How to Change the Start Page in Chrome and Any Web Browser

You can have your favorite search engine or website

Your browser’s startup page plays a significant role in how you begin web searching. Taking the time to set it up with the right site or page can go a long way toward minimizing distractions and improving focus.

Every major desktop browser allows you to change the start page to display something other than the default new tab (or vice versa).

Here’s how to change the start page in Google Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari.

How to Change the Start Page in Google Chrome

Google Chrome allows you to set the startup page as a new tab, pages from your last browsing session, or a custom page or set of pages.

  1. Open theChromemenu (select the icon with three dots to the top-left of the screen) and selectSettings.

  2. SelectOn startupon the sidebar.

  3. Under theOn startupsection, you should find the following options:

Chrome opens with a new tab, so this is the default startup option. Select it if you (or a third-party extension or program) made any changes to the start page in Chrome and want to revert that.

Select this option if you want Chrome to resume where you left off during the previous browsing session. In case you had multiple tabs open, the browser shall re-open each of them automatically.

Allows you to open a specific page or set of pages at startup in Chrome. After selecting the option, selectAdd a new pagerepeatedly to enter the addresses of the pages you want the browser to open.

Alternatively, you can selectUse current pagesto add all sites within any open Chrome windows as your startup page or pages.

How to Change the Start Page in Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox features several ways to change the default start page. For example, you can pick between a new tab (what Mozilla likes to callFirefox Home), a custom page or pages, or a blank page. You can also configure the browser to restore your previous browsing session at startup.

  1. Open theFirefoxmenu and selectSettings.

  2. Switch to theHometab.

  3. Use the pull-down menu next toHomepage and new windowsto switch between the three options as follows:

Note:All three options also apply to the homepage and new windows in Firefox.

Firefox Home (Default) is the default new tab page you see at startup and in new windows. Pick it if you want to revert a previous change to the start page.

You can set up a custom page or set of pages to load at startup. If you choose to set up multiple pages, you must separate each URL by a vertical slash.

You can also use theUse Current Pagesbutton to insert the addresses of all open pages in Firefox. Or, you can selectUse Bookmarkto add pages from your Bookmarks Library.

Select this option if you want to set up a blank tab as the default start page. That’s ideal if you prefer zero distractions at startup.

To access this option, you must switch to theGeneraltab on the sidebar. Then, check the box next toRestore previous sessionif you want Firefox to load your last browsing session whenever you relaunch the browser.

How to Change the Start Page in Microsoft Edge

Being a Chromium-based browser, Microsoft Edge features a set of startup options similar to Google Chrome. You can pick between the default new tab page, open tabs from the previous session, or multiple custom pages.

  1. Open theEdgemenu and selectSettings.

  2. SelectStart, home, and new tabson theSettingssidebar.

  3. Under theWhen Edge startssection, switch between the following options:

The default new tab page opens when you launch Microsoft Edge. Select it to undo any previous changes to the start page.

Automatically opens all tabs from your previous browsing session.

Allows you to set up a web page or multiple pages to load at startup. Use theAdd a new pagebutton to add new pages manually.

Or, selectUse all open tabsto add the addresses in all open tabs and windows automatically.

How to Change the Start Page in Apple Safari

On the Mac, Safari features multiple options that can help you determine how the browser’s start page works.

  1. Open Safari.

  2. SelectSafari>Preferenceson the menu bar.

  3. Under theGeneraltab, use the pull-down menus next toSafari opens withandNew windows open withoptions to modify the start page:

Open the pull-down menu and select between a new window (default), a new private window, all windows from the last session, or all non-private windows from the previous session.

Only use this option if you setSafari opens withtoA new window.

Can You Change the Startup Page in Mobile Browsers?

Mobile browsers always stay open in the background (unless you take the time to quit them forcibly). So they don’t include options to change the startup page. But you can modify how the homepage or and tabs behave in select browsers and platforms.

If you use Chrome on Android, you can set up a default homepage with a custom URL. You can then tap theHomeicon to start with a specific page instead of the default Chrome tab.

  1. Open theChromemenu (select icon with three dots) and selectSettings.

  2. TapHomepage.

  3. Activate the switch next toOn. Follow that by entering a custom web address into theEnter custom web addressfield.

Mozilla Firefox on iOS lets you determine how new tabs start by default.

  1. Open theFirefoxmenu and selectSettings.

  2. SelectNew Tab.

  3. Switch between the following options:

If youuse Microsoft Edge on your Android or iOS device, you can configure Microsoft Edge to continue with your previous page or just a new page whenever you reopen the browser after exiting to the device’s Home screen.

  1. Open theEdgemenu and selectSettings.

  2. TapAdvanced settings.

  3. SelectContinue browsing where I left off(default option) orOpen a new tab.

Get the Perfect Start to Your Browsing Session

Getting the start page set up correctly the way you want can positively impact your experience with Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari. Don’t forget to experiment with each available startup setting to figure out what works the best for you.

Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer and blogger with three years of experience writing for online technology publications. He specializes in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Google web apps. When he isn’t hammering away at his Magic Keyboard, you can catch him binge-watching productivity hacks on YouTube.Read Dilum’s Full Bio

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