Dozens of open browser tabs slow down your PC and make it hard to find anything. Windows 10 and 11, and browsers like Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Firefox, have quick ways to close every tab at once, close all but the one you’re using, or close whole windows, plus a way to bring tabs back if you close too many. This guide covers the fastest keyboard shortcuts and menu options.
Quick Answer
To close all tabs in a browser window, press Ctrl + Shift + W in Edge or Chrome (or Alt + F4 in any browser), which closes the whole window. To keep the current tab and close the rest, right-click the tab and choose Close other tabs. If you close something by mistake, press Ctrl + Shift + T to reopen it.
Browser Shortcuts and Options
| Action | Edge and Chrome | Firefox |
|---|---|---|
| Close current tab | Ctrl + W | Ctrl + W |
| Close all tabs (whole window) | Ctrl + Shift + W | Ctrl + Shift + W |
| Close all tabs except current | Right-click tab > Close other tabs | Right-click tab > Close Multiple Tabs > Close Other Tabs |
| Close tabs to the right | Right-click tab > Close tabs to the right | Close Multiple Tabs > Close Tabs to the Right |
| Reopen closed tab or window | Ctrl + Shift + T | Ctrl + Shift + T |
| Close the browser entirely | Alt + F4 on each window | Ctrl + Shift + Q, or Alt + F4 |
Close All Tabs in Microsoft Edge
- Press Ctrl + Shift + W, or click the X in the top-right corner.
- If Edge asks Close all tabs?, click Close all. Check Always close all tabs to skip this prompt next time.
Edge’s vertical tabs panel also lets you select several tabs with Ctrl or Shift, right-click, and close them together.
Close Selected Tabs at Once
- Hold Ctrl and click the tabs you want to close, or click the first tab and Shift-click the last for a range.
- Press Ctrl + W, or right-click one of them and choose Close tabs.
Close All Windows of an App from the Taskbar
- Right-click the app’s taskbar icon (for example, the browser) and choose Close all windows (or Close window).
- Hover over the icon to see previews and click the X on each window.
Close All Tabs in File Explorer (Windows 11)
Windows 11’s File Explorer has tabs. Right-click a tab to choose Close other tabs or Close tabs to the right, or press Ctrl + W to close one at a time.
Prevent Tabs From Reopening at Startup
- Edge: Settings > Start, home, and new tabs > When Edge starts, then choose Open the new tab page.
- Chrome: Settings > On startup > Open the New Tab page.
- Firefox: Settings > General, then uncheck Open previous windows and tabs.
Save Tabs Before Closing Them
Want to come back later? Right-click any tab and choose Bookmark all tabs (or Add all tabs to favorites in Edge) to save them in a folder first. Edge Collections and Chrome tab groups are other good options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover tabs after closing the browser?
Yes. Reopen the browser and press Ctrl + Shift + T, or check History (Ctrl + H) for recently closed windows.
Does closing tabs speed up my PC?
Often, yes. Each open tab uses memory. Edge’s sleeping tabs and Chrome’s Memory Saver reduce the impact of tabs you keep open.
Summary
- Press Ctrl + Shift + W to close all tabs in a window.
- Right-click a tab and choose Close other tabs to keep just one.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + T to reopen anything closed by mistake.
- Bookmark all tabs first if you want to return to them.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.