Auto Tab Discard: Free Up Memory From Idle Chrome Tabs
Auto Tab Discard · for Windows, macOS and Linux
Developer: joue.quroi (opens in a new tab)
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
The download link points to the program’s official source; the file is not hosted on this site. Link address: chromewebstore.google.com
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Auto Tab Discard is a free, open-source Chrome extension that automatically discards inactive tabs to reduce memory use, keeping them in the tab bar and restoring scroll position and form text when reopened.
Auto Tab Discard keeps your tabs where they are but stops idle ones from using memory. A discarded tab stays in the tab bar; when you click it, the page loads again. Chrome has a built-in memory saver too, but this extension gives you far more control over which tabs are discarded and when.
What it does
- Automatic and manual discarding: inactive, idle or forgotten tabs are discarded on a timer, or you can discard them yourself.
- Exceptions: a list of hostnames or regular expressions that are never discarded.
- Forced discarding for sites you always want unloaded.
- State indicators: the favicon or title shows that a tab is discarded.
- Restoring state: when a tab comes back, its scroll position and text box content are restored.
- Survives restarts: discarded tabs stay discarded when the browser is closed and reopened.
Options to protect important tabs
You can choose whether these tabs should ever be discarded: pinned tabs, tabs playing media, tabs with unsaved form input, and whether the laptop is on battery or plugged in. Discarding also helps battery life on portable devices, because JavaScript and page events stop running in discarded tabs.
Installation
- The Download button opens Auto Tab Discard on the Chrome Web Store.
- Click Add to Chrome, then open the options to set the timer and exceptions.
Open source and private
The source code is on GitHub under the MPL-2.0 licence, and the developer declares on the store listing that it does not collect or use your data. If you prefer to close tabs into a list instead, see OneTab.
Pros
- Detailed control over which tabs are discarded
- Restores scroll position and form text
- Open source, no data collection
Cons
- Discarded pages reload when you return
- Many options to go through
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose what I typed in a discarded tab?
The extension restores text box content and scroll position when a discarded tab is reloaded, and it can be set not to discard tabs with unsaved input.
Can I stop certain sites from being discarded?
Yes. Add their hostnames, or regular expressions, to the exception list in the options.
Auto Tab DiscardOpen source
Download (opens in a new tab)
