How to share Chrome tabs between mobile and desktop

Several great Google Chrome tricks can turn this good browser into a great one, and one of the most useful is sharing tabs between devices. Any device that uses Chrome tabs can share tabs.

This guide walks you through all the ways you can share Chrome tabs between devices. The best Chrome experience is found on Chromebooks, so grab one of our top Chromebooks if you primarily work through the browser.

Before you begin sharing Chrome tabs

While it’s not necessary, we recommend checking that your devices are named appropriately. Otherwise, you’ll forget whether your laptop is DESKTOP-9KDM3 or DESKTOP-10DM91.

How to share Chrome tabs from your phone to your desktop

There are two methods for sharing tabs from your mobile device to your desktop. This is also how you can share tabs with a contact.

1. Tap the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner of your screen.
2. Tap Share.

3. Tap Send to your devices.
4. Tap the destination device.

5. Tap Open in New Tab on the pop-up window on your desktop.

Share by tapping the URL

This method allows you to access the Share menu without heading into Chrome’s Settings menu.

1. Tap the URL box at the top of your screen.

2. Tap the Share button (three dots connected by two lines to the right of the URL).

How to share Chrome tabs from your desktop to your phone

There are two ways to share your Chrome tabs from your desktop to your phone. You can either right-click the tab or scan a QR code.

Right-click the tab, URL, or page

1. Click the Share button at the right of your address bar.
2. Click Send to your devices.

3. Click the destination device.
4. Chrome sends a notification to your phone with the URL.
5. Tap this notification to open the tab.

Scan the tab’s QR code

This method might seem cumbersome, but you can use it to print a QR code for future reference.

1. Click the Share button at the right of the address bar.
2. Click QR code.

3. Click Download to download an image of the code.
4. Open the camera app on your phone.
5. View the QR code through your camera.
6. Tap the pop-up window to open the tab.

Open Chrome tabs through History

Your browsing history on Chrome is shared across devices. So if you want to access a tab opened earlier on other devices, head into the History menu and follow these steps.

How to access other devices’ history from desktop Chrome

1. Click the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner of your browser.
2. Hover your mouse over History to bring up the History sub-menu.
3. Click the History button. You can also use the Ctrl+H shortcut to access this menu.

4. Click Tabs from other devices.
5. Click the tab you wish to open.

How to access other devices’ history from the Chrome app

The mobile Chrome app doesn’t filter your history by device. However, it’s all there, so here’s how to access it:

1. Tap the three-button menu in the upper-right corner of your screen.
2. Tap the History button.

3. Scroll down to find the tab you’re looking for.

Use Chrome on multiple devices like a pro

Google Chrome’s tab sharing is a great feature, but there are plenty of reasons to try other browsers. Whether you’re concerned about privacy or want to try something new, check out our roundup of the best web browsers for Android.