Tab overload? How to control what happens when you start your browser

Today’s technology is all about choice. There’s the classic debate: iPhone vs. Android. It’s about much more than blue and green speech bubbles.

You also have options when it comes to GPS apps. Google Maps, Apple Maps and Waze are the big hitters.

When it comes to your browser, it’s not just about which one you use. Some people start their computers and want browser tabs to open right back where they left off. Others might prefer a clean slate. Here’s how to do both.

Too many tabs?

When you’re stuck in the middle of a project or way down a research rabbit hole, it’s understandable that you want to be able to pause and return to all your open tabs.

However, too many open tabs have a downside. It can slow down your computer by hogging lots of resources.

Let’s see how to set up your browser to open with your previous tab or a new tab.

chrome

You can customize Google Chrome to open in a new tab or reopen the same tabs you were using the last time you closed the browser:

To open Chrome in a new tab:

Open Chrome and click the three vertical dotsthen settings.

click At the start and select Open a new tab.

To resume Chrome where you left off:

Open Chrome and click the three vertical dotsthen settings.

click At the start and select Pick up where you left off.

safari

You can start Safari with a new window, a new private window, all windows from your last session, or all non-private windows from your previous session.

To open Safari in a new window:

Go to safari > settings and select General.

Next to Safari opens with, select the option A new window or A new private window from the drop down menu.

To open Safari and continue where you left off:

Go to safari > settings and select General.

Next to Safari opens with, select the option All windows from the last session or All non-private windows from the last session from the drop down menu.

fire fox

By default, when Firefox starts, a window opens showing your specified home page. You can set this by clicking on Menu hamburger button and go to settings > home. The default there is Firefox Home.

To restore your previous session when Firefox starts:

Start Firefox, click the menu hamburger button, and select settingsthen the General panel.

Under Start, check the box next to Open previous windows and tabs.

edge

You can open Microsoft Edge in a new tab when you start it, or pick up where you left off.

To restart Edge:

Launch Edge, click the three dots Icon, and select settings.

click At the start from the left pane.

The default is Open a new tab. Select it if something else is set.

To open Edge with the same tabs as when you last exited:

Launch Edge, click the Three dots iconand choose settings.

click At the start from the left pane.

Choose the option for Pick up where you left off.