67

Is there a way to manually add a web page to the 8 thumbnails that appear when you open Chrome?

I want to add Google Maps for easy access. The Google front page already shows up so I presume the Google Maps page never will as it's a subset of Google (i.e. I get to it via the main Google front page). I know I can add a shortcut to the toolbar but would rather add it as a thumbnail.

And while I'm here, is it possible to increase the number of thumbnails that appear?

I'm running the release/stable version of Chrome in Windows XP.

studiohack
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andygrunt
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6 Answers6

33

Yes, there is a way. Go to 

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default

You will find a file called "Preferences." Open the file with a text editor. You will see the list of 8 tabs at the bottom. Just modify the locations, i.e. the site that you want to appear.

nhinkle
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Danny
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24

As of 2/21/2012, Chrome version 17.0.963.56 m, most visited URL thumbnails are no longer stored in the Preferences text file, or any other easily editable text file.

It's probably stored in an SQLite database. Here's more info on the this frustrating "enhancement" to newer versions of Chrome:

It was bad enough they made it so inconvenient to pick your own favorite sites to begin with, now they don't let you at all. (I have a feeling it's because they are trying to push Apps.)

I solved the problem by dragging the URL shortcuts I really needed to my Start Menu.

I'll probably stop using the "New Tab page" from now on.

JohnB
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10

Looks like an extension called Speed Dial is the answer.

Giuseppe Romagnuolo
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andygrunt
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5

To answer your second question:

is it possible to increase the number of thumbnails that appear?

It seems that Google has overlooked this very simple setting.

However, there are various 3rd party extensions/plugins to get more than 8 thumbnails (as well as bookmarks, sticky notes, etc). Note that extensions can sometimes cause Chrome to crash; that's why I minimize the use of them.

and there's even more.

Giuseppe Romagnuolo
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JohnB
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2

EASY - I just did it. Open one Chrome browser to the thumbnails page. Open another to the page you want to add. Click on the title bar of the page you want to add, and drag it to the thumbnail on the other page. Ta dah!

CindyH
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1

You can also edit your pinned tabs on Mac OS X. Note, you MUST pin a tab to edit it. Open ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Default/Preferences in a Text Editor. The information is at the end of the file and you edit it the same way you do in Windows. Again, make sure Chrome is closed before you do this.

Title is the information that appears below the thumbnail and URL is the URL the thumbnail directs to.

Community
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user34718
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