Look, we've all been there. You open a new tab or launch your browser and you're staring at a blank screen or a cluttered mess of "suggested" articles that you never asked for. It's annoying. You just want to get to your email, your dashboard, or maybe that one specific stock ticker you check every morning. Honestly, knowing how do I set a homepage in Google Chrome is one of those small digital wins that actually makes your day feel a bit more organized.
Most people confuse the "Home" button with the "Startup" page. They aren't the same thing. Chrome treats them like two different animals. The startup page is what happens when you first click that colorful circle icon on your desktop. The homepage? That’s the specific destination you reach when you click the little house icon next to your address bar.
If you don't see a house icon, don't panic. Google hides it by default these days.
Turning on the Home Button
First things first. You can’t go home if there’s no door.
To get that house icon to show up, you need to dive into the settings. Click those three vertical dots in the top right corner—some people call it the "hamburger" menu, though it looks more like a kebab. Go to Settings. On the left-hand sidebar, you’ll see Appearance. Click that.
Right there at the top of the Appearance section, you’ll see a toggle for Show home button. Flip it on.
Suddenly, a tiny house appears to the left of your URL bar. But we aren't done. Beneath that toggle, you have a choice. You can either have the home button open a "New Tab" page (which is basically just Google search and your most visited sites) or you can enter a custom web address. This is where you paste the URL for your favorite site. If you want to wake up to the New York Times or your personal Gmail, this is where that link goes.
The Startup Page vs. The Homepage
This is where the confusion usually starts. You set your homepage to your favorite blog, but then you close Chrome, reopen it, and—bam—you're back at the default Google search page.
Why? Because Chrome distinguishes between "Home" and "On Startup."
If you want a specific site to load the second you launch the browser, you have to scroll further down in the settings menu to the On Startup section. You have three choices here. You can open the New Tab page, which is the default. You can "Continue where you left off," which is a lifesaver if your computer crashes but a nightmare if you had fifty tabs open. Or, you can "Open a specific page or set of pages."
Choose the third option.
Add a new page. Type in the URL. Now, every time you open Chrome, that page is waiting for you. It’s like having your coffee already poured when you walk into the kitchen.
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Why Chrome Makes This So Weird
Google is a search company. It makes sense that they want you to see the search bar every time you open a tab. By making the homepage button optional and separate from the startup behavior, they keep most users tethered to the standard Google ecosystem.
It’s not a conspiracy, just good business. But for those of us who value a specific workflow, it feels like an extra hurdle.
Sometimes, you might find that your homepage has changed itself. This is usually the work of a "browser hijacker" or a sketchy extension you downloaded to convert PDFs or find coupons. If you see a weird search engine like "Search Baron" or some random portal you’ve never heard of, your homepage settings have been hijacked.
If that happens, you need to go to Extensions and start deleting anything you didn't personally install. Then, go back and fix your homepage settings using the steps above.
Mobile is a Different Story
If you’re on an iPhone, I have some bad news. The mobile version of Chrome on iOS doesn't really have a "homepage" button. It’s a limitation of how Apple and Google play together. You’re mostly stuck with the New Tab page.
On Android, however, you have a bit more freedom. Tap the three dots, go to Settings, and look for Homepage. You can toggle it on and enter your URL there. It works very similarly to the desktop version. It's a bit of a fragmentation headache, but that's the reality of mobile browsing in 2026.
Getting Fancy with Multiple Startup Pages
One thing many people miss is that you aren't limited to just one page.
In the "On Startup" settings, you can add three, four, or five different URLs. Imagine opening your browser and having your email, your calendar, and your project management tool all pop up in separate tabs instantly.
- Go to Settings > On Startup.
- Select "Open a specific page or set of pages."
- Click "Add a new page" for every site you want.
It’s a productivity powerhouse move. Just be careful—if you add twenty pages, your computer might start breathing heavy while it tries to load everything at once.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If you’ve followed the steps for how do I set a homepage in Google Chrome and it’s still not working, check if you are signed into a managed account. If you're using a work laptop, your IT department might have locked these settings. You'll see a little building icon that says "Managed by your organization." If that’s there, you’re out of luck. Big Brother wants your homepage to be the company intranet, and there’s not much you can do about it.
Another tip: make sure you’re hitting "Enter" after typing the URL in the custom field. Sometimes Chrome won't save the change if you just click away.
Final Tweaks for a Faster Experience
If your goal is speed, sometimes a homepage isn't the answer.
The Bookmarks Bar is often more efficient. Use Ctrl+Shift+B (or Cmd+Shift+B on Mac) to toggle it. If you have your top five sites there, you don't even need a home button. You just click.
But for those who love the nostalgia and the directness of a dedicated home button, the Appearance menu is your best friend.
Go into your settings right now. Toggle that home button on. Set it to something that actually makes you happy or productive instead of just staring at a search bar. It takes about thirty seconds and saves you a few hundred clicks over the course of a year.
Next Steps for Your Browser Setup
To ensure your new homepage sticks and your browser stays fast, clear your cached images and files once in a while under Privacy and security. If you find that your startup pages are slowing down your launch time, consider using the "Memory Saver" mode found in the Performance tab of your settings. This ensures that while all your favorite pages open at once, they don't eat up your RAM until you actually click on them. Check your extension list every few months to ensure no third-party software has altered your homepage permissions without your consent.