In a small but user-friendly update, Google Chrome has repositioned its Tab Search feature to a more intuitive location in the browser’s interface. The change is rolling out with version 136.0.7103.114giving Chrome’s tab management tool a new home in the main toolbar—right next to the address bar.
Tab Search Gets a New Home
For years, Chrome’s Tab Search feature has lived somewhat inconspicuously behind a downward-facing arrow located beside the “New Tab” (+) button. While power users and multitaskers often relied on it to sift through crowded windows, the icon wasn’t exactly self-explanatory.
Now, in Chrome’s latest update, Tab Search has its own dedicated button on the main toolbar. It sits just past extension shortcuts, alongside other utility tools, making it more prominent and easier to discover—especially for new users juggling dozens of tabs.
What Does the New Button Do?
Clicking the Tab Search button opens a compact search bar with a dropdown showing currently open tabs at the top and recently closed tabs below. Users can type keywords to instantly filter through both sections—an incredibly useful function when you have multiple tabs with similar titles or content open.
Importantly, the search isn’t limited to just active tabs. Even recently closed tabs are indexed, making it simple to recover lost content without digging through browser history.
Customizing the Toolbar Experience
Chrome users can right-click on the Tab Search button and select “Toolbar settings” to manage its placement or remove it altogether. This is part of a broader move by Google to make Chrome’s toolbar more customizable, giving users access to a growing list of feature shortcuts.
Consistency Across Platforms
This update mirrors a similar recent change to Chrome for Androidwhere the Tab Search function now appears as a search bar on the tab grid pageallowing users to filter tabs with ease even on mobile devices.
Conclusion
The small visual change may seem minor, but it reflects Chrome’s continued push toward usability and accessibility. For users navigating dozens—or even hundreds—of tabs daily, this new placement could prove a significant timesaver.
Bhupendra singh chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur kiranhis insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
