Google Chrome supports internet browsing through multiple tabs. This means, you can open several different web pages at the same time in one browser window. You can close individual tabs and windows, close the entire program, and if necessary, force close processes. Make sure you try and force close the process only as a last resort!
Step
Method 1 of 7: Closing Tabs on Android and iOS Devices
Step 1. Show tab view button
It's a number (indicating the number of open tabs) in a square and is in the upper-right corner of the screen, between the search bar and the menu button.
- The mobile version of the Chrome app doesn't support opening multiple windows, only tabs.
- Tablet versions of Chrome typically display tabs in the same view as the desktop interface, and will not use the tab view button.
Step 2. Tap the “x” icon in the top right corner of the tab to close it
Step 3. Close all tabs at once
Alternatively, you can open the settings menu or “Settings” (vertical ellipse) after opening the tab view and selecting the “Close All Tabs” option from the list.
Step 4. Close the secret browsing tab (incognito) from the main page (for Android devices only)
If you turn off the screen (with the power button) with the secret browsing tab still open, you will see a “Close Incognito Tabs” notification when you turn the screen back on. Double-tap the notification and you will be taken back to the main page, with all the secret browsing tabs closed.
Secret browsing tabs can also be closed with the regular tab closing method
Method 2 of 7: Closing Chrome App on Android Device
Step 1. Touch the “recent app view” button
This button is generally in the lower-right corner of the screen and looks like several squares stacked on top of each other, depending on the phone/tablet you're using. Once touched, a list of recently used apps will be displayed.
Step 2. Swipe up or down the screen to browse recently used apps
Step 3. Swipe the Chrome window towards the right
After that, the app will be closed and prevented from running in the background.
Alternatively, touch the “x” button. This button may appear in the upper right corner of the app window in the “recent app view” list if you are running a device with the Android 6 operating system or later
Method 3 of 7: Force Quit Chrome on Android Device
Step 1. Open the settings app (“Settings”)
The app is marked by a gear icon and displays a list of device settings.
Step 2. Touch “Apps”
It's in the “Device” section of the settings menu. After that, you will be taken to a list of apps installed on your device.
Step 3. Touch “Chrome” from the list of apps
In this list, the apps are sorted alphabetically.
Step 4. Touch the “Force Stop” button
After that, the running Chrome process will be terminated from the device.
This step is usually followed if the application is not responding or you are having problems with the application process
Method 4 of 7: Close Chrome on iOS Device
Step 1. Press the “Home” button twice
After that, a list of recently used apps will be displayed.
Step 2. Swipe the screen left or right to browse through the list of apps
Step 3. Swipe up the Chrome window
After that, Chrome will be stopped and prevented from running actively in the background.
Method 5 of 7: Force Quit Chrome on iOS Device
Step 1. Double-tap the “Home” button and select Chrome from the list of recently opened apps
If Chrome can't be used or isn't responding, it's possible that Chrome is in use or is already active.
Step 2. Press and hold the power button
After a few seconds, the “Slide to power off” switch will be displayed.
Step 3. Press and hold the “Home” button
After that, any apps that are currently in use will force close and you will be taken back to the home screen.
Method 6 of 7: Closing Chrome Tabs, Windows and Processes on a Desktop Computer
Step 1. Click the “x” icon on the
This icon is to the right of each tab and only closes the selected tab.
- To close the currently selected tab using a keyboard shortcut, press the key combination Ctrl+W for Windows and Linux, and Cmd+W for Mac.
- You can close all tabs at once in the selected window by pressing the Ctrl+⇧ Shift+W/⌘ Cmd+⇧ Shift+W key combination.
Step 2. Click the "X" button in the corner of the window
On Windows computers, the "x" button is in the upper-right corner of the window and is used to close programs, unless a second browser window is open. On Mac computers, the "x" button is in the upper-left corner of the screen and works to close the window, but doesn't stop the process.
You can open multiple browser windows by pressing the Ctrl+N/⌘ Cmd+N key combination or clicking and dragging a tab out of the tab bar. Each window can contain multiple tabs
Step 3. Click the “≡” button and select “Exit”
It's in the upper-right corner of the window. After that, all windows and tabs will be closed and the Chrome process will be terminated.
- The keyboard shortcut for Windows, Ctrl+⇧ Shift+Q or Alt+F4+Q can also be used.
- For Mac computers, you can use the keyboard shortcut Cmd+Q.
Method 7 of 7: Force Quit Google Chrome on Desktop Computer
Step 1. Open the Task Manager window / “Force Quit” menu
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del (Windows) or Cmd+⌥ Option+Esc (Mac). If your browser is not responding, you can use this keyboard shortcut to access all the processes running on your computer.
Step 2. Select Google Chrome from the list of processes
Step 3. Stop the process
Press the “End Task” (Windows) or “Force Quit” (Mac) button. It's in the lower-right corner of the Task Manager window.
