Chrome browser opens two tabs

Some users have reported a strange issue where the Chrome browser opens two identical tabs every time the user clicks on a link. While some users only encounter this problem when they try to start Google Chrome, others complain that it is standard behavior on all hyperlinks they try to access.

When researching the topic, we realized that these symptoms can be caused by a wide range of different culprits. Most of the time, the problem is caused by a bad installation or a corrupted file, but it can also be a symptom of a browser hijacker.

If you have the same problem, the following methods will help you. Here is a collection of fixes that other users in a similar situation have used to solve the problem. Follow each possible solution in order until you find a solution that solves the situation.

Method 1: change Chrome startup settings

Before trying anything else, Let's make sure the problem isn't caused by a Google Chrome setting. Many of the affected users have determined that this strange behavior was caused by a startup configuration.

Here's a quick guide to see if this setting makes your Chrome browser open two identical tabs on every startup:

1. Abra Google Chrome, click the action icon (three dots icon) in the upper right corner and click Settings.

   

2. In the Settings menu, go to the On startup tab and make sure the behavior is not set to Open a specific page or page set. You can set it to Open the new tab or to Continue where you left off.

   Note: If it's set to open a specific set of pages and you want to keep it that way, just remove unnecessary duplicates using the action button associated with each entry.

   

3. Close Google Chrome and restart your computer to see if you have resolved the problem. In the next start, open Chrome again and see if you still see two tabs open. If the same behavior persists, continue with next method.

Method 2: disable all chrome extensions

Extensions are usually responsible for strange behavior like this. If you use a lot of extensions with Google Chrome, it is very possible that some of them are in conflict and create startup problems like the one we have at hand.

A couple of users have managed to identify the culprit in their list of extensions. To check if the problem lies with one of your extensions, we are going to disable them all at once. Here is a quick guide on how to manage your extensions:

1. Open Google Chrome and access the actions menu in the upper right corner. Then go to More tools and choose Extensions.

   

2. Then use the lever associated with each extension to deactivate it.

   

3. With all extensions disabled, restart Google Chrome and check if the strange behavior has been fixed. If so, you can locate the exact culprit by systematically re-enabling each extension and restarting the browser until you find out which extension is causing the problem.

4. Once I can identify the culprit, click Remove to remove it from your extensions list.

Method 3: run a malware scan

If the problem is not caused by a Chrome extension or setting, let's make sure it's not a browser hijacker. Some users have managed to eliminate the strange behavior by noticing that their browser was infected by malware.

There are several ways to ensure that your browser is free of malware, but we recommend Malwarebytes for best results. If you need more guidance, you can follow our step-by-step guide on using Malwarebytes ( here ).

Method 4: update or reinstall Chrome

If none of the above methods have been successful, there is a high probability that some kind of file corruption is causing the problem. Google Chrome should update automatically, but to be sure, click the action button (Right upper corner) and navigate to Help> About Google Chrome. If there is a new version available, wait until the browser is available and restart the application.

If Chrome shows you already have the latest version, a browser reinstall might be the solution you need. Here is a quick guide on how to do it:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open a start box. Then type »appwiz.cpl» and hit Enter to open Programs and Features.

   

2. In Programs and Features, right-click on Google Chrome and then follow the on-screen instructions to remove the browser from your system.

3. Once Chrome has been removed from your system, use another browser to visit this link (here) and download the latest version of Chrome.

4. When the installation is complete, restart your computer and see if the problem is resolved on the next startup.