You know the feeling: 73 tabs open, your browser slowing to a crawl, and you're terrified to close anything because "I might need that later." Tab hoarding is real, and it destroys both your computer's performance and your mental clarity.
OneTab is the solution. One click converts all your tabs into a simple list, freeing up 95% of the memory those tabs were using. When you need them back? One click to restore any or all of them.
Installing OneTab
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Chrome
Visit the Chrome Web Store and search for "OneTab" or go directly to the extension page. Click "Add to Chrome" and confirm the installation.
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Firefox
Visit Firefox Add-ons and search for "OneTab." Click "Add to Firefox" and grant the necessary permissions.
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Edge
Edge can install Chrome extensions directly. Visit the Chrome Web Store, enable "Allow extensions from other stores" if prompted, and install OneTab.
How to Use OneTab
Basic Usage
- Collapse all tabs: Click the OneTab icon in your toolbar
- Restore one tab: Click any link in your OneTab list
- Restore all tabs: Click "Restore all" at the top of a tab group
- Delete a tab: Click the X next to any link
Right-Click Options
Right-click the OneTab icon for more options:
- Send only the current tab to OneTab
- Send all tabs except the current one
- Send only tabs to the left/right of current
💡 Pro Tip: Keyboard Shortcut
Set a keyboard shortcut for OneTab in your browser's extension settings. Alt+Shift+1 is popular. This makes collapsing tabs instant—no clicking required.
Organizing Your Tab Groups
OneTab creates a new group every time you collapse tabs. Over time, you can:
- Name groups: Click "more..." then "Name this tab group" to label research sessions, projects, etc.
- Lock groups: Prevent accidental deletion by locking important groups
- Star groups: Mark frequently-used groups for easy access
- Merge groups: Combine related groups into one
- Share groups: Generate a shareable URL of your tab list (great for sending resources to colleagues)
OneTab Workflow Tips
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End-of-Day Cleanup
Before shutting down, collapse all tabs to OneTab. Tomorrow, you can restore exactly where you left off—or start fresh knowing nothing is lost.
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Context Switching
Working on multiple projects? Collapse Project A's tabs before starting Project B. When you return to Project A, restore its dedicated group instantly.
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Research Sessions
When researching a topic, open everything that looks relevant. When done reading, collapse and name the group "Research: [Topic]" for future reference.
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Weekly Review
Every Friday, review your OneTab list. Delete groups you'll never revisit, and properly bookmark anything genuinely important.
OneTab Alternatives
If OneTab doesn't fit your workflow, consider these alternatives:
- Session Buddy: More powerful session management with auto-save
- Tab Wrangler: Automatically closes inactive tabs after a set time
- Toby: Visual tab organizer with drag-and-drop collections
- Workona: Workspace-based tab management for power users
- The Great Suspender: Suspends inactive tabs without closing them (saves RAM while keeping tabs visible)
⚠️ Important: Backup Your OneTab Data
OneTab stores data locally. If you clear browser data or reinstall your browser, you could lose your saved tabs. Periodically use "Export URLs" to save a backup, or enable sync if available.
Memory Savings
Each open tab consumes 50-300MB of RAM depending on the site. With 50 tabs open, you could be using 5-15GB just for your browser. OneTab reduces this to nearly zero since it stores tabs as a simple list of URLs.
Users report:
- 95% reduction in browser memory usage
- Faster browser performance
- Reduced laptop fan noise and heat
- Better battery life on laptops
Conclusion
If you're a tab hoarder (and let's be honest, most of us are), OneTab is essential. It gives you permission to open all the tabs you want, knowing you can collapse them guilt-free whenever things get out of hand.
Install it, set a keyboard shortcut, and start using it today. Your browser—and your RAM—will thank you.