How to Fix: Chrome Continue Where You Left off Feature Not Working
There are many reasons why the Chrome browser would need to close or relaunch. This includes the times when it undergoes updates or crashes. When this happens, the handy continuity feature called Chrome “continue where you left off” comes into play to help save and reopen your previously opened tabs.
That is, of course, except when it doesn’t. We’ll walk you through all the troubleshooting tips when this feature just isn’t working and suggest some ways to get your system back on track again.
A Quick Fix for Chrome Issues That You Might Be Overlooking
Before we jump browser-first into any Chrome Continue Where You Left Off issues, it’s worth considering how using a strong VPN can improve your overall browsing experience. Not only can a service like NordVPN protect your privacy and make your browsing more secure, but it can also prevent a myriad of glitches that can shut down the proper functioning of Chrome and other apps.
Enhance Chrome’s performance and level-up your safety as you troubleshoot with NordVPN:
Editor's Pick March 2025
Quick and Easy Troubleshooting Tips That Actually Work
Losing an important tab can be frustrating, but it does not have to mean the end of that project you have worked so hard on, or the research you were right in the middle of. Here is a list of tips to try when your previously open tabs aren’t automatically recovered by Chrome.
1. Chrome: Activate Continue Where You Left Off
One of the first things to try when troubleshooting the Chrome Continue where you left off feature, is to make sure it’s actually activated. Here’s what to do:
- Open Chrome.
- Click the more options button and select Settings from the menu.
- Scroll down to the On Startup section.
- Select the Continue where you left off option.
2. Update the Chrome Browser
If there is an available Chrome update, this may solve your tab issues, especially if there were bugs or glitches with previous versions. Here are the steps:
- Open the Chrome menu by clicking the three vertical dots on the upper right of your screen.
- Select Help.
- Select About Google Chrome.
- The next screen will automatically start updating your Chrome version if it was accidentally outdated. When the update is finished, restart the browser. This may solve your problems with the Continue where you left off feature.
3. Disable and Re-enable Chrome Continue Where You Left Off
Like most things in the tech world, toggling this feature off and on again can fix any issues that may have prevented it from working in the past. Here’s how to go about the process:
- Open the Chrome menu by clicking the three vertical dots on the upper right of the screen.
- Select Settings.
- On the left of the screen, select On Startup.
- Click the bubble to Open the New Tab page.
- Close Chrome.
- Reopen Chrome and repeat the steps until you get back to that On Startup menu.
- Select Continue where you left off.
- Close Chrome again.
- See if this feature works again once you restart Chrome.
4. Pay Attention to How You Close Chrome
If you are manually closing all of your open tabs before you close Chrome, only the most recent previously opened tab will be restored with this feature. If you exit through the Chrome menu, instead of closing all the tabs, you should be able to have all your tabs restored the next time you access the browser.
5. Disable Continue Running Background Apps
Sometimes disabling this feature can help with being able to restore tabs. Here are the steps:
- Access the Chrome menu from the three vertical dots.
- Go to Settings.
- Go to System (on the left side of your screen).
- Toggle off the Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed.
- Restart the browser and see if this resolves the problem.
6. Check/Disable Extensions
When addressing Chrome Continue where you left off not working, try checking the extensions you have running. These can sometimes interfere with Chrome’s built-in functionalities, and it may just be the root cause of your issue. Disable the extensions and then check if it works.
- Open Chrome.
- Click the more options button at the top right and select More tools>Extensions.
- Turn the switch next to each extension option off.
- Close and reopen Chrome.
- Your tabs will reopen.
7. Create New Chrome Profile
A Chrome profile can be corrupted. Though this is rare, it can cause problems with Chrome’s native features. The easiest fix is to create a new profile.
- Open Chrome.
- Click your profile icon at the top.
- Select Add.
- Enter a name for the new profile.
- Delete the old profile.
- Sign in to your Google account for the new profile.
- Your data should start syncing to this new profile as soon as you start using it.
8. Reset Chrome
If the feature still doesn’t work, reset Chrome.
- Open Chrome.
- Click the more options button at the top right.
- Select Settings from the menu.
- Click Advanced at the very bottom.
- Scroll to the bottom.
- Click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Click Reset settings.
9. Clean install Chrome
If none of the above troubleshooting tips have resolved the issue, you can try what is called a “clean install” of Chrome. Simply follow these steps:
- Open Chrome.
- Paste this in the location bar: chrome://version.
- Copy the link to your profile.
- Open the link in File Explorer.
- Close Chrome.
- Go to the root Chrome folder and delete it.
- Open Control Panel.
- Go to Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Select Chrome and click the Uninstall button.
- Download Chrome and install it again.
Never Lose Tabs Again: How to Reopen Closed Tabs
Dealing with bugs and glitches in the system can be extremely frustrating when you’re on a time crunch. If Chrome isn’t able to automatically restore your tabs, and you just want a quick fix, there are a couple of methods to help you do it yourself.
1. Using a Keyboard Shortcut to Restore Tabs
One method to try when you find that Chrome Continue where you left off is not working, is to use keyboard shortcuts. These are especially useful if there was an unexpected crash, or even if you simply closed a tab accidentally. Here’s the keyboard combo you will need:
For Windows:
- Ctrl + Shift + T
For Mac:
- Cmd + Shift + T
This shortcut will automatically reopen a recently closed tab.
2. Reopen Closed Tabs Through Chrome’s History
Your most recently opened tabs will also be accessible through Chrome’s History. It’s straightforward to access, through the app’s menu:
- Open the Chrome menu by clicking the three vertical lines on the upper right of the screen.
- Select History.
- There will be a section of Recent Tabs with a list of your most recently opened tabs. Simply select the one you want to reopen.
- Another option is to follow those same steps and select either History from the open menu (which will group your recent tabs chronologically), or to choose Grouped History, which organizes recent tabs by group.
Troubleshooting Complete: Enjoy a Smoother Chrome Experience
Chrome’s Continue where you left off feature is a handy addition that can help you flow seamlessly from one session to the next. These easy troubleshooting tips should ensure that you have an uninterrupted browsing experience, even when bugs and glitches threaten to throw the system out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does incognito mode affect the Continue where you left off feature?
Yes. Using incognito mode to stay private on the Chrome browser can keep current tabs from being saved into your browser history. This may affect being able to access them later.
Can Continue where you left off be affected by syncing issues?
Yes. If your Chrome browser is synced between multiple devices and there is a syncing problem, it may not be able to restore your previous tabs across these devices. This can also happen if one device has an outdated browser version and one has a newer one. It’s important to be sure the syncing configuring and Chrome versions match on all the linked devices. You can access sync options by clicking your profile image on the very top right of your screen. A menu will appear with syncing settings and other options that you can customize.
Does too many open tabs cause problems with the Continue where you left off feature?
It can, yes. If you have tons of tabs open, it may bog down Chrome’s ability to restore sessions and tabs. There is a higher chance of data corruption, laggy and slow responses from overstrained resources, and even an increased chance of the browser crashing, which could affect tab restoration as well.
Can malware or viruses affect Continue where you left off?
Absolutely. If there is a Chrome malware infection or system virus, it may affect the browser and disrupt or change syncing settings, browser settings, configurations, or even corrupt your data, such as your files or profile settings. Increased session crashes could also happen if the system’s resources are bogged down, which may affect Chrome’s ability to restore tabs. If you’re worried about malware, do an antivirus scan, hunt for any Chrome extensions that look suspicious, clear your browsing data and cache and try creating a new Chrome profile if you think your usual one may be corrupted.
