A grid-style layout that allows you to create groups of tabs. This is the new feature in Chrome in Android promised by Google since 2019 and which is now official not only for desktop users, but also for Android users.

Released as Chrome 88, this version replaces the previous version with overlapping windows that took up almost the entire width of the screen. Now each tab is much smaller and allows the user to view more of the page, better organizing navigation. In this way, tab groups allow Chrome windows to be viewed on Android without the hassle of the user getting lost in the middle of a profusion of open tabs.

Since September, Google has released the Chrome desktop feature with tab groups to all users, from version 85 onwards, but for now it is not yet available to all Android users.

When comparing Chrome for Android and the desktop version, there are subtle differences that do not compromise navigation. On Chrome OS and macOS, Windows and Linux, it is possible to define a name and color for groups, as well as merge tabs. On Chrome for Android, this option is not available.

Step by step

For those who don't have the feature available yet, you can manually enable it in an experimental mode, just by navigating to Chrome://flags in the address bar and then searching for and enabling “Tab grid layout”, “Tab groups”, “Tab group continuation” and “Tab groups user interface improvements”. Oh, and one tip, you'll have to restart Chrome twice for the new interface to appear.

How to create a tab group

To create a group of tabs on Android, the user simply needs to drag one window over another. Another way is to tap on the three dots in the top right corner and choose the “Group tabs” option. To create a new tab in the same group even while another tab is selected, simply click on the “+” button in the bottom right corner.

Chrome 88 also lets you click and hold on a link and then select the “Open in new tab in group” option.

If users prefer to remove the tab group from Chrome Android, Google also allows it and the procedure is even simpler: just access chrome://flags/#enable-tab-groups; select “Disabled” and then just restart Chrome.

When you return, the browser will automatically discard the grid format and display the old format, with open tabs and overlapping windows.

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