Chrome users on Android are facing a problem that makes simple web browsing feel broken. Google changed how bookmarks work, and now they open in new tabs instead of replacing your current page. This shift happened just a few days ago, catching users off guard.
James Miller noticed this first on his tablet. He said his bookmarks worked fine one day, then suddenly started opening new tabs the next. Many other users thought this was a bug. But it’s not broken – Google made this the new way bookmarks work.
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What Changed and Why It Matters
A Chrome expert explained that this comes from “a Chrome update/change in tab handling”. Before this update, tapping a bookmark would open the page right where you were browsing. Now it creates a new tab every time.
This might seem small, but it creates real problems:
- You end up with lots of tabs you don’t need
- Your browsing feels slower and messier
- You have to spend time closing unwanted tabs
- Simple tasks now take extra steps
The change is rolling out slowly. Some users still have the old way, but eventually everyone will get the new behavior.
The Workaround That Actually Works
Reddit user -rfkd- found a way to fix this. You can make Chrome work like before by changing a hidden setting:
- Type this in your Chrome address bar: chrome://flags/#android-native-pages-in-new-tab
- Set it to “Disabled”
- Restart Chrome
After doing this, your bookmarks will open in the same tab again.
The Bigger Problem: Bookmarks That Multiply
Some users face an even worse issue. Their bookmarks keep copying themselves over and over. Angel Long spent hours deleting duplicate bookmarks, only to watch them come right back.
This happens because Chrome’s sync feature goes wrong. When you delete bookmarks on one device, Chrome pulls them back from your other devices. It creates an endless loop of bookmark copies.
To fix bookmark duplication:
- Turn off Chrome sync completely
- Clean up bookmarks on all your devices
- Turn sync back on carefully
This shouldn’t be needed for basic features, but it’s the only way to stop the problem.
Two Simple Fixes You Can Try Right Now
Quick Fix: Long-press bookmarks instead of tapping them. Then choose “Open in this tab”. This works but adds extra steps to every bookmark you open.
Better Fix: Use the flag setting mentioned above to restore normal bookmark behavior.
Why This Change Feels Wrong
Chrome used to be simple. Tap a bookmark, get your page. Now users need to:
- Learn new gestures
- Dig through hidden browser settings
- Manage extra tabs they never wanted
- Deal with bookmarks that copy themselves
This isn’t the smooth browsing experience people expect from their main browser.
Will This Get Better?
The flag fix works now, but Google might remove it later. There’s no guarantee this workaround will always be available. Users who want predictable bookmarks might need to consider other browsers if Chrome keeps making basic features more complicated.
For now, the flag setting is your best option to make Chrome bookmarks work normally again. Just remember that Google controls these experimental features and can change them anytime.