A Chrome extension that allows users to switch between their most recently used tabs.
Tab Switcher Extension
Chrome does not have flexible built-in functionality that allows you to cycle between the most recently used tabs with keyboard shortcuts.
The native tab switching in Chrome allows users to:
- move to the next or previous tab in the order they appear in the tab bar (e.g Ctrl + Tab and Ctrl + Shift + Tab on MacOS)
- move to a one of the first 8 tabs or the final tab. (Alt/Ctrl + [1-9] to switch to a specific tab by its position in the tab bar (1 for the first tab, 2 for the second, and so on, 9 for the last).
This extension provides additional keyboard based tab management by keeping a user defined history of tabs and switching among them in the order they were last accessed.
## Features
Switch to the previous tab (e.g using `Alt+P`)
Switch to the next tab (e.g. using `Alt+N`)
Toggle between current and most recent tab (e.g. using `Alt+S`)
The number of tabs in the switching history can be configured by the user (defaults to 5).
If you are looking for a tab and it has fallen out of the history size then you can use another shortcut (e.g Shift your existing shortcuts) to double the size of the search history. i.e. if the configured history size is 5 then using `Alt+Shift+P` will cycle through twice as many as the default size (10 in this case). There is also a command to cycle forward through twice as many as the default size but due to a Chrome limit of a maximum of 4 preloaded shortcuts per extension you will need to set the keyboard shortcut for this yourself (e.g. as `Alt+Shift+N`).
## Configuring Shortcut Keys
The default keys may not be suitable for everyone, so here's how to change them:
Go to the Chrome Extensions page (chrome://extensions).
Click on \"Keyboard shortcuts\" from the left menu.
Find \"Tab Switcher\" in the list and click on the pencil icon next to each action to set a new shortcut key.
Source Manifest.json
How to download and manually install Tab Switcher extension for Chrome
Looking for a way to install Tab Switcher extensions for Chrome, you can search for them in the Chrome Web Store, clicking the "Add to Chrome" button, and following the straightforward process.
However, you may need to install Tab Switcher extensions manually, this article outlines two simple methods to effortlessly install Tab Switcher extensions, whether they come as unpacked folders in compressed formats like .zip or as .crx files.
Method 1: Download Tab Switcher extension and manually install through Drag &Drop
If you ever need to manually install a Tab Switcher extension for Chrome, don't worry, it's a simple process. Just follow these easy steps, and you will have your extension ready to use in no time.
Step 1: Download the Tab Switcher Extension by clicking the "Download CRX" button on the website.
Look for the Tab Switcher extension you wish to install. Go to the website and download the Tab Switcher extension package, which is usually a .CRX file and comes in a zipped file. Here ".crx" file is the format for Tab Switcher extension that contains all the data.
Step 2: Extract &Arrange Files
Once the file is downloaded, extract that file into its own folder. Similarly, give that extension files a permanent home. In other words, keep it in a folder that you don't accidentally delete it because these files will be needed to make that extension work.
Step 3: Go to the Chrome Extensions Page
Open Google Chrome and in the address bar, type chrome://extensions; it will open the Google Chrome extensions page. Make sure that "My extensions" is selected in the sidebar.
Step 4: Drag and Drop the Extension
Now, go to the folder where you extracted the Tab Switcher extension and drag &drop the extension file from there anywhere onto the extension page within Google Chrome.
Step 5: Complete the Installation
Once you drag and drop the extension file, follow the steps that Google Chrome takes you through. Similarly, if the extension file is of .crx file format, you will be required to review the permissions and then add the extension.
Now, you can manage that added extension as you would like to with any other Chrome extension that you added through Chrome Webstore. Its icon will also appear in the Google Chrome Menu on the right side of the address bar once you activate it.
Method 2: Download Tab Switcher extension for Chrome and install in Developer Mode
This is another method to install Tab Switcher extension manually, but the twist is that here, you install by enabling the developer mode option provided in Google Chrome. This mode is commonly used for testing extensions or running unpublished tools.
Step 1: Download the Tab Switcher extension file
Select and download the Tab Switcher extension by clicking the 'Download CRX' button on the website.
Step 2: Extract the downloaded contents
Convert the file to a ZIP file if it is in CRX format then extract the Tab Switcher extension zip file or folder that you downloaded. Make sure you extract it using the same folder name and keep it safely in another folder, so you don't delete it by mistake. The extracted folder will be needed to keep your Tab Switcher extension running.
Step 3: Open Chrome Extension Setting Page
In the address bar of Google Chrome, type chrome://extensions and open the Chrome Extension Page.
Step 4: Enable Developer Mode
After opening the Chrome Extension page, look at the top right side, and you will find the toggle option of "Developer mode."Simply enable that developer mode option.
Step 5: Load the Unpacked Extension
Once you enable the developer mode option, you will see the menu of Load Unpacked, Pack Extensions and Update. From that, select the option "Load unpacked."
Step 6: Select the Extension Folder
Once the pop-up opens upon clicking Load unpacked, select the Tab Switcher extension directory and click on the "Select Folder "button.
Step 7: Confirm and Install
After you select an extension folder of a Google Chrome extension you're installing manually, confirm its installation for the final time and let the installation complete.
Conclusion
Here we've made a step-by-step guide on How to manually install Tab Switcher extension in 2 ways. We hope this guide proves helpful.
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