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April 6, 2009

Disable Google Chrome's New Tab Page

Google Chrome used to display a special page that included nine thumbnails for the most frequently visited pages, a list of recent bookmarks and recently closed pages. The feature couldn't be disabled from the interface and you couldn't remove the thumbnails you didn't like.

Google Chrome 3 updated the new tab and you can now hide the thumbnails and the list of recently visited pages. Just click on the small arrow at the top of the new tab page and disable the features you don't like. You'll still see Google Chrome's logo and some tips, but the page is almost blank.


The recent builds of Google Chrome include support for user scripts and it's not very difficult to write a script that hides all the content from the new tab page.

If you use Google Chrome 2 Beta, the developer version or a recent Chromium build, you can easily enable the user scripts support by following the instructions from this page: find or create a shortcut for Chrome's executable, right-click on the shortcut, select "Properties" and append to the value from the Target field --enable-user-scripts (include a space before the flag). Create a directory named User Scripts in one of these locations and save this user script in the directory. You may need to restart Google Chrome if it's already running.

Another useful user script for Google Chrome is AdSweep, a basic version of AdBlock Plus without user interface and subscriptions. "AdSweep is a small addon that aims to hide advertising from the web pages you visit like Adblock. In technical terms, AdSweep is a user javascript that defines CSS rules based on the web site you are visiting to hide elements of the page that show advertisements." If you are familiar with JavaScript, you can edit the script and add or remove some patterns.

63 comments:

  1. I'm using ResHacker to remove NewTab page content. It's easy ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Please help me using reshacker to remove NewTab page content.
      i need it very urgently.
      please help its a part of my project.

      Delete
  2. Is there an easy way to increase Chrome's cache above the 120MB or so that it uses? There is nothing is nothing in the options for it, but if a similar method to this exists that would be great.

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  3. Disregard above, i never realised why you would want to disable the page. (privacy reasons)

    Sounds pretty good.

    And even better that extensions are finally getting off the ground, so exciting!

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  4. Anybody know if there is a way to disable middle-click AutoScrolling in Chrome 2? I use middle click to open docs in a new tab, but if I'm off by just a hair, I suddenly get that stupid 4-way arrow and my screen starts zooming around (because at that point I am trying to get back on the link to click it again). Turning it off is not an option in the dialog, unfortunately, and I haven't been able to find a greasemonkey script to do it...yet. Anybody have any ideas?

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  5. Please add print preview as you know ink cost money.

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  6. I think that this could be used to specify a change in the new tab page. I.E. making it open google instead of the new tab.

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  7. Anyone know if there'll be a new version of chrome coming out that won't have the nine thumbnails or the recent bookmarks thing? I would be so keen for that... I'm constantly browsing in incognito mode now because I don't want everyone else who uses this computer to know what sites I've last been on... There's nothing wrong with the sites I go on, I just don't want others to know what they are...

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  8. Just keep using incognito mode, they put it there so people like you could surf porn without their mommy finding out. ;P

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  9. hey! I do that too you know!!! >_<

    but here's the deal...use your pc as long as you want...then when you are about to leave, clear all browsing data...and download history (if you have downloaded something)

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  10. i'd say if people create more add-ons which don't compromise the program's efficiency too much, then we have a winner! (my firefox is kinda laggy cos of certain addons which i unfortunately love too much to disable haha)

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  11. Great user script! Now I can give presentations on this computer using Google Chrome without everything I bookmarked and every site I visited being displayed to everyone! Keep up the good work!

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  12. I think these developers are bonkers! Why would I want my recent list of websites to come up for anyone who used my computer to see! The same with the search history! It's just a matter of privacy really! It's even more crazy when you consider people at home and at work are sharing computers

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  13. I think Google are success-drunk. Who or why would anyone care to have non-customizable bookmarks in image format on each new tab page? And that's not as crazy as the search history which the user cant edit at all!!!

    Not to mention that there's software out there that saves all user passwords saved by chrome in (dot)txt format for all to read. That is a flaw that should have chrome withdrawn from the market if you ask me.

    Unfortunately it is the fastest Browser out there, so were all screwed I guess.

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  14. And why would you want to edit the past? That's something you can't do in life either. Deal with it. And as for the new tab page, in the new dev release it is possible to remove the thumbnails you don't want to appear on the page. I assume drag-and-drop functionality isn't too far off.

    You can whine about the functionality all you want, apparently you don't know what Google created the browser for (speed, giving another level of competition to Microsoft, Mozilla, etc.)
    I suggest you read a post like
    http://blogs.computerworld.com/the_real_reason_google_is_making_chrome
    or just shush.

    ~ Saph

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  15. Edit the past? You don;'t seem to get the point Saph. As others have said, it is a simple matter of PRIVACY.

    Jav

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  16. Exactly.

    It has nothing to do with "editing the past".

    There's difference between you knowing what you've done, and having a stenographer record everything you've done and making that record accessible by anyone.

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  17. No, there is no way to disable autoscroll. The bug is marked "won't fix" without explanation. Please spam the bug page with requests to make the feature optional or gone: http://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=12478

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  18. at first i wondered what the hell was going on when these boxes appeared every time i opened a new tab but then i got used to them and found them most helpful now however i have no idea of what the hell has happened but they've all disappeared and my old google tab box has come back - how do i get the google new tab page back please anyone know can you please let me know how at welshhobbit@tesco.net - thanks

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  19. when i am using google chrome and i click on a function (say for instance facebook) a whole new browser opens when i only want to go to a different page. i end up with millions of browsers when i only want to see a different page

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  20. Yes, Chrome uses separate processes for each tab. The multi-process architecture is one of the main novelties in Google Chrome and it's a great way to deal with pages that could slow down the entire browser or even crash it.

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  21. The idea that The Omniscient Creators tell us what we NEED rather than listening to us is just a rehash of the rise and fall of other corporate titans who toiled in the consumer market.

    I visit financial sites on my notebook and I have had notebooks stolen. Yes, I can use privacy mode if I think if it for just that one task, but then I lose all the benefits of history within my session. Why am I unable to simply say "don't keep any visual record of any pages"? Is that so hard to understand? And how about "I don't work that way so don't assume that what is easy/nifty/fun for you is best for me." I don't want the new tab page. You can't improve it so that I will like it. I don't need to be baby sat while I browse. I want my home page (from my hard disk) always shown in newly created tabs and that stupid "new tab page" never even contains that!

    Let me disable the new tab page. Let me disable the new tab page. Let me disable the new tab page. Let me disable the... oh why do we bother?

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  22. I come to the conclusion that I don't like the new tab page, and Chrome in general. I prefer IE to Chrome, and FireFox to IE.

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  23. There's even simpler way but you got to click it every time you want to block ads. bookmark any website then edit the URL to

    click on my name for the script

    rename it as ad blocker or whatever you, enable Always show bookmark toolbar (ctrl and B). there you have it, click on that bookmark when you want to block ads. I didn't make the script i got it from the net

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  24. Goddammit, Saph. You're completely missing the point here.

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  25. Google? What the fuck are you doing? Your user base isn't so retarded to the point that giving them any customization options would confuse them. You're really pissing us off here, and if you continue to do this we just might switch to Firefox or something. We just want OPTIONS in the options dialog. Is that really too much to ask? Put them in the "advanced tab" if your worried about cluttering it up. It's not optimal, but, it's better than nothing.

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  26. I hate the new tab page. Firefox it is!!! goodbye chrome and your lack of user options.

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  27. Aiyo....i use goggle chrome then whole com lag...i use opera so smooth=D

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  28. Haven't you guys noticed the three small buttons on the top right of the new tab page??? Click on the down arrow and remove the ticks on Most Visited and Recently Closed...and tell you what..new tab page comes out empty from now on...Serves the purpose for some here I guess

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  29. One more thing, if you want to open your home page on the new tab, middle click on the Home button, it opens your home page in a new tab

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  30. I changed the theme. It looks really great in the tabbar background, and makes me want to use chrome more just for that (instead of firefox), but the theme on the other hand modified the new tab bar and it looks awful now. I dont want this new tab thingie "look at me! we are google and we have created a new revolutionary interface page so that everyone will accidentally know that you have been visiting a lot of x-rated sites lately!"
    Who needs that. I dont want to always be reminded that i keep visiting the same sites :D
    Anyway, please let me disable that and make the whole thing simpler, more friendly, lighter and better looking.
    Thanks.

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  31. Doing this still doesn't make the new tabs load any faster. Which is the whole point of removing the thumbnails.

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  32. I won't use chrome until they allow me to open either my home page or a blank page in a new tab

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  33. I want my home page to open in the new tab page, unless I can do this chrome will be relegated to the trash

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  34. i've only just downloaded chrome.i'll persevere for a while.so far having trouble with adding gadgets.Not much common sense left in todays world,why should google be any different!

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  35. I agree, opening up the home page with new tabs is a basic requirement.

    Why are Google trying to make googling more difficult?

    You can't even customise your toolbar and they've only just added a pretty average bookmark manager for mac users...

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  36. New process for each tab!! Terrible! Thats what I hated about IE8!

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  37. A little thing but it irritates me every-time I click a new tab to then have to click again to get to my home page. Going back top Firefox to see if it's any better.

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  38. @Anon:

    I don't see why would you like to open your homepage every time you open a new tab, but if that's what you want, install this small extension and you'll be pleased. Don't forget to go to chrome://extensions/ and click on the "Options" button to set a custom page.

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  39. Is there any add on in chrome to block the users in clearing the browser history, just like firefox..?

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  40. Trying to prevent users from clearing browser history is pointless: anyone can delete files from Chrome's folder and there are third-party tools like CCleaner that remove Chrome's user data.

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  41. In firefox, you have a option to lock the addons and for clearing the history. Once you chosoe to clear the history, we can make firefox to ask for a password to unlock. Do we have an option like that in chrome..?

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  42. i agree. this new tab page sucks. i just like my web browser to open to my google simple search page. now they have made it complicated to do a google search. silly programmers.

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  43. The new tab page is inefficient and boring. The old one was ten times better.

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  44. Hey Google!

    Myself like millions of others like to "dive off" the same familiar diving board when we plunge into the internet. I use /www.google.com/ but you make it diffucult to do such with new tabs not allowing this preference. ??!!??!?

    ReplyDelete
  45. Give us the ability to disable auto-scroll!!!!!!

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  46. If you're still looking for a good Chrome autoscroll on Ubuntu check out TelePrompter:
    [url]https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/llbmoignpgmahlngjhegfcklpabfgend[/url]

    ReplyDelete
  47. Google Chrome has almost destroyed my iGoogle and my computer. I can not get it all out of my computer. It is worse than the worst virus I can imagine! KEEP IT OUT OF YOUR COMPUTER IF YOU CAN!

    ReplyDelete
  48. Question: Is there a way to have each new tab, open to your set 'home page'? Mine is Google search, and I'd like each new tab to open to that, instead of the page with all the links, etc.

    TIA

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  49. Thanks Alex Chitu! Wow, that feels much better. Google now loads in my new tabs immediately.
    I forgot the http:// in front of my URL at first but figured it out after a few tries. Good job!

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  50. the lack of user control sucks big time. My friend has google chrome now and I'm not sure if she got it before or after the change in tab page but this is really bloody annoying

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  51. Where the hell is the switch to disable these crappy "tabs"? For a supposedly sophisticated, fast browser it is run by idiots and I'm going back to my own browser. They may as well be facists for all the freedom the user has.

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  52. My New Tab page has the following words:

    New Tab
    Gallery2.maturead .. which I suspect is porno but I'm IT illiterate, can't even operate to see the video(?).

    Can't find how to remove it, about 2 hours now.

    Any help anyone? Txs.

    ReplyDelete
  53. I agree with those who want their home page, or another page of their choosing for new tabs. The extension to fix this is slow, as it first does the Chrome stupidity and then redirects. Even opening a new window gives me the new "tab" page. Do Chrome devs even know what a homepage is?!

    I hate it when the only response people have is "why would you want to do that?" Don't decide for me. Make it an option! Clearly it's an open question, or we wouldn't be getting this unwanted new tab feature.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Hate that chrome auto-opens links in a new tab! I want a new window, without having to right click every time I open a link. I keep accidentally closing my zoho mail every time I visit a link because when I close the link, it closes all the tabs - and since I clicked from zoho mail, I have to continually reopen. Frustrating and unecessary - ALLOW THE OPTION, Google, to OPEN LINKS IN A NEW WINDOW!!!

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  55. HATE that google chrome doesn't give the option of opening links in a new window!!! FIX, PLEASE!!! You are not marketing a product, Google, you are marketing time savings and ease of task management. You fail with Chrome on the tab issues.

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  56. Jeri - This is just another work-around (like the right click menu), but in case you (or anyone else) are not aware: hold SHIFT when you click a link. It should open in a new window.
    Again, not perfect but a little quicker than the right click menu.

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  57. Or you could just press your middle mouse button (scroll button) and it will open up a new tab.

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  58. Other browsers have the option NOT to utilize tabs. I do not like tabs. I would prefer to see a new window.

    I want to see the Google search page as my first screen when starting up a browser, not some page I have and will continue to ignore / don't want to see.

    I would like to see both of these options added to Chrome.

    Google is wasting my time. Which is evil.

    ReplyDelete
  59. The Chrome browser startup setting offers 3 choices:
    Open new tab page
    Continue with prior opened pages
    Open one or more specific pages

    this does not work as described. Is it broken?

    PS Does Google have an ombudsman?

    ReplyDelete

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