Set a custom home page in three steps

Open Chrome and select the menu icon (three vertical dots) in the top right corner. Click Settings, then select On startup from the left sidebar. Choose Open a specific page or set of pages, then click Add a new page and enter the web address you want to see when Chrome opens. Chrome will load that page every time you start the browser.

If you want a different page to appear when you click the home button (rather than when the browser starts), go to Settings > Appearance and toggle Show home button to on. Below that, select Enter custom web address and type the URL you prefer. Now the home button will take you there instead of Chrome's default.

Key Takeaways

  • The startup page (what loads when you open Chrome) and the home button page (what loads when you click the house icon) are two separate settings.
  • You can set multiple pages to open at startup by clicking Add a new page more than once.
  • The home button does not appear by default; you must turn it on in Appearance settings before you can assign it a page.
  • Changes take effect immediately and apply to all profiles on that computer unless you change them again.

Setting multiple pages to open at startup

If you want Chrome to open several tabs at once, use the same On startup menu. After you select Open a specific page or set of pages, click Add a new page once for each URL you want to load. Chrome will open all of them in separate tabs when you start the browser.

You can reorder these pages by dragging them in the list, or remove one by clicking the trash icon next to it. This is useful if you want to see your email, calendar, and news site all at once when you start work.

Using Chrome's default home page instead

If you change your mind and want to go back to Chrome's built-in home page, return to Settings > On startup and select Open the New Tab page. This shows Chrome's default blank page with a search box and shortcuts to your most-visited sites.

For the home button, go to Appearance and select Open the New Tab page instead of Enter custom web address. Both changes happen right away.

What happens if a custom page won't load

If you set a home page but Chrome shows an error when it tries to load, check that you typed the full web address correctly — it should start with http:// or https://. If the site is down or you do not have internet when Chrome starts, you will see an error message instead of the page.

If the page loads on its own but not through Chrome's home setting, the website itself may block automatic loading. Try visiting it manually first to see if it works. If it does, the issue is usually a security setting on the website, not Chrome.

Syncing your home page across devices

If you sign into Chrome with a Google account, your home page settings sync to other computers and phones where you use the same account. This means if you set a custom home page on your laptop, it will appear on your phone too — unless you turn off sync for settings.

To control what syncs, go to Settings > You and Google > Sync and Google services and toggle Sync everything on or off. If you turn it off, you can choose which types of data to sync, including settings.

Difference between home page and search engine

Your home page is the website that loads when you click the home button or start Chrome. Your search engine is what handles searches when you type in the address bar. These are separate settings, and you can change them independently.

To change your search engine, go to Settings > Search engine and pick from the list (Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and others are built in). You can also add a custom search engine by clicking Manage search engines. Your home page choice does not affect which search engine Chrome uses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a different home page for each profile in Chrome?

Yes. Chrome lets you create multiple profiles, and each one has its own settings. When you switch profiles, the home page changes to match that profile's settings. Create a new profile in Settings > You and Google > Manage other people.

What if I want no home page at all?

Go to Settings > On startup and select Continue where you left off. Chrome will then open the tabs you had open the last time you closed it, instead of loading a home page. You can also turn off the home button in Appearance if you do not want it visible.

Does changing my home page affect other browsers on my computer?

No. Each browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) has its own separate settings. Changing Chrome's home page does not change the home page in any other browser.

Can I set a local file as my home page?

Yes, but the file must be saved on your computer first. In the Add a new page field, type the full path starting with file:/// followed by the location — for example, file:///C:/Users/YourName/Documents/mypage.html on Windows.