Manage tabs in Shift with keyboard shortcuts, right-click options, tab groups, and built-in tab tools. You can open, close, pin, group, restore, and move tabs to keep your browser organized and stay focused.
Open tabs in Shift
Open a new tab
You can open a new tab in two ways:
- Click the New Tab (+) button.
- Use a keyboard shortcut:
- Windows: Ctrl + T
- Mac: Cmd + T
Open a link in a new tab
- Windows: Hold Ctrl and click the link.
- Mac: Hold Cmd and click the link.
The link opens in a new tab while keeping your current page open.
Open a new window
You can create another browser window from Quick Settings or with a keyboard shortcut.
- Click the gear icon to open Quick Settings.
- Under Tabs, select New window.
Or use a keyboard shortcut:
- Windows: Ctrl + N
- Mac: Cmd + N
Close and organize tabs
Close a tab
Choose any of these methods:
- Click the X on the tab.
- Use a keyboard shortcut:
- Windows: Ctrl + W
- Mac: Cmd + W
- Right-click a tab and choose:
- Close tab
- Close tabs to the right
- Close all tabs
Tip: Close tabs to the right and Close all tabs are useful when you want to quickly clean up your workspace.
Restore a recently closed tab
Use the keyboard shortcut:
- Windows: Ctrl + Shift + T
- Mac: Cmd + Shift + T
Pin or unpin a tab
Pinned tabs stay at the left side of the tab bar and are less likely to be closed by accident.
To pin a tab:
- Right-click the tab.
- Select Pin tab.
To unpin a tab:
- Right-click the pinned tab.
- Select Unpin tab.
Move a tab to a new window
- Right-click the tab.
- Select Move tab to new window.
Note: This option is unavailable if the tab is the only one open in the window.
Close a window
Click the X in the top corner of the window.
Use tab previews
Hover your pointer over any tab to see a preview of the page and its title. This makes it easier to find the tab you need without opening each one.
Managing tab groups
Tab groups let you organize related tabs into color-coded categories. You can name, collapse, and save groups to stay organized across sessions.
Create a tab group
Right-click any tab.
Select Add Tab to a Group → New Group.
A colored group pill appears on the tab bar and the group context menu opens.
Optionally type a name and choose a color.
Your group is automatically saved to the bookmark bar.
Add tabs to an existing group
You can add tabs to a group in two ways:
Right-click a tab → Add Tab to a Group → select the group from the list.
Drag and drop a tab onto the group pill.
Remove a tab from a group
Right-click a grouped tab → Remove from group.
Or drag the tab outside the group.
The tab stays open but is no longer part of the group.
Edit a group's name or color
Right-click the group pill on the tab bar.
Change the name or select a new color from the palette.
Changes update instantly everywhere the group appears.
Collapse or expand a group
Click the group pill to toggle between collapsed and expanded.
Collapsed: Only the pill is visible — tabs are hidden to save space.
Expanded: All grouped tabs are shown.
The collapsed or expanded state is remembered across browser restarts.
Close a group
Right-click the group pill.
Select Close Group.
This closes the group and all its tabs. If the group was saved, you can reopen it from the bookmark bar.
Note: If you close a group that has not been saved, a confirmation dialog will appear first — once closed, those tabs can't be recovered.
Delete a group
Right-click the group pill (on the tab bar or bookmark bar).
Select Delete Group.
Confirm in the dialog that appears.
Deleting permanently removes the group and closes all its tabs. The group pill is also removed from the bookmark bar.
Ungroup tabs
Right-click the group pill.
Select Ungroup.
All tabs remain open in place but lose their group association. The group is removed from the tab bar and bookmark bar.
Open a new tab inside a group
Right-click a grouped tab.
Select New tab to the right.
The new tab is automatically added to the same group.
Move a group to a new window
Right-click the group pill.
Select Move Group to New Window.
You can also drag the group pill into a new window.
Save and restore tab groups
All groups you create are automatically saved and pinned to the bookmark bar. Saved groups persist across browser restarts and can sync across devices.
Reopen a saved group
Click the group pill on the bookmark bar. If the group is already open, clicking the pill navigates to it.
Unpin a group from the bookmark bar
Right-click the group pill on the bookmark bar.
Select Unpin Group from Bookmarks Bar.
The group is still saved — you can find it by clicking the Tab Group Menu icon on the bookmark bar.
Unsave a group
Right-click the group pill on the tab bar.
Toggle off Save group.
The group becomes temporary and will be lost when you close it.
Tab group menu icon
The Tab Group Menu icon on the bookmark bar gives you access to all your saved groups, including unpinned and overflowed groups. Click it to:
Create a new tab group.
Open any saved group that isn't visible on the bookmark bar.
Sync groups across devices
A toggle in Advanced Settings lets you sync saved tab groups across all your devices. Tab groups on the bookmark bar sync when this is enabled.
Good to know
Pinned tabs and groups: A tab can't be pinned and grouped at the same time. Pinning a grouped tab removes it from the group. Moving a pinned tab into a group removes the pin.
Vertical tabs: Tab grouping works in both horizontal and vertical tab layouts.
Bookmark bar overflow: If you have many pinned groups, some may move into the Tab Group Menu icon to keep the bookmark bar usable.
Incognito windows: Tab groups can't be moved into incognito windows.
Watch how to manage tabs in Shift
Watch the video below for a walkthrough of tab management in Shift, or view it on the Shift YouTube channel.
With keyboard shortcuts, pinned tabs, previews, and window management, Shift gives you the tools to keep your browser organized and stay focused.
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