TabfortChrome lost your tab groups? How to restore and save them
Updated 8 October 2026 · by Roman Denisov, maker of Tabfort
Tab groups are a great way to keep work and projects apart — until they disappear after a restart, an update or a sync problem. Here is where to look, and how to keep a copy that survives.
1. Reopen a hidden or closed group
In recent Chrome versions, closing a group usually hides it rather than deleting it. Look for your groups:
- in the tab groups list on the left of the bookmarks bar (if the bookmarks bar is shown — Ctrl+Shift+B);
- in the Search tabs button (the arrow or list icon at the top of the window), which lists your tab groups.
Click the group to open it again with all its tabs.
2. Press Ctrl+Shift+T or check Recently closed
If the whole window with your groups closed, Ctrl+Shift+T or ⋮ → History → Recently closed brings the window back. Depending on the Chrome version, groups may come back as groups or as plain tabs.
3. Check another device
With Chrome sync on, groups can be shared between your computers. If they are still on another device, open them there and save them (see below) before syncing again.
4. If the group was deleted
Delete group removes the group from the list. The pages are still in your history (Ctrl+H), but the group itself — its name, colour and tab order — can't be brought back by Chrome.
Why tab groups disappear
- Chrome restarts after a crash or update and restores the session without the groups.
- A group was deleted instead of hidden — the two options sit next to each other in the menu.
- Sync conflicts between computers overwrite the list of groups.
- Windows were closed one by one, so the groups in earlier windows are not in the last session.
How to back up tab groups
Chrome has no export for tab groups. You can bookmark the tabs of each group by hand — but that loses the group name, colour and order. A session manager that understands tab groups keeps all of it.
How Tabfort keeps your tab groups
- Saves group names, colours, collapsed state, tab order and pinned tabs automatically, within seconds of every change.
- Restores groups exactly as they were. Reopening a group never creates a duplicate.
- Keeps snapshots for 7 days, so you can go back to the state from before the groups vanished.
- Export everything to a file at any time. No account; nothing leaves your computer.
Questions
How do I restore a closed tab group in Chrome?
Open the tab groups list on the bookmarks bar or the Search tabs button and click the group. If the whole window closed, use Ctrl+Shift+T or History → Recently closed.
Can I recover a deleted tab group in Chrome?
Not the group itself: Chrome removes its name, colour and order. The pages remain in History. Only a backup made before deleting can bring the group back.
How do I save tab groups in Chrome?
Hide a group instead of deleting it to keep it in Chrome, or use a session manager extension that saves groups with names and colours automatically.