Close Tab Shortcut – Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows, Mac & Browsers.

What Is a Close Tab Shortcut?

A close tab shortcut is a keyboard command that lets you quickly close a browser tab without using the mouse. It helps you manage tabs efficiently across browsers like Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari on both Windows and macOS, making browsing faster and more time-saving.

Close Tab Shortcut for Windows

Keyboard shortcuts in Windows make it fast and easy to close tabs in any browser without using your mouse. These commands save time and help you manage multiple tabs efficiently.

Using the Keyboard (Main Shortcut)

Action Shortcut Key
Close the current tab Ctrl + W
Close all tabs / browser window Alt + F4
Reopen last closed tab Ctrl + Shift + T
Switch to next tab Ctrl + Tab
Switch to previous tab Ctrl + Shift + Tab
Open a new tab Ctrl + T

Alternative Keyboard Shortcuts

Action Shortcut Key
Close current tab (alternative) Ctrl + F4
Close multiple tabs (Edge & Chrome) Ctrl + Shift + W
Open a new window Ctrl + N

Close Tab Shortcut for Mac

Using keyboard shortcuts on macOS makes it quick and easy to close tabs in any browser without reaching for the mouse. These commands save time and help you manage multiple tabs efficiently across Safari, Chrome, and Firefox.

Using the Keyboard on macOS

Action Shortcut Key
Close the current tab Command + W
Close all tabs / browser window Command + Shift + W
Reopen last closed tab Command + Shift + T
Switch to next tab Control + Tab
Switch to previous tab Control + Shift + Tab
Open a new tab Command + T

Alternative Keyboard Shortcuts

Action Shortcut Key
Close current tab (alternative) Command + Option + W
Open a new window Command + N
Close inactive tabs (Safari) Command + Option + Shift + W

Benefits of Using Shortcuts to Close Tabs

Save time:

Using keyboard and mouse shortcuts to close, open, or restore tabs can save time and help you find the tab you need more quickly. These shortcuts make it easier to navigate browsers, manage tab displays, and keep visible tabs organized without constantly switching to your mouse.

Improve organization:

Closing tabs that are no longer needed or relevant to your current task can improve your browser display and create a cleaner workspace. Shortcuts also help with switching between tabs, managing data entry tasks, and keeping your workflow efficient. By handling multiple tabs effectively, you can simplify tasks and navigate websites more smoothly.

Browse more quickly:

Each open tab uses your computer’s working memory, so reducing unnecessary tabs with shortcuts can improve loading times and processing speed. This helps prevent accidentally closing important tabs, allows you to browse the internet faster, and keeps your computer running efficiently while handling multiple tasks.

Browser-Specific Close Tab Shortcuts

Different browsers may have slightly different shortcuts for closing, opening, or reopening tabs. The tables below show the most commonly used shortcuts for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari.

Google Chrome

Action Shortcut Key
Close current tab Ctrl + W (Windows) / Command + W (Mac)
Reopen last closed tab Ctrl + Shift + T (Windows) / Command + Shift + T (Mac)
Open new tab Ctrl + T (Windows) / Command + T (Mac)

Mozilla Firefox

Action Shortcut Key
Close current tab Ctrl + W (Windows) / Command + W (Mac)
Reopen last closed tab Ctrl + Shift + T (Windows) / Command + Shift + T (Mac)
Open new tab Ctrl + T (Windows) / Command + T (Mac)

Microsoft Edge

Action Shortcut Key
Close current tab Ctrl + W (Windows) / Command + W (Mac)
Reopen last closed tab Ctrl + Shift + T (Windows) / Command + Shift + T (Mac)
Open new tab Ctrl + T (Windows) / Command + T (Mac)

Apple Safari

Action Shortcut Key
Close current tab Command + W
Reopen last closed tab Command + Z
Open new tab Command + T

How to Close Tabs Without a Mouse

You can quickly close tabs without using a mouse by relying on keyboard shortcuts. This is especially helpful when working with multiple tabs or when your mouse isn’t available.

Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows

Action Shortcut Key
Close current tab Ctrl + W
Close all tabs / browser window Alt + F4
Reopen last closed tab Ctrl + Shift + T

Keyboard Shortcuts for Mac

Action Shortcut Key
Close current tab Command + W
Close all tabs / browser window Command + Shift + W
Reopen last closed tab Command + Shift + T

How to Close Multiple Tabs or the Entire Window

Sometimes you may want to close several tabs at once or even the entire browser window. Using keyboard shortcuts makes this process fast and easy.

Close Multiple Tabs at Once

Action Shortcut Key
Close multiple tabs (Chrome & Edge) Ctrl + Shift + W (Windows) / Command + Option + W (Mac)
Close inactive tabs (Safari) Command + Option + Shift + W

Close the Entire Browser Window

Action Shortcut Key
Close all tabs / browser window Alt + F4 (Windows) / Command + Shift + W (Mac)

How to Reopen a Closed Tab

If you accidentally close a tab, most browsers allow you to quickly restore it using simple keyboard or mouse shortcuts.

Reopen a Tab Using the Keyboard

Action Shortcut Key
Reopen last closed tab (Windows) Ctrl + Shift + T
Reopen last closed tab (Mac) Command + Shift + T

Reopen a Tab Using the Mouse

Action Steps
Reopen closed tab Right-click on the tab bar and select “Reopen closed tab”

How to Open a New Tab Using Shortcuts

Opening a new tab with keyboard or mouse shortcuts allows you to browse faster and manage multiple websites without interrupting your workflow.

Open a New Tab with the Keyboard

Action Shortcut Key
Open a new tab (Windows) Ctrl + T
Open a new tab (Mac) Command + T

Open a New Tab with the Mouse

Action Steps
Open a new tab Click the “+” icon next to the open tabs

Frequently Ask Questions

What is Ctrl + N?
Ctrl + N opens a new browser window or a new document in many applications.
How do I close a tab?
Press Ctrl + W on Windows or Command + W on Mac to close the current browser tab.
What is Ctrl + F4 used for?
Ctrl + F4 closes the active tab or document without closing the entire window.
What is Ctrl + Shift + W?
Ctrl + Shift + W closes all open tabs and exits the browser window in most browsers.
What is a tab?
A tab is a section in a browser that lets you open and view multiple websites in one window.

Related Articles