookies and cache could put an end to this. To do so, follow the steps below:

1. Go to Chrome’s “Settings” or “Preferences,” depending on which device you use.
   
2. Select “Privacy and Security.”
   
3. Click on “Clear browsing data.”
   
4. Select the boxes for “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files.”
   
5. Choose “Clear data.”
   

Stored cookies and cache could be a possible reason for additional tabs opening. Clearing them may solve this issue.

Be Cautious of Which Search Engine You Use

Some users report that using search engines other than Google could result in unwanted tabs opening automatically. Although you may be looking for variety when choosing a search engine, some of them may not be as secure as Google. Exclusively using Google could eliminate the problem.

Get Rid of Those Annoying Tabs

Tabs automatically opening can distract from your browsing experience, making it difficult to do anything. Third-party extensions can sometimes cause Chrome to act erratically, and eliminating those you don’t recognize could be the solution. Perhaps reinstalling Chrome is the answer, or simply reverting to default settings. Sometimes the issue could be solved by running an antivirus app.

But now you’re armed with tips and suggestions to make them go away, never to return. No one wants to be distracted while browsing their favorite websites, and by employing the methods described in this article, you should be browsing free of excessive tabs in no time.

Have you had Chrome tabs that keep opening on your Mac or Windows PC? Did you use any of the suggestions in this article? Let us know in the comments section below.