The following video summarizes this article:

New updates are being added at the bottom of this story…

Original story (published on January 29, 2021) follows:

There appears to be a recent server-side update on Google Chrome browser for Android following which the tab-view has been completely altered for many.

Previously, tabs used to appear in a vertical cascading list of cards that spanned the entire length of the screen. This view only allowed previewing one site at a time.

chrome-vertical-card-view
Chrome’s old vertical tab layout

But after the update, tabs now appear in a grid layout allowing several opened sites to be previewed at once without getting obscured.

This change also opens up an avenue for Tab Groups support – something that wasn’t possible earlier. Tab Groups facilitate smoother work-flow as tabs can now be organized into neat little assortments.

chrome-grid-layout
Chrome’s new grid layout for tabs

This is especially useful for power users that keep dozens of tabs open at once. With the change, it will be much easier to find them if there is a large number open at once.

However, there are a couple of downsides to the update too. One-handed usage has become a tad more difficult as tabs are now placed at the top of the screen rather than being aligned to the center. Also, there are many that simply do not like how the grid layout looks.

And while it’s debatable if the changes are for the better or worse, it’s quite clear that most have already made up their minds.

There have been plenty of complaints from angry users asking for the update to be rolled back. Many are also asking for a way to disable the tab groups and grid layout on Chrome.

remove-group-tabs-chrome
Source

This is an annoying feature. And it doesn’t even ask if user want to enable it. Chrome devs become worse day by day. It causes many problem for my company when using our web apps with chrome, such as showing update popup randomly, breaks old features, and now this.
Source

If you are one of such users, then there indeed is a way to change the tab view in Chrome for Android back to its previous state. And it involves Chrome Flags.

How to turn off grid-view/tab groups on Chrome for Android

Chrome Flags are experimental features that aren’t yet enabled by default but can be with just a few clicks. They’re simple to use and can transform your browsing experience.

Similarly, there is a switch for the new tab grid-view as well under the list of available flags. To access it, you need to enter chrome://flags into the Chrome address bar.

You will then be directed to the flags page. Next, enter the words “tab grid” in the search bar following which you should see the desired flag show up just like in the below image.

chrome-tab-grid-disable

Simply select it and change its value from ‘Default’ to ‘Disabled’. After this, restart Chrome a couple of times to see the grid layout revert to the good old vertical card view once again.

Furthermore, if you also want to disable tab groups on Chrome, just to be sure, then the #enable-tab-groups flag should help you with that.

Update 1 (February 04)

12:27 pm (IST): As per a Product Expert on the Google forums, it now seems that the option to disable group tabs via Chrome Flags has stopped working.

Seems like this flag was removed and this new feature is now by default, without an option to disable it.
Source

While we were unable to verify this, it could be possible that it actually is a server-side change and has been put into effect for select users only. If true, it’s highly disappointing.

Update 2 (February 20)

11:12 am (IST): As per several Redditors, the grid layout/tab groups UI appears to now have been rolled back on Chrome. A great relief indeed, but there is still no telling if Google might bring it back.

chrome-grid-layout
Source

After all, it could be quite possible that the rollback was initiated due to unmentioned bugs. Anyway, for now, it is advisable to find any Chrome flags that include the word ‘group’ and disable them.

Update 3 (February 22)

11:12 am (IST): Contrary to recent reports that Google had rolled back the grid for Tab Groups layout, 9to5Google says the feature is actually rolling out widely.

03:44 pm (IST): As for those uninterested in the new feature, there is room to disable it via the Chrome flags settings, again, contrary to recent reports that the flag had been completely removed from Chrome.

Tab-Groups-Chrome
(Source)

Update 4 (February 23)

12:51 pm (IST): We have tested the workaround to disable the grid view at our end and can confirm that it works. We are sharing the step-by-step screenshots below.

Chrome_grid_view_default
Default grid-view
Chrome_grid_view_change_step1
In Chrome address bar, type “Chrome://flags”
Chrome_grid_view_change_step2
The ‘Experiments’ will show up
Chrome_grid_view_change_step3
In the search box, type “Tab grid layout”
Chrome_grid_view_change_step4
In the drop down menu, instead of ‘Default,’ select ‘Disabled’
Chrome_grid_view_disabled
Relaunch Chrome a couple of times for the change to be implemented

Update 5 (February 24)

For those of you who are interested in keeping the grid-view intact but wish to disable grouping, here’s a user-shared workaround for you.

In the Chrome address bar type “chrome://flags,” and you’ll be redirected to the Experiments page. Over there, in the search box, type “Tab.” Following the Tab Grid Layout, you’ll see three Tab group flags namely ‘Tab groups’, ‘Tab groups continuation,’ and ‘Tab groups UI improvements.’

Set all three of them to ‘Disabled,’ and then relaunch a couple of times for the grouping to be disabled while keeping the grid-view as it is.

Chrome_grid_view_grouping_disabled

We’ve tested the workaround at our end and can ensure that it works.

Update 6 (March 02)

We’ve come across user queries regarding naming/renaming tab groups on Android, just as can be done on Chrome’s desktop version. But going by the reports, the ability to rename and assign specific colours to tab groups is yet to be added to Android.

Update 7 (March 10)

We’ve already highlighted a workaround (update 5 section) to keep the grid-view as it is but disable grouping.

Now we’ve caught hold of another user-shared workaround wherein you have to set ‘Tab Grid Layout’ to enabled, ‘Tab Group’ and ‘Tab Groups Continuation’ to disabled and ‘Tab Groups UI Improvements’ to default.

Tab_grouping_chrome_workaround

This will take away the ‘Group Tabs’ option that shows in the three-dot menu. We’ve tested the workaround at our end and can confirm it works.

Update 8 (March 18)

Just in case you aren’t aware, sharing your feedback with the developers in case you don’t like a feature (while it’s still under the experiment phase) is very important. The reason being, the flags for a feature show up under the Experiments only when a feature is being tested, meaning, you still have the option the enable/disable it.

But once the feature makes way to the stable release, there is no way to revert the change, but get stuck with it forever. This information was recently shared by one of the product experts at the Google Chrome community while addressing users’ queries on how to disable the Reading list feature that was added with Chrome version 89 recently.

So sharing feedback in case of the Tab Groups/Grid view feature in question in this post also becomes important. Else, once the feature makes way to the stable release, you won’t have an option to revert the change. Take a look at how the expert explained the importance of timely give user feedback:

I would also like to recommend that if you don’t like the function, send your opinion to the Chrome team about what aspect you don’t like, or why you don’t like it:
Report a bug or feedback on Chrome – Google Chrome Help

It is very important that you do this, since these comments will be received directly by the Chrome team (they do not usually go through the forums in Spanish). Also, it is important because if this function is set to the stable version for everyone, the flag will eventually be removed, and there will be no way to disable the option.

Update 9 (March 22)

In order to restore the cascading tabs in Chrome on your Android device, here’s another workaround (slightly different from the one mentioned in this article) shared by a product expert at the community:

Please test another possible solution. It’s about the flags again.

So: chrome: // flags and enter “grid layout” should appear:

1. Tab grid layout
2. Tab groups
3. Tab groups continuation
4. Tab switcher on return
5. GTS

And so set it to Disabled for 1,2,3,4 and Enabled for 5. Restart Chrome (or preferably restart the phone).

Update 10 (March 26)

Going by the information shared by one of the users, before the ‘Tab groups’ and ‘Tab grid layout’ flags are permanently disabled (with update version 90), one will be able to access them temporarily. Here’s how:

These flags are set to expire in Chrome 90. After that you can access them temporarily by setting chrome://flags/#temporary-unexpire-flags-m90 until they’re removed permanently.

Update 11 (March 26)

What if Google Chrome was fully customizable and experimental features like Reading List and Tab Groups were all under user control even when they hit stable? Let us know your thoughts by voting on this poll.

Update 12 (April 06)

In case you wish to disable tab grouping and bottom favicon bar, keeping the new tab grid layout intact, in the flags, set Tab Grid Layout to “Enabled.”

In the flag search box in Experiments, type “Enable conditional tabstrip,” and select “Disabled” in the drop-down menu. Relaunch chrome a couple of times for the change to be implemented.

Update 13 (April 15)

Going by the latest user reports, Tab groups/tiled-view is back for some, despite disabling them in the flags. But at least according to some of the affected, the workarounds shared in update 9 section of this article resolved the issue for them.

So those of you facing the problem can give it a shot.

Update 14 (April 16)

For those of you who are facing the issue wherein the disabled Tab groups/grid view is back again despite the flag showing it Disabled, here are a few user-shared workarounds you can try:

Set “Tab Groups” to Disabled.

chrome://flags/#enable-tab-groups

Then force stop the app and reopen.

Disable Grid layout AND tab groups, relaunch the browser then restart your device. Fixed it for me!

In chrome “Settings” “Accessibility”

“Simplified view for open tabs”

I went into flags, searched for anything tab grid related and disables them all (not sure if that helped) because nothing changed. Then I cleared cache and the “free space” storage. When I restarted chrome after that, bye bye dumb tabs!

Update 15 (April 17)

Going by reports, the latest update (version 90) may be to blame for re-enabling the feature despite it disabled in the flags.

So all you need to do is enable chrome://flags/#temporary-unexpire-flags-m89 and chrome://flags/#temporary-unexpire-flags-m88. Here’s how a user has explained this:

Your Chrome probably got updated to v90, that’s why the flags aren’t working anymore.

You can enable them again by going to chrome://flags/#temporary-unexpire-flags-m89 and chrome://flags/#temporary-unexpire-flags-m88 and enable both of them.

Now your flags will work again. Just tested on a updated v90 Chrome

While another user suggests:

Chrome://flags

Set it up like this

Temporarily unexpire m88 flags: enabled

Tab grid layout: disabled

Tab groups: disabled

Tab groups continuation: disabled

Tab switcher on return: disabled

Enable tab-to-GTS animation : disabled

RESTART PHONE

Update 16 (April 18)

Uninstalling the latest update is another alternative that you can try. But the problem here is it’ll take away the dark mode as well. Here’s how a user explains it:

My only option to get the original chrome tab view is to uninstall all updates, but then the old versions of chrome don’t allow you to use Chrome on dark mode, so even though you can still change it in the flags, the url bar and nav bar at the bottom are still white

Update 17 (April 19)

Going by what a product expert has shared on the community if despite disabling Tab Grid Layout you still get the layout, it could be that the devs have considered the user feedback and removed the function, but the option is still there. That’s why you’re suggested to drop feedback.

I’m getting the same.
I guess they’ve removed the function, but not removed the option dialog yet

go to menu > Help & feedback > send feedback

Update 18 (April 20)

For those of you facing the Tab groups re-enabled despite disabling after the recent update, reports suggest disabling – ‘Tab Groups,’ ‘Tab Group Continuation’ and ‘Tab Groups UI Improvements’ does the trick. So you can give it a shot.

Update 19 (April 21)

A couple of users have shared a few more combinations of flags disabling which resolved the Tab Groups re-enabled issue for them. Here’s what they shared:

I found this, and it works.

Chrome://flags

Set it up like this

Temporarily unexpire m88 flags: enabled

Tab grid layout: disabled

Tab groups: disabled

Tab groups continuation: disabled

Tab switcher on return: disabled

Enable tab-to-GTS animation : disabled

RESTART PHONE

In a new tab:
chrome://flags/#enable-start-surface
#enable-tab-grid-layout
#enable-tab-groups
#enable-tab-groups-continuation
#enable-tab-groups-ui-improvements

Mine didn’t revert until I had disabled all 5, but I also wasn’t taking the most scientific approach.

Update 20 (April 22)

One of the affected users has shared that a simple tweak of switching between Default and Disabled, followed by a device reboot did the trick for them. So you can also give it a shot.

Today, Group Tabs reappeared. It was still disabled in the Group Tabs flag. I’ve switched between Default and Disabled and relaunched. I’ve restarted my phone. And I still have the Group Tabs.

On the other hand, a product manager at the Chrome community has mentioned this reappearance may have to do with the concerned flags taken down. Here’s what they said while responding to one of the affected users:

Flags are experimental and can be removed anytime without any notice. So, that experimental feature may no longer be available.

Update 21 (April 23)

Another affected user has shared that keeping ‘Tab Grid Layout’ and ‘Tab Groups’ flags to Disabled and ‘Conditional Tab Strip’ to Enabled is what did the trick for them.

So those of you struggling with grouping or grid view re-enabled recently can give this flag combination a try.

Update 22 (April 24)

Some users report that Tab Groups or Grid-view keep re-enabling on Google Chrome Android and we now have a dedicated article on what you can do to disable them. Head here for the same.

Update 23 (April 25)

One of the users has shared another combination of flags that worked for them (make sure you relaunch Chrome a couple of times for the change to be implemented).

The combination that works for me:

Tab Grid Layout – Disabled

Tab Groups – Disabled

Tab Groups Continuation – Default

Tab Groups UI Improvements – Default

Tab switcher on return – Disabled

Enable Tab-to-GTS Animation – Enabled

Conditional Tab Strip – Enabled

Update 24 (April 26)

Looking at the pattern of the Tab group/grid-view flags being overridden every time a new update is pushed, a product expert is now speculating that the feature is likely to make way to the stable build.

Meaning, there won’t be any way to disable it, unless Google decides to give an option to do so. Here’s what the product expert said:

Yes it looks like the feature is going to be rolled out.
My guess is, not enough people complained

Update 25 (April 27)

In order to respect every selected flag option, what you can do is disable the concerned flags – i.e. Tab Groups, Tab Grid Layout, Tab strip, and Conditional Tab Strip – one by one, followed by relaunching the browser a couple of times (every time you disable a flag).

Update 26 (April 28)

Here’s a user-shared video wherein they’ve suggested resetting all the flags to default before tweaking the respective ones to disable Grid view on Android.

Update 27 (May 14)

If you have tried all the aforementioned ways but still couldn’t disable Chrome Tab Groups, you can give this hack a try.

We are sharing the user comment for your convininece:

Okay, I managed to fix it (probably temporarily) by disabling Start Surface too and resetting a few times. Try that?

A lot of fellow commentors on the Reddit thread confirmed this hack worked for them.

Update 28 (May 15)

Here’s the complete workaround involving Start Surface that you can try:

go to chrome://flags

reset everything to default (optional, but I did it anyhow)

disable start surface, tab grid layout and tab groups

restart chrome a couple times (I think I had to do it 3-4 before it started working)

Update 29 (May 20)

Google Chrome no longer supports disabling the Tab Group and Grid view features and has been enabled permanently, confirms a user who is testing Android 12 beta 1 update. Find more here.

Update 30 (May 26)

And the saga continues. With the latest Chrome update, the ability to disable Tab Groups (or Grid-view) is once again gone for some.

Update 31 (May 27)

After the latest Chrome update (91.0.4472.77), among the experimental flags, only ‘Tab Grid Layout’ and ‘Tab group Continuation’ are available (thanks for the tip Iñaki Nahuel Santos Angel) and they don’t help to disable the Tab Groups.

The flags that helped earlier – ‘Tab groups’, ‘Tab groups UI improvements’, ‘Tab switcher on return’, and ‘Enable tab-to-GTS animation’ have been taken away.

Apart from that, ‘Temporarily unexpire 89 flags’ and ‘Temporarily unexpired 90 flags’ are available, while ‘Temporarily unexpired 88 flags’ has been taken away. You may try disabling 89/90 to see if that helps.

Update 32 (May 28)

Now that Google has completely taken away the option for users to disable Tab groups on Android, the only plausible way to get rid of the forced feature update is to revert back to a previous version of Chrome.

The quickest way to do so is to head to the Google Play Store, search for Google Chrome, tap on the search result, and tap Uninstall. Confirm your action by hitting Uninstall again.

This will revert Google Chrome back to the version that came pre-installed on your device. Do note that doing so will result in a loss of all data in case you didn’t have sync enabled via your Google Account.

Thanks for the tip, Aaron Redlitz!

Update 33 (May 29)

One of our readers has shared an interesting workaround that does indeed help disable the Google Chrome tab groups feature on Android. You can follow the steps in the exact order to get rid of the tab groups.

1: Tab Grids Layout: Disabled
(Click Relaunch Prompt)
2: Tab Groups Continuation: Disabled
(Click Relaunch Prompt)
3: Temporarily unexpire M89 flags: Disabled
(Click Relaunch Prompt)
4: Temporarily unexpire M90 flags: Disabled
(Click Relaunch Prompt)

5: Tab Groups: Disabled
(Click Relaunch Prompt)
6: Tab Groups UI Improvements: Disabled
(Click Relaunch Prompt)
7: Conditional Tab Strip: Disabled
(Click Relaunch Prompt)

It’s worth noting that when you try to open a link by long-pressing on it, you won’t see the “tab group” option.

Attempting to tap and drag a tab tile to another tile won’t work too as it will simply move the tab’s tile as it used to prior to tab grouping.

We’ve tried the workaround on our unit to and it worked. However, your mileage may vary. So let us know if this did or did not work for you.

Many thanks for the tip, Alex Sheffield!

Update 34 (May 31)

Just in case you’re not aware, flags are meant only for developers and can be take away when of no use to them. Here’s what a product expert at the community said regarding the experimental flags:

Flags are for developer use and are not recommended for average users. They are experimental and can cause instability. Flags are not permanent, they will be taken away when the developers no longer need them.

Update 35 (June 01)

A product expert at the community has shared how one can extend using the flags for a longer time.

There’s a way to extend a flag lifespan 2 more versions though (in chrome://flags you’ll see an option to temporarily expire the flags available in the previous 2 versions).

Going by this, as the ability to disable tabs has been taken away, all you can do is temporarily unexpire M89 and M90 flags and relaunch Chrome a couple of times to see if that helps.

Update 36 (June 02)

Following the latest update, some of the troubled users have taken to the Chromium bug tracker asking the developers to bring back the ability to disable Tab Groups. You may also share your opinion with the devs.

Update 37 (June 03)

Downgrading or uninstalling the latest update is a way out that can help. It can be done by going to Settings> search for Chrome> Force Stop> then go to the three-dot menu at the right corner, and uninstall the update.

Another way to downgrade is to download the APK for Chrome version 90.

Update 38 (June 04)

Another user shared workaround (that may work for some but not all, as per reports) has now caught out sight. Here’s what the original poster says:

I used the advice from a few posts here with no luck, but after disabling tab grids layout, tab groups continuation, M88 and M89 flags, tab groups, tab groups ui improvements, and conditional tab strip, i set “tab grid layout” to “enable new tab tile” instead of disabled and it worked! Hope this helps

Update 39 (June 05)

A product expert at Chrome help has recently shared there is a lot of “hate” for the feature in question, and sharing your feedback is the oly option to convince Google to give an alternative. Here’s what the expert said:

There is ALOT of hate for that feature, if enough people tell google about it they may provide a way to change it. Feedback is your only option.

Update 40 (June 06)

Considering the backlash give to the removal of flags that allowed users to disable Chrome Tab group/Grid view feature after the latest update (v91), we’re conducting a poll to get a hold of the user preference.

Share your opinion with us by heading here.

Update 41 (June 07)

One of our readers has shared yet another workaround that may help. Here’s the sequence they suggest:

1. Reset all
2. Relaunch
3. Reset all (yes, twice)
4. Relaunch (yes, again)
5. Temporarily unexpire M89 flags : CHANGE: Default –> Enabled
6. Temporarily unexpire M90 flags : CHANGE: Default –> Disabled
7. Relaunch

Search for: tab gro
8. Tab Groups : CHANGE: Default –> Disabled
9. Relaunch
10. Close Chrome (completely)
11. Restart Chrome

Hopefully fixed, but only up to the (flat card layour) No Groups stage, and not the exact way (vertical cascading list of cards) that’s most convenient to use.

Update 42 (June 08)

Incoming is yet another workaround sequence that may help. So you can give it a try:

Go to chrome://flags and use the search bar to find and disable the following, in order:

1: Tab Grids Layout: Disabled (Click Relaunch Prompt) 2: Tab Groups Continuation: Disabled (Click Relaunch Prompt) 3: Temporarily unexpire M89 flags: Disabled (Click Relaunch Prompt) 4: Temporarily unexpire M90 flags: Disabled (Click Relaunch Prompt)

THIS WILL ALLOW THE FOLLOWING FLAGS TO HE VISIBLE AND DISABLED

5: Tab Groups: Disabled (Click Relaunch Prompt) 6: Tab Groups UI Improvements: Disabled (Click Relaunch Prompt) 7: Conditional Tab Strip: Disabled (Click Relaunch Prompt)

I force stopped chrome multiple times and restarted my phone twice yesterday and this solution stayed. Hopefully it still works if you do it today, let me know if it does!

Update 43 (June 09)

In case while using the Grid view, you’re trying to figure out how to open the links as separate tabs instead of putting them in groups, go to chrome://flags/#enable-tab-grid-layout and select “Enabled Without auto group.”

Relaunch Chrome a couple of times, and no you’ll have two options while opening a link in a new tab.

Update 44 (June 10)

In case you’re not aware, multiple Change.org petitions (1,2,3) have been initiated in the last week by users (following the Chrome update v91), asking to either take away the feature or at least give an option to disable it.

It’s a good initiative by users to grab the attention of the Chrome developers, but it all depends on the support these petitions get.

Update 45 (June 11)

In case you missed it, Apple is also bringing the Tab Groups and Grid View feature to its Safari browser on iOS 15 and macOS Monterey. So it seems that the feature is here to stay. However, it’s clear that Google needs to offer a way to disable the feature for those who do not wish to use it.

Update 46 (June 12)

We’re now getting to see multiple user reports claiming the forced tab grouping can be avoided by setting chrome://flags/#enable-tab-grid-layout to “Enabled Without auto group” and relaunching Chrome a couple of times for the change to be executed.

Chrome_tab_group_enabled_without_auto

Update 47 (June 14)

Incoming is yet another user-shared workaround that may help. Here’s what they say:

For anyone looking for a new fix, disable the following in chrome://flags.

Tab grid layout.

Tab groups continuation.

Tab switcher on return.

Then these ones have to be done in the following order.

Temporarily unexpire m89 flags.

Temporarily unexpire m90 flags.

If one of them is missing do the one you can see

Then relaunch the app with the relaunch button. Now you open the app details and force close chrome, and swipe the app away in the app history.
Once you have done these things in that order, reopen the app and go to the flags again.

You should now be able to see the following flags (they are hidden until you disable the unexpire m89 and m90 flags).

Tab groups.

Tab groups ui improvements.

Disabled those, and again press relaunch, force close the app and swipe the app away in the app history.

Should now be able to open in new tab again. If it still doesn’t work try restarting your phone.

I am unsure if every flag here absolutely needs to be disabled, this is just what worked for me, and I won’t fix what ain’t broke.

Thanks to our reader Dyllinger Crenshaw for sharing the workaround!

Update 48 (June 15)

Vertical cascading tabs layout fans have now taken to change.org to start petitions against the new tab groups and have gathered thousands of signatures already. If you wish to make a difference as well, then head over to this link.

Update 49 (June 16)

It seems Google has already begun working on improving the user experience with Tab Groups. So it seems the feature is here to stay.

That said, a Redditor spotted the new flag that displays tab groups in the history menu. This will allow users to restore entire tab groups or even individual tabs from a group via the sub-menu.

This new flag is currently only available on Mac, Windows, Linux, and Chrome OS. That said, it’s good to see Google working to improve the UX with Tab Groups.

Update 50 (June 17)

One of the Chrome community product experts has now mentioned that the feature has been released for all now and there is no way to disable it. Here’s what they said:

Tab groups cannot be deactivated .

The tab groups are a function of the browser and have now been rolled out for all users.

Use the feedback function in Chrome to share your opinion with the developers.

Update 51 (June 18)

Google Chrome users who’ve downgraded to older versions to ditch the new Tab Groups feature may want to reconsider. This is because the latest Chrome update reportedly fixes the CVE-2021-30544 zero-day exploit.

Hence, it seems that the only way forward is to adapt to the new change to avoid running into any security issues.

Update 52 (June 24)

While downgrading to an older version is apparently the only possible workaround as of now, please be informed that doing so will close all your tabs, remove the existing browsing data (history, cookies, etc.) and log you out from the websites too.

So it’ll be wise to do the needful before downgrading.

Update 53 (June 25)

Going by the information shared by a product expert at the Chrome community, the flags which earlier let users disable the tab groups won’t be returning in future releases. Here’s what they said:

Unfortunately no, tab grouping cannot be disabled anymore. As you said, flags were the intermediate solution. But, the flags to disable tab grouping will no longer be in new releases.

Update 54 (June 28)

Yet another user-shared experimental flags tweak has now caught our sight which may be helpful.

#chrome How to fix the tab display of 2021/6/27 version
chrome :// Go to flags / and change “tab grid layout” to Disabled and “tab group continuation” to Enabled

Chrome_tab_group_disable_updatev91

Update 55 (June 29)

While users are tired of asking for an option to disable the feature in question here, looks like Google has left them with no option but to switch to other browsers. A quick look on Reddit conveys many have found switching browser a more convenient option.

Update 56 (June 30)

It seems that the tab groups feature is slowly making its way over to other Android browsers as well. A popular Chrome alternative — Vivaldi browser — has also adopted the new tab groups feature as the default.

This has left those looking for alternative browsers disappointed.

What prompted me to look at other browsers was Chrome’s ridiculous tab grid layout, and their removal of the flag to put it back to the old layout. My search lead me to this browser with its promise of “everything is an option”. It has many many options, but alas the grid layout is the same as Chrome (Source)

Update 57 (July 02)

A Redditor spotted a new commit in the Chromium Gerrit, which suggests that you’ll be able to save tab groups in soon.

Update 58 (July 07)

A Redditor pointed out that the ‘Tab Groups Save’ flag is already available on the latest Chrome Canary build, however, the feature does not appear to be working, yet.

The “Tab Groups Save” flag is already available in Chrome Canary, but it doesn’t work yet:

chrome-canary-tab-groups
Click/tap to enlarge image

Update 59 (July 27)

It’s clear that Google isn’t taking away the Tab Groups feature anytime soon but there’s a way to get the ‘Open in new tab’ option to appear when you long-press on any link. This option seems to add a balance to the mix.

To enable it, you need to fire-up the chrome://flags option and then type #enable-start-surface. Open the drop-down menu and select ‘Enabled Single Surface V2 Finale’.

Then search for #enable-tab-grid-layout and select ‘Enabled without auto group’. Once done, restart your browser, as pointed out by Android Police.

Update 60 (August 24)

Now, Google is reportedly upgrading this Google Chrome Tab Groups feature, adding the ability to save them for later. To see it, open Canary (currently on version 95) and head to chrome://flags/#tab-groups-save. Set it to “enabled” and restart the browser. More on that here.

Update 61 (September 02)

Following the update to Chrome 93 that is currently going out to users on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, there is now the ability to see what sites were in the collection, and just open individual pages. To enable, check out these flags.

chrome://flags/#tab-restore-sub-menus

Update 62 (September 04)

It seems Google has listened to users’ feedback regarding the tab groups feature in Chrome for Android and the tech giant is now working on some improvements. Among them, tab links will open in new tabs instead of tab groups and users will have to control to open new tab groups.

We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback on this crbug. We wanted to let you know that we’ve heard you, and we are experimenting with changes to this feature’s behavior based on your feedback.
Source

Basically, Chrome for Android will not create tab groups by default unless users create them manually. These improvements are currently being tested with Chrome 94 beta for Android.

Update 63 (September 08)

New reports now indicate that Chrome’s ‘Power Bookmarks’ feature that is toggled on by default in Canary may bring together the Chrome Tab Groups, bookmarks, and shopping.

Tab-Group-Save-Bookmark-Bar-Lacros-scaled
Click/Tap to zoom (Source)

Update 64 (September 10)

In case you missed it, Microsoft Edge also picked up the Tab Groups feature with a recent update as version 93.0.961.38. The following is a snippet from the release notes:

Tab Groups. We are turning on tab grouping which provides the ability to categorize tabs into user-defined groups and helps you more effectively find, switch and manage tabs across multiple workstreams.

So, it seems we may see Tab Groups in just about every mainstream browser in the near future.

Update 65 (September 13)

Given the fact that most browsers seem to be picking up the Tab Groups feature as the default, in case you’re looking for a reliable and feature-rich alternative to Chrome and Edge on Android, you may want to try out Samsung Internet.

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Zohaib Ahmed
838 Posts

Simply love being surrounded by technology as it's a constant reminder of how far humans have advanced as a race. Every new development feels exciting, which I convey to others through writing. And after a day's work, gaming just feels therapeutic.

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