How to Change Your Chrome Homepage: A Step-by-Step Guide

Your browser's homepage is the first thing you see when you open Chrome. Whether you want to switch to a search engine, a news site, a productivity dashboard, or a blank page, changing it is straightforward—and the process works the same way across Windows, Mac, and Linux.

What the Chrome Homepage Does

Your homepage is the page that loads when you click the home button or open a new browser window (depending on your settings). It's separate from your default search engine, though the two work together. You can set your homepage to any URL you want, or disable it entirely so Chrome opens to a blank page instead.

How to Change Your Homepage in Chrome 🔧

Step 1: Open Chrome Settings

Click the three vertical dots (menu icon) in the top-right corner of Chrome. Select Settings from the dropdown menu.

Step 2: Navigate to the Homepage Section

In the left sidebar, click Appearance. This is where homepage settings live.

Step 3: Enable the Home Button (If Needed)

Look for the "Show home button" toggle. If it's off, turn it on. Once enabled, a home icon will appear next to your address bar.

Step 4: Choose Your Homepage

You'll see three radio button options:

  • New Tab page — Opens Chrome's default new tab with shortcuts and news
  • Open a specific page or set of pages — Lets you enter a custom URL or multiple URLs
  • Open the page that was open when you closed the browser — Reopens where you left off

If you select the second option, click Add a new page and enter the web address you want as your homepage.

Step 5: Confirm Your Choice

Your settings save automatically. Click the home button to test it.

Important Distinctions 📌

Homepage vs. New Tab Page: These are different. Your homepage appears when you click the home button; your new tab page appears when you press Ctrl+T (or Cmd+T on Mac). You can customize both independently.

Homepage vs. Search Engine: Your search engine is what Chrome uses when you type in the address bar. You can change it separately in Settings > Search Engine if you want Google to be your search engine but a different site as your homepage.

What If You Can't Find These Settings?

Occasionally, extensions or malware can override your homepage settings. If your homepage keeps reverting to something you didn't choose:

  • Check Settings > Extensions and disable or remove any extensions you don't recognize
  • Run a malware scan using your system's built-in security tool or a reputable third-party tool
  • Reset Chrome to its default settings (in Settings > Advanced > Reset settings) if the problem persists

Note that resetting Chrome clears some personalization, so use this as a last resort.

Multiple Homepages

If you select "Open a specific page or set of pages," you can add several URLs. Each one will open in a separate tab when you click the home button. This is useful if you want quick access to multiple sites without bookmarking them individually.

When You Might Want a Blank Homepage

Some people prefer a blank page as their homepage to minimize distractions or reduce load time. To do this, select "New Tab page" and then customize that page by clicking the settings icon in the bottom-right corner of the new tab—you can hide shortcuts and cards there. Alternatively, you can type about:blank as a custom homepage URL.

The right choice depends on your workflow and what you want to see first each time you open Chrome. The good news is that changing it takes less than a minute, and you can always adjust it again later.