Try the example, then check the result.
Download the fictional material and follow the steps below. The video uses English illustrative diagrams; it does not present a live app recording. Product controls may vary by version.
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Watch the complete lesson.
The video uses English illustrative diagrams; it does not present a live app recording. English captions. Product menus may differ in your account.
Use Chrome's reopen shortcut and History for an accidentally closed tab, then set a startup preference for future sessions. Download the fictional practice and answer check.
Before starting: Ctrl+Shift+T reopens recently closed Chrome tabs or windows when their history remains available. It cannot guarantee recovery after every crash, profile switch, private session, or overwritten session. The startup setting applies to future launches; no browser profile has been changed for this package.
1. Make a harmless practice pair
Open Example Domain and IANA Reserved Domains in two Chrome tabs. These public reference pages contain no private account data. Confirm both titles are visible, then close only the IANA tab. Keep Example Domain open so you can see that reopening the second tab does not replace the first one. Avoid trying this first on an irreplaceable work session.
Checkpoint: Open two safe tabs; Close IANA tab; Keep Example Domain.
2. Use the reopen shortcut
Press Ctrl+Shift+T on Windows or Linux, or Command+Shift+T on Mac. The most recently closed tab or window should return if Chrome still has that entry. Repeat only if you intend to reopen older entries in reverse closing order. In the practice case, verify that the IANA page is visible again.
Checkpoint: Ctrl+Shift+T; Mac: Cmd+Shift+T; Confirm IANA returns.
3. Check History if needed
If the shortcut did not bring back the expected page, open Chrome's menu and look in History for Recently closed entries or the full History page. Match the page title and address, especially when several tabs have similar names. A recent window may appear as a group. If the entry is absent, Chrome may no longer have enough local session information to restore it.
Checkpoint: Menu > History; Recently closed; Match title and URL.
4. Plan for future restarts
In Chrome Settings > On startup, consider Continue where you left off if you want normal launches to reopen previously open pages. Google's startup-page instructions document this preference separately from the reopen shortcut. Changing the setting now does not recreate a past missing session. Use a practice profile when testing preferences, because the choice affects future browser launches.
Checkpoint: Settings > On startup; Continue where you left off; Future launches only.
5. Know the recovery limits
A different Chrome profile has a different history. Private browsing and some crashes may leave no recoverable entry, and opening or closing additional sessions can replace recent state. If the practice tab is missing, check the correct profile and History before concluding recovery failed. Do not present any shortcut as a guaranteed rescue of a wiped or overwritten session.
Checkpoint: Check correct profile; History may be incomplete; No guaranteed crash restore.
Verify the result
The answer check is narrow: after closing the IANA practice tab, the reopen shortcut brings it back while Example Domain stays present. History and startup settings are fallback and prevention concepts, not proof that every old tab can be restored. This repeatable test teaches the safe first action without touching a private browsing session.
Expected result: Immediately after closing the practice IANA tab, Ctrl+Shift+T should reopen that recently closed tab if Chrome still retains the session entry. The Example Domain tab remains open. Chrome History may list recently closed pages or windows. Continue where you left off is a startup preference for later launches, not a recovery guarantee for every lost session.
Official instructions: Chrome tab help for computers and startup-page help, checked 15 October 2026. Screens in the companion video are illustrative diagrams, not captured app footage.
Practice downloads.
The exercise files contain invented information. Save a local copy before editing.