How to Sync Tabs Across Devices in Google Chrome

Chrome keeps your tabs in sync across every device you use automatically, as long as you’re signed in to your Google account. Open a tab on your laptop, pick it up on your phone. Start a research session on your desktop, finish it on your Chromebook. Here’s how to set it all up and make the most of every feature.

Step 1: Sign In and Turn On Sync

Tab sync runs through your Google account. If you’re already signed in to Chrome, you may already be syncing without realising it. Here’s how to check and enable it.

On desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook):

1. Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
2. Click Settings.
3. Click Sign in to Chrome if you’re not signed in, or click your name at the top.
4. Click Sync and Google services.
5. Make sure Sync everything is on, or scroll down and confirm Open tabs is toggled on.

On Android:

1. Tap the three-dot menu and go to Settings.
2. Tap your name at the top.
3. Tap Sync and make sure Open tabs is enabled.

On iPhone or iPad:

1. Tap the three-dot menu and go to Settings.
2. Tap Sync and sign in if prompted.
3. Confirm Open tabs is turned on.

How to See Tabs Open on Your Other Devices

Once sync is running, you can browse all the tabs open on your other devices without switching to them.

On desktop:

1. Click the three-dot menu and go to History.
2. Click History again to open the full history page.
3. In the left sidebar, click Tabs from other devices.
4. You’ll see a list of open tabs grouped by device. Click any tab to open it.

On Android or iOS:

1. Tap the tab switcher icon (the square with a number).
2. Scroll down past your open tabs to find the Other devices section.
3. Tap any tab to open it on your current device.

Send a Tab Directly to Another Device

Rather than waiting for the other device to sync, you can push a specific tab to any of your devices on demand.

From desktop:

1. Right-click on the tab you want to send, or right-click the address bar.
2. Select Send to your devices.
3. Choose the device from the list.
4. A notification will appear on that device. Tap Open to go straight to the page.

From Android or iOS:

1. Tap the three-dot menu on the page you want to send.
2. Tap Share and then Send to your devices.
3. Choose the destination device.

Sync Tab Groups Across Devices

Tab groups now sync across all your devices too. Create a colour-coded group on your desktop and it will appear on your phone and tablet automatically.

To create a tab group:

1. On desktop, right-click a tab and select Add tab to new group. Give it a name and colour.
2. On Android or iOS, press and hold a tab in the tab switcher, then tap Add tab to new group.

Once created, the group syncs to all your signed-in Chrome devices. Open it on any device and the tabs inside will be there.

Good to Know

• All devices must be signed in to the same Google account for sync to work.
• Sync can take a minute or two to update after you open a new tab. If tabs aren’t appearing, try pulling down to refresh on mobile or restarting Chrome on desktop.
• If you clear cookies when you close Chrome, sync will stop working. Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data and turn off Clear cookies and site data when you close all windows.
• Chrome also shows a Continue this tab panel on the New Tab page, which proactively surfaces pages you were recently browsing on other devices.

With sync turned on, switching devices mid-session takes no extra effort. Your tabs travel with you.