Our browser of choice here at the Priority HQ, has been Chrome for quite a few years now. Whilst not perfect (it’s quite the memory hog!) we’ve always liked the unified experience whereby we can load it onto any PC or tablet, log into Google and all settings, preferences and above all bookmarks, are there in no time at all. Speed-wise it’s pretty good too, not quite as fast as it once was mind, but still sprightly enough.

But, what are some of the lesser known features hidden under the surface in Chrome? Let’s take a look…

Start An Email From Your Browser Window

Chrome lets you compose a new email straight from the address bar without having to open Gmail (or your default email client). Simply type mailto: followed by an email address – no space after the mailto: and this will immediately open up a new Gmail compose mail window in your browser. If you use Outlook, for example, as your default email software, then a new Outlook message will open instead.

Pin Tabs For Sites That You Use Frequently

Rather than having to open up tabs for sites you use on a daily basis, Chrome allows you to pin tabs so that they are always there when you open a new instance of Chrome. To do this, simply right click on a tab you want to pin and then choose “Pin tab”.

Use Chrome As A Simple Calculator

If you want to use Chrome as a calculator, it’s as easy as typing your sum into the address bar and after a brief second the result will appear, like magic!

Open Accidentally Closed Tabs

Have you ever mistakenly closed a tab? Who hasn’t? Luckily, Chrome is forgiving and makes it possible to get it all back. Just right-click on another open tab and select “Reopen closed tab” or press Control-Shift-T (Command-Shift-T on an Apple Mac) and Chrome will reopen any recently closed tabs. You can even keep repeating this step for more closed tabs. If you closed an entire window, with all your favourite pinned tabs, open or click on a new Chrome window and select “Open closed window”.

Add A Shortcut Link To Your Desktop

Chrome also offers a nice feature that allows you to add a clickable link for a webpage or site to your desktop, for later use. Just click the 3 vertical dots in Chrome’s top right-hand corner > More tools > Add to desktop. A pop-up window will appear, allowing you to name the link (and a checkbox that gives you the option to open this page in a new window). This creates a clickable link on your desktop with an icon to represent the page.