Close Tabs

Most Internet browsers and devices allow you to keep multiple tabs open so you can access many websites at once. However, keeping too many tabs open can make it hard to navigate, and some devices have a limit on how many tabs you can open at the same time. Learn how to access the "Close all" command as well to save yourself time, if your device has this option.

Steps

  1. For Apple devices, see instructions based on your browser:
  2. For Android devices, see instructions based on your browser or device:
  3. For computers, see instructions and hotkeys for all browsers.

Closing Tabs on Apple Devices

In Safari for iOS

  1. Touch the tab icon in the lower right to open tab overview. Open Safari and touch the icon that looks like a stack of paper, or two overlapping rectangles. This will take you to an overview of all open tabs.
  2. Close a tab with the X or swiping left. Swiping a tab left to close it only works in iOS 7 or later. Every iOS Safari app has an X in the top corner, although this is smaller and less obvious in iOS 7 and later.[1]
    • You must be in tab overview mode, as described in the above step.
  3. Close all tabs. This process varies based on your iOS version:
    • In iOS 8, open Settings → Clear History and Web Data. It is not possible to close all tabs at once without deleting your browsing history.[2]
    • In iOS 6 or 7, at the tab overview screen, tap the word Private in the lower left corner. Select Close All when the pop up menu appears.[3][4]

in Chrome for iOS

  1. Open tab switcher in the top right corner of your iPhone. The tab switcher icon is located in the top right corner. This looks like a stack of paper, or two overlapping squares.[5]
  2. Close a tab with the X. On an iPhone, the X symbol is only visible on the tab switcher screen, at the top of each tab. On an iPad, the X is always visible next to the name of the tab.
  3. Close all tabs on iPhone. While viewing the list of open tabs, press the menu icon (three horizontal bars). Select "Close All" from the drop-down menu.[5]
    • This option is not available for the iPad. You can only close tabs individually.

In Dolphin for iPad

  1. Open the tab list. Tap and hold the dolphin icon in the lower left or lower right corner, then drag it upward to open the tabs list. From here, you can use the X or swipe a tab left to close it.
  2. Tap and hold a tab name. This will open up a drop-down menu, including the option to close all tabs, or to "close other tabs," meaning every tab except the one you tapped.[6]

Closing Tabs on Android Devices

In Dolphin for Android

  1. Open the tabs list. Touch and hold the dolphin icon in the lower left or lower right corner of the screen. Drag it upward to open the tabs list.[7] From here, you can touch the X next to a tab to close it, or swipe it to the left.
  2. Hold your finger down to open closing options. On some devices running Dolphin, you can also hold your finger on a tab to open a menu, then select "Close Tab."[8] This may not be available for all devices.
  3. Close all tabs from the tab overview screen. While viewing the list of tabs, press and hold a tab to open a menu. Select "Close All," or select "Close Other" to keep the selected tab open.[9]

In Chrome or Firefox for Android

  1. Tap on the tab list icon in the upper right. This can look like one or two rectangles, sometimes with a number over it telling you how many tabs you have open. Tap this icon to view a list of all open tabs, before trying any of the methods below.[5]
  2. Tap the X to close a tab. Once you have opened the tab list, each tab should have an "X" located to the left or right of the name. Tap it to close that tab.
  3. Close all tabs from the menu, if your device allows. While viewing the tab list, access the menu. This can be a physical button beneath the screen, or an icon in the upper right.[10][5] It can look like three dots, or two or three horizontal lines. Select Close All when the menu opens.
    • This option is not available on Chrome for Android tablets, and may not be available on phones running Android 5.0+.[5]

On Kindle Fire

  1. Close one tab. Scroll up to the top of the screen and click the "X" button next to the name of the tab.
    • If these buttons do not appear and you are getting "too many tabs open" messages, try restarting the kindle while holding the off button for twenty seconds.[11]
  2. Close all tabs. In Kindle Fire's Silk browser, press and hold any of the tab names near the top of the screen. Select "Close all tabs" from the menu that appears, or select "Close Other Tabs" to keep the tab you pressed open.[12]

Closing Tabs on a Computer

  1. Click the X on the tab you wish to close. Use your mouse or trackpad to position your cursor above the “x” on each browser tab. The “x” is located to the right of the tab icon and title.
  2. Use "Close all" and other options. Right-click on a tab for more options. If you do not have a right mouse button, try control+click, or "two finger click" on a trackpad. Depending on your browser, some of these options will appear in a drop-down menu:
    • Close Other Tabs (Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari): Keeps the tab you clicked open, closes all others.
    • Close Tabs to the Right (Chrome, Firefox): Closes all tabs to the right of the one you clicked.
    • Close Tab Group (Internet Explorer 8+): Closes the tab you clicked and all tabs highlighted the same color. (Use "Ungroup this Tab" first if you want to keep one of these tabs open.)[13]
    • Close All but Active (Opera): Keeps the tab you're currently using open, closes all others.
    • Close All Private Tabs (Opera): Closes all tabs that were opened using the File → New Private Tab menu item.
  3. Opt to close tabs with your keyboard. Make sure the tab you want to close is highlighted in your browser window. Use the following shortcuts:
    • For any browser in Windows or Linux, press Control ("Ctrl") W.
    • For any browser in Mac, press command W.[14]
    • For Internet Explorer and Firefox, if you have a middle mouse button, clicking a tab with it will close the tab.[15] If your middle button is a wheel, press it downward; do not spin it.

Tips

  • Most browsers also have a "Reopen a Closed Tab on Your Browser" command on the drop-down menu that appears when you right-click a tab.
  • If you do not see one of the options described here for your browser, try updating to the latest version.

Related Articles

  • Reopen a Closed Tab on Your Browser

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.iphonefaq.org/archives/972982
  2. ↑ http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1786492
  3. ↑ http://www.imore.com/how-close-all-open-safari-tabs-just-few-taps-ios-7
  4. ↑ http://www.gottabemobile.com/2012/10/12/dell-xps-12-convertible-ultrabook-arrives-soon-for-1099/
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/2391819?hl=en
  6. ↑ http://dolphin.com/dolphin-for-ipad-faqs/
  7. ↑ https://dolphinbrowser.desk.com/customer/portal/articles/1562775-dolphin-bars-decoded
  8. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/DolphinFans/posts/183313441721950
  9. ↑ http://androidforums.com/threads/dolphin-browser-tips-add-yours.30160/
  10. ↑ https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/using-tabs-firefox-android
  11. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/forum/kindle?_encoding=UTF8&cdForum=Fx1D7SY3BVSESG&cdThread=Tx1JF1D8E93F4NG
  12. ↑ http://www.ibtimes.com/kindle-fire-users-guide-15-essential-features-tips-amazons-tablet-387344
  13. ↑ https://www.winhelp.us/internet-explorer-11-tabs.html
  14. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95631?hl=en
  15. ↑ http://www.pcworld.com/article/185288/hasslefreepc.html
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