How to Recover Closed Tabs in Any Web Browser

The number of times I’ve closed my browser or shut off my computer, forgetting that I have dozens of open tabs borders on embarrassing. Sometimes it took hours of research to find all the tabs again. 

Most browsers now sport features that allow you to recover closed tabs quickly. If you weren’t aware of this, read on to see how to recover closed tabs in any web browser.

1. Microsoft Edge

Follow one of these steps to reopen tabs in Microsoft Edge.

One-click Method

1. Right-click the tabs bar at the top of the window.
2. Select Reopen Closed Tab.

3. Continue to select Reopen Closed Tab as many times as you need to recover the correct tab.

Check Your History

1. Launch Microsoft Edge.
2. Click on the three dots at the top right of the window.

3. Select History and select Recently Closed.

4. Choose the desired website.

Note: This works for Microsoft Edge on your Android as well.

Launch Microsoft Edge With Reopened Tabs

If you want to close Edge and reopen it with the previously open tabs, use this setting.

1. Launch Microsoft Edge.
2. Click on the three dots at the top right of the window.

3. Select Settings then On startup from the left-hand menu.

4. Select Continue where you left off.

When you open Microsoft Edge, it will automatically reload any open tabs when you previously closed the browser.

2. Mozilla Firefox

Recovering closed tabs in Firefox is very similar to Microsoft Edge. 

One-click Method

1. Right-click the tabs bar at the top of the window.
2. Select Reopen Closed Tab.

3. Continue to select Reopen Closed Tab as many times as you need to recover the correct tab.

Check History

1. Launch Mozilla Firefox.
2. Click on the menu button at the top right of the window.

3. Select History and then Recently Closed Windows.
4. Select the website you want.
5. Alternatively, select the website from beneath Recent history.

Restore Previous Session

1. Launch Mozilla Firefox.
2. Click on the menu button at the top right of the window.
3. Click History, then select Restore Previous Session.

Launch Mozilla Firefox with the Previous Session

1. Launch Mozilla Firefox.
2. Click on the menu button at the top right of the window and select Settings.
3. Select General.
4. Below Startup, click Restore previous session.

Firefox will now automatically reload any tabs that were open when you closed it previously.

3. Google Chrome

Google Chrome offers four simple ways to reopen closed tabs. 

One-click Method

1. Right-click the tabs bar at the top of the window.
2. Select Reopen closed tab.

3. Continue to select Reopen closed tab as many times as you need to recover the correct tab.

Quick Shortcut

1. With Google Chrome open, simply press Ctrl + Shift + T to reopen the previously closed tab.

Right-click the Taskbar Icon

1. With Chrome open, right-click the Chrome icon in the taskbar.
2. At the top of the pop-up window, you’ll see Recently closed.

3. Select the website you want.

Check your History

1. Select the three vertical dots at the top-right of the window.
2. Select History, then select the desired website under Recently closed.

4. Safari

Safari is a little different from the other browsers, but it’s just as easy to recover closed tabs.

One-click Method

1. Select Edit and select Undo Close Tab.

Shortcut Method

1. Use the shortcut Command + T to reopen the last closed tab.
2. Repeatedly press the shortcut until the desired tab reopens.

New Tab Icon

1. Launch Safari.
2. Press and hold the New Tab icon (the plus symbol at the top right of the window).
3. In the dropdown menu, you will see Recently Closed Tabs.
4. Select the desired website.

Check Your History

1. Launch Safari.
2. Select the History tab, then select Reopen Last Closed Tab.

3. Select the desired website.

If these methods don’t work, repair Safari and then try again. 

Never Lose Your Tabs Again

Everyone’s been there, but luckily it’s now easy to reopen closed tabs in any current web browser. If you have other tips, let us know in the comments below!