How to access and get the most out of Chrome's advanced options

Chrome hides a host of advanced settings that, when properly configured, can make a significant difference in speed, memory usage, privacy, and productivity. If you're familiar with chrome://flags, Memory Saver, page preloading, or the built-in task manager, but don't know where to start, here's a comprehensive and practical guide to fine-tuning your browser.

In addition to step-by-step instructions on how to access advanced features, you'll discover useful tips and shortcuts for getting the most out of tabs, bookmarks, extensions, security, and even hidden tools we rarely use. All with clear instructions, timely warnings, and recommendations to prevent accidental damage.

Performance: Get more out of your memory, CPU, and battery

The Performance section of Chrome contains key settings for smooth-running active tabs , extending battery life on laptops, and speeding up browsing with smart preloading. Note an important point: these controls cannot be customized on iOS or Android , so the following applies to Windows, macOS, Linux, and ChromeOS.

Performance issue alerts

Chrome may notify you when it detects slow browsing and suggest disabling background tabs. If a notification appears with the "Fix now" option, accept to apply the change with one click. If you prefer not to receive this notification: open Chrome, go to More > Settings > Performance, and under "General" disable " Performance alerts" (it's enabled by default).

Memory saving: balances consumption and smoothness

Memory Saver suspends inactive tabs to free up RAM , automatically reloading them when you return to them. Go to More > Settings > Performance and turn Memory Saver on or off . You can choose the level of aggressiveness:

• Moderate: frees up memory more calmly, tabs take longer to deactivate.
• Balanced (recommended): a middle ground that suits most people well.
• Maximum: It suspends much sooner, ideal if you're running low on RAM.

Tips and useful notes :

• Activate Memory Saver if you often have videos or games running in the foreground. to keep them stable.
• If you want to distinguish at a glance which lashes are dormant, activate Appearance of inactive eyelashes and you'll see its icon inside a ring.
• Some activities prevent you from suspending tabs.: active audio or video, shared screens, site notifications, ongoing downloads, partially filled forms, pinned tabs, or USB/Bluetooth devices in use.

Show memory usage in tab preview

If you want to see how much memory each tab uses when you hover over it , go to Settings > Appearance . On Windows, Linux, and Chromebook, enable "Preview card > Show memory usage for tabs ." On Mac, enable " Show memory usage in preview card ." This is very useful for detecting resource-intensive pages without opening the Task Manager.

Keep specific sites active at all times

Don't want a key work or study domain or path suspended? Add it to the exclusion list: Settings > Performance > to the right of "Always keep these sites active," tap Add . You can:

• Add current sites: select the ones you have open and confirm by clicking Add.
• Add sites manuallyEnter an address following this format: [scheme://][.]host[:port][/path][@query].

Useful examples of exclusion :

• An entire domain and its subdomains: writes google.com and you will cover drive.google.com, calendar.google.com...
• Domain only, no subdomains: by preceding with a period, .google.com will not coincide with www.google.com ni drive.google.com.
• A specific subdirectory: www.google.com/finance It will only affect that section.
• Wildcards in scheme or query: https://* It keeps all HTTPS sites active; youtube.com/watch?v=* covers videos. Wildcards are not allowed for host prefixes/suffixes: *oogle.com o google.com/* They will not work for the host.

Energy saving in laptops

To extend battery life, Chrome reduces screenshots and background tasks . By turning on Power Saving in Settings > Performance, it will kick in when your device is unplugged or has a low battery. It doesn't affect tabs with video calls or audio playing. Available on Windows, Mac, and Chromebooks with batteries.

• Do you need everything to keep working in the background during a session? Tap the Power Saving icon next to the address bar and choose Deactivate now.
• This can be seen in games or videos: prioritizes autonomy versus gross performance.

Preload pages to get faster

Chrome can preload likely pages and, if you allow it, use cookies and an encrypted Google proxy to hide your identity from websites. Enable it in Settings > Performance > Preload pages and choose:

• Standard preload: some likely pages.
• Extended preload: a greater number of potential pages.

Internal pages and experimental features

Chrome has an internal catalog of pages for diagnosing, configuring, or accessing hidden tools . There's no need to memorize anything: visit chrome://about/ (or chrome://chrome-urls ) to see them all and access them with a single click.

Some very useful internal addresses are: chrome://apps (installed apps), chrome://bookmarks (bookmarks), chrome://extensions (extensions), chrome://accessibility/ (accessibility), and chrome://net-internals (network diagnostics). There are also interesting ones like chrome://dino for playing offline games and chrome://site-engagement/ to see which sites you interact with most.

Flags: the engine room of experiments

At chrome://flags you can enable features in testing that haven't yet reached stable versions. Each flag briefly explains its purpose and offers a menu on the right to enable or disable it. Note: these can affect stability, security, or privacy , and could even cause data loss if something goes wrong.

Sensible advice : If you want to experiment, use Chrome Canary and keep your main profile safe. When in doubt, it's best not to touch anything.

Advanced settings: languages, downloads, accessibility, system, and cleanup

What used to be called "advanced" settings is now divided into several distinct sections within Settings: Languages, Downloads, Accessibility, System, and "Recover data and clean up." We'll tell you what's most useful about each one.

Languages

Control the interface language and spell checker . The spell checker is especially useful if you type a lot in forms, chats, or web apps: it reduces errors on the fly.

Downloads

Choose the default folder and whether you want Chrome to ask each time . If you change the location, keep track of your new "downloads drawer" so you don't lose files.

Accessibility

Automatic subtitles, cursor enhancements, and highlighting options make navigation easier for those who need it. You can also expand the functionality with extensions from the Chrome Web Store.

System

Enable hardware acceleration to offload work to the GPU when possible and decide whether Chrome can continue running in the background when you close it—useful if you rely on notifications.

Restore settings and clean

Chrome can be reset to its default settings without deleting passwords or bookmarks . It's not a complete reset: certain parameters like fonts and accessibility remain untouched. If you're looking for a true "clean slate," create a new user profile and start fresh.

Tabs, bookmarks, and maximum organization

With small workflow improvements, you'll save minutes every day . Here's what you need to tame your tabs and have everything at your fingertips.

Groups of lashes and fixed lashes

Group tabs by project or topic by right-clicking > Add to new group, name and color them, and add more tabs by dragging or right-clicking. Pin essential tabs (right-click > Pin) so they appear as thumbnails on the left and persist after restarting.

Move several at once and reopen what was closed

Select multiple tabs with Control (or Shift in range) and move them all together to another position or window. If you accidentally close one, Control + Shift + T reopens the last tab, and you can repeat this process to recover more.

Bookmarks bar, reading list, and QR code

Use the bookmarks bar for quick access; edit it and leave only the icon to save space. Save articles to your reading list and mark them as read/unread. Want to share a physical URL? Generate a QR code from the address bar icon and download it.

Extensions: order, shortcuts, and control

Chrome has redesigned the extensions menu : on the right you'll see the pinned extensions, and the rest, indicated by the puzzle icon, for managing or pinning them. Under Manage extensions, you can easily enable, disable, or uninstall extensions.

Create keyboard shortcuts to invoke them : in Manage extensions > menu > Shortcuts, assign combinations (Control/Shift + key) to activate extensions or internal functions of some.

Faster searches from the omnibox and within websites

Search sites without entering them first : type their domain (e.g., youtube.com) and press Tab when "Search on…" appears to directly access their internal search engine.

Select text and search on the fly : right-click and choose "Search Google" (or your default search engine), or drag the text to the search bar to launch it. Within a page, Control + F opens the search bar with yellow markers on the scroll bar to locate matches by height.

Multimedia and device productivity

Control playback without switching tabs using the music note icon: pause/resume, next/previous, subtitles, or picture-in-picture. If a website's sound is bothering you, simply mute the site by right-clicking on the tab.

Send tabs between devices logged into the same account by right-clicking on the tab. And if you want to view it on your TV, "Cast to your Chromecast (same network)" will share the tab on the big screen.

Privacy and security: the important things tied up.

Manage permissions by site : Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings for checking camera, microphone, notifications, etc. Change by site or by permission type.

Check if your passwords have been leaked : In Security Check, tap "Check now." If any credentials have been compromised, change them as soon as possible and avoid reusing passwords across services.

Block third-party cookies or all cookies in Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data. You can allow them only in incognito mode or block them globally (this will break functionality on many sites). You can also enable " delete cookies on exit" to leave no trace, but this will require you to log in each time.

Incognito mode on desktop and mobile prevents saving local history, although it doesn't make you invisible to websites or social networks. Shortcut: Control + Shift + N.

Data and cleanup: cache, autocomplete, and PDF

Clear browsing data in seconds with Control + Shift + Delete : cache, cookies, and basic history, or perform an advanced cleanup on a scheduled basis. Useful if you find Chrome sluggish.

Update Autocomplete (passwords, payment methods, addresses) from the section of the same name to correct old or erroneous entries and avoid annoying suggestions.

Save pages as PDFs with Control + P > Destination: Save as PDF, perfect for offline reading or sharing web documents.

Search and change: engines, fonts and homepage

Change your default search engine in Settings > Search Engine > Manage search engines, and choose from Google, DuckDuckGo, Bing, or other detected search engines.

Adjust fonts and sizes in Appearance > Customize fonts : define Serif, Sans-serif and monospace, standard and minimum size for comfortable reading.

Decide what opens when you start Chrome in Settings > On open: specific pages (use " Use current pages " to dump open pages), a single home page, or resume where you left off.

Web applications and shortcuts

Install web apps (PWAs) when the install icon appears in the address bar (e.g., Twitter). Shortcuts will be created and they will open in a separate window as if they were native apps.

Create website shortcuts from More > More tools > Create shortcut ; if you select "Open as window," you'll have an app-like experience. You can also create shortcuts to apps like Gmail from More tools in the menu.

Internal tools: diagnostics and development

Internal Task Manager ( Shift + Esc) : View RAM, CPU, and bandwidth usage by tab/extension and terminate problematic processes. Sort columns to identify the culprits.

DevTools for downloading resources or viewing uploads : Press Ctrl+Shift+I . In Sources , explore files (fonts, images, videos), and in Network, observe what's being uploaded in real time. Some platforms protect their content, but on many websites, you can identify and save resources.

Mobile view with the devices icon in DevTools: change resolutions, simulate predefined mobiles and toggle vertical/horizontal to see how a website responds.

Clear site data from a specific site in DevTools > Application > Storage > Clear site data . Ideal for "unclogging" a page without clearing the entire browser.

Useful tricks that save your day

Mute an entire site by right-clicking on the tab if there's unwanted audio. This will work for all playback on that domain.

To link directly to highlighted text : select the passage, right-click > Copy link to highlighted text. Anyone who opens it will see the highlighted passage.

Block elements by type (images, pop-ups, JavaScript) in Privacy and security > Site settings > Content, adding exceptions by URL.

Chrome as a file explorer : type C:/ in the address bar to navigate your disk (on Windows) and open images, audio or video directly in the browser.

Protect access to Chrome with an extension if you share a computer (for example, LockPW). And for hassle-free cross-platform remote support, Chrome Remote Desktop is a lifesaver.

Shortcuts worth memorizing

A handful of key combinations multiply your speed in daily tasks without touching the mouse more than necessary:

• Ctrl + N: new window. Ctrl + Shift + N: incognito.
• Ctrl + T: new tab. Ctrl + 1…8: jump to a tab.
• Ctrl + D / Ctrl + Shift + D: save bookmark / all tabs.
• F5 o Ctrl + R: recharge; F11: full screen.
• Ctrl + F: search on page; Ctrl + P: print/save PDF.

Mobile: Save data and maintain speed

On Android, Data Saver reduces monthly data usage by compressing traffic and can save up to 30% depending on usage. Access it from Chrome's settings on your mobile device and activate the feature if your data plan is limited.

Remember : on iOS and Android you won't be able to customize the Performance panel like on desktop, but you can take advantage of incognito mode, syncing, tab sharing, passwords, and other benefits of the Chrome ecosystem.

Keep Chrome up to date

To force an update if you haven't received it yet: Menu > Help > About Google Chrome . The version page will open, and if there are any updates, they will be downloaded and applied.

You've already mastered performance settings, internal pages, and key tricks to make Chrome fly . Between memory/power saving, preloading, smart flags, and good privacy hygiene, your browser will be faster, more stable, and more secure, and your daily life much more comfortable.