What’s happened? As spotted first by WindowsReport, Chrome on Android has begun rolling out a pin-tab feature, similar to what desktop users have enjoyed for years. The update lets you mark a tab so it remains framed first in your tab list, making it easier to access your most important pages. The feature is enabled by default in the Beta builds, though it can be enabled via Chrome flags on other versions.
- A new “Pin tab” option appears when you tap the three-dot menu on a tab in Chrome’s Android version.
- Pinned tabs then shrink to the left of the tab strip or remain fixed atop the tab grid, depending on device view.
- The pinning feature works alongside existing tab-grouping and tab-switcher tools in Chrome.
- Google’s support documentation is updated to reflect improved tab-management options, signalling official availability.
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Trends
Why this is important: For anyone who uses Chrome on Android and routinely switches between many tabs, this feature brings greater order and control. Before the update, if someone opens dozens of tabs, they can easily lose track of important ones or close them by accident. On the flip side, pinning those tabs lets one designate their “always open” pages, such as email, news feeds, or document editors, so they don’t disappear into the shuffle.
- It improves efficiency: your key tabs stay visible, cutting down time spent searching.
- It enhances browsing stability: pinned tabs are less likely to be closed unintentionally.
- For heavy-tab users (such as students or professionals), this means less cognitive load and more reliable workflows.
- It signals Google’s continued efforts to bring parity between desktop and mobile browser functionality, having previously also brought in the AI Mode.
Why should I care? If you use Chrome on your phone throughout the day, this feature can genuinely change how you browse. Instead of constantly reopening the same sites, whether it’s a work dashboard, a recipe you’re following, or a travel itinerary, you can keep them anchored in one spot. It makes Chrome feel a little more predictable, especially when you’re multitasking or jumping between apps in a hurry.
It’s also a great tool for building better browsing habits. You can turn your pinned tabs into a mini “starter workspace,” keeping only the essentials visible while the rest of your tabs stay out of the way. That can help you stay focused, reduce tab chaos, and avoid the endless cycle of hunting for that one page you swear was open somewhere. And if you often hand your phone to kids or friends, pinned tabs give you a stable, uncluttered way to keep important things from getting closed accidentally.
Google
Okay, so what’s next? The first step is to check whether the pin-tab option has already appeared in your Chrome app. You can find it through the tab menu or simply by long-pressing a tab. If it’s still missing, head to chrome://flags, search for Android pinned tabs, switch it on, and restart the browser. Once it’s enabled, try pinning the tabs you open every day, such as your tasks page, your favourite streaming site, or anything you constantly revisit. For now, it’s a small feature worth experimenting with, especially if you juggle a lot of tabs.
