johnedwards1

Join Date 10/2013

Grouping Tabs within Chrome

I am trying to use Groupy 2 to provide for PERMANENT sub-grouping (into 4 groups) of a dozen Chrome tabs which automatically open in one window when I start the Windows 11 PC daily.

I appreciate that Chrome itself theoretically offers such grouping, but I was unable to make it work properly by retaining the settings overnight. There seems to be much comment that this function is defective.

So I hoped that instead I could achieve the desired outcome with Groupy 2, but I can't figure out how.

Am I misunderstanding the intended functionality (should this be possible?) - and, if so, what am I missing to make it work?

Thanks for any ideas.

John

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Are you trying to create tab groups in one chrome window, or are you trying to create a group of Chrome Windows?

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Within one window.

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So, you are trying to create tab groups in one chrome window?

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Exactly.

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Groupy is not going to help with that. Groupy only groups app windows.

To group tabs in Chrome, you first have to create groups using the right-click context menu. Right-click on the first tab you want to group and select "Add tab to new group."

Give the group a name and choose a color to represent the group.

Now, to add more tabs to this group, right click the next tab you want to add and select "Add tab to group," and select the group.

Repeat these procedures to create additional groups, or to add tabs to and existing group.

Hope this helps.

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Thanks pelaird - I suspected that might be the case with Groupy. As it was my only regular use of tabs, I just assumed that Groupy would do the job, but clearly I've misunderstood.

I can open and manipulate tab groups in Chrome's own group function (but thanks for the guide) - however, my failed objective is to make them PERSIST over both Chrome window closure and overnight PC re-boot. As I choose to start each day with all these tabs on my screen, I really don't fancy re-creating the groups every day!

Unfortunately I can't make the tabs appear in any regular order (which would partly overcome the need for grouping) - the sequence seems to be random - every day is different (I tried numbering their titles in the Windows StartUp folder, to no effect. If you know what drives the order, I'd be grateful to hear!). I also have them all recorded within the Chrome 'start' setting, so I'm not sure which is active (I suspect it's the Chrome ones).

John

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Open all the tabs you would like to save and group them as you like. The Groups should be saved on your bookmarks bar and persist opening and closing the browser window. Use the Group Selector (four boxes) to open the groups in any order you like.

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Chrome groups set up

As you can see above, the groups do set up properly. and the Group Selector does show each group (what did you mean by 'saved'?).

However, when I close the browser window and reopen it (or reboot), all the groups have vanished and the Group Selector is empty.

I'll do that after sending this message, and then send another showing the reopened position.

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Here it is:

Chrome after reopening browser (no groups)

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Groupy 2 can’t create permanent tab subgroups inside Chrome. It groups windows, not tabs. Chrome’s own tab groups often don’t save after restart, that’s a known bug. Use a session manager extension like Tab Session Manager to save and reopen grouped tabs reliably.
Or open multiple Chrome windows for each group, then use Groupy to group those windows.

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You've confirmed what pelaird said about Groupy 2.

And what I have learned about the known fragility of Chrome's tab groups. I may have another go with Tab Session Manager (and its Save Tab Groups add-on).

Incidentally, I've just noticed that after reopening (#9), the tabs which I had grouped before closing (#8 above), DO appear WITH THEIR GROUP COLOUR in the Recently Closed drop-down! Clicking opens a duplicate tab WITHIN ITS GROUP, but does not reinstate the group icons in the Bookmarks bar. Do you think I would be better using Chrome's 'Continue where you left off' startup setting (rather than the 'Specific pages' I've listed) to avoid the closure and perhaps retain the groups?

I'm conscious that this is now rather off-message for the forum, but I'm grateful for any assistance.

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OK - so deleting the tabs from my Windows Startup file and changing Chrome's startup setting to 'Continue where you left off' HAS preserved the close-down tabs on restarting - COMPLETE with their coloured groupings, BUT the Bookmark bar and Group Selector remain empty!

So, thanks both for your help - I now have a workable process, and I'll continue to try to refine it.

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If you have the time, you should check out Vivaldi. There is a little learning curve, but it is way more flexible and customizable.

It has built-in Tab Stacks (Groups in Chrome), Saved Sessions, and even Tab Tiling within the same window (See below).

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