Switching back to last *used* tab on Chrome

How do I toggle back to the last tab used in Chrome on Mac? Ctrl-Tab and Ctrl-Shift-Tab navigates the tabs in order. But I want to switch back and forth between two tabs similar to how how Cmd-Tab switches between the last two apps. There's a way to do this on Firefox but is there a solution for Chrome?

Solution 1:

Chrome has no native keyboard shortcut for this, but there's an extension you can use:

Recent Tabs (Chrome Web Store)

Features

• You can specify any keyboard shortcut you like (default: Ctrl + Q).

• You can configure it to

  • show a list of the most recent tabs (much like Alt + Tab).

  • toggle between the last 2 tabs.

  whenever you press the keyboard shortcut.

Screenshot

Solution 2:

I really wanted this feature myself, I have tried most existing extensions already available but none of them worked properly.

I went ahead and tried my hand at developing one myself and it seems to be working for me. The project is now open source on GitHub. Figured it might help others, too.

Here is the link: CLUT: Cycle Last Used Tabs

Keys can be changed in keyboard shortcut settings on the Chrome extensions page:

Or, for older versions of Chrome:

Solution 3:

Recent Tabs has a serious problem of interfering with keyboard events handling. It slows down the whole browser key handling. For example, after enabling the extension, go visit http://fullscreenmario.com and try to control Mario with keyboards. FPS goes rapidly down to 5 or 6.

Not a problem, but a limitation with the extension is it can't move between chrome://* pages or blank page.

There is a working alternative : Toggle Switch Recent Last Tabs. It doesn't slow down the browser. It can switch between any pages.

Solution 4:

There's finally a Chrome extension that solves this for good.

It's called Tab Thumbnails Switcher.

It supports Ctrl+Tab and Ctrl+Shift+Tab out of the box for switching between tabs in last used order.

From the extension's page:

A tab switcher menu with thumbnail previews similar to Windows 10 task switcher.

➭ Tabs are in recently used order.

➭ You can use Ctrl+Tab and Ctrl+Shift+Tab to select the desired tab or choose a different shortcut.

➭ Mouse-only method: Click on the toolbar button and then click on the desired tab.

➭ It doesn't interfere with the web page you are viewing.

➭ The tabs menu pops up instantly for a fast tab switching.

➭ Works offline. No need for an internet connection.

➭ Tab Thumbnails Switcher does not access or collect your personal data.
...

✔ The tab menu is implemented in machine code, which allows it to pop up instantly without annoying loading delays.

✔ It can redefine Ctrl+Tab shortcut for switching between tabs.

✔ It doesn't inject code into every page you visit, thus avoiding sluggish page loads and conserving CPU and memory.

✔ It works on ALL tabs. Either PDF documents, the New Tab Page, extension pages, Chrome pages, you name it.