The back arrow in Chrome is easy to spot. The forward arrow next to it usually sits greyed out, which is where most people get stuck.
Here is how to step through a tab's history, jump straight to an earlier page from the right-click menu, use the keyboard shortcuts, and bring back a tab you closed by mistake.
In this guide, I have covered:
Contents
Video Guide: Back and Forward Arrows in Chrome
Would rather watch than read? The short video below shows the back arrow, the forward arrow, and the right-click history menu in action on a computer.
Use the Back Arrow to Go to the Previous Page
You clicked a link, landed somewhere unexpected, and want the page you just left. The left-facing arrow beside the address bar is the way back.
Click it once and Chrome loads the page you were on a moment ago, in the same tab. Every click steps back one more page until you reach the first one you opened in that tab.
The arrow greys out when there is nothing earlier to load, such as a brand-new tab. Hover over it first and Chrome shows the title of the page it will open.
Use the Forward Arrow to Go to the Next Page
Went back one page too many? The right-facing arrow sits next to the back arrow and returns you to where you were.
It stays inactive until you have gone back at least once. Forward replays pages you already visited in this tab, so there is nothing to replay if you have not stepped backward first.
Greyed out means no later page exists in this tab’s history. Click once to move forward a page, and keep clicking until the arrow greys out again at the newest page.
Navigate with Keyboard Shortcuts
Your hands are already on the keyboard, and reaching for the mouse just to go back one page slows you down. These shortcuts skip that reach.
- Back: press + on Windows, Linux, and Chromebook. On macOS, use + .
- Forward: press + on Windows, Linux, and Chromebook. On macOS, use + .
- Reopen the last closed tab: press + + on Windows and Linux, or + + on macOS.
The full list lives on Google’s official Chrome keyboard shortcuts page.
Right-Click the Arrows to Jump to an Earlier Page
You remember roughly which page you want, and clicking back eight times is a waste of time. The arrows hide a menu that gets you there in one click.
Right-click the back or forward arrow and Chrome lists the pages from that tab’s history. Pick any entry and it jumps straight there.
Each entry shows the page title and the full URL, which helps when page titles look alike.
TIP: On a trackpad, or a mouse without a right button, click and hold the arrow until the menu appears.
Open the Full Browsing History
Close the tab and the arrows forget everything inside it. Chrome’s History page keeps the record across every tab.
The back and forward arrows only know about the current tab. The History page lists every site you have visited, and you can search it, delete entries, or click any page to reopen it.
- Click the
menu in the top-right corner of Chrome. - Hover over History, then click History in the submenu.
- Use the search box at the top to find a specific site, or scroll through the list by date.
You can also press + on Windows and Linux, or + on macOS, to open the History page directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Forward arrow greyed out in Chrome?
Because there is no later page to load. The forward arrow only becomes active after you have clicked back at least once in that tab, so a tab where you have only moved forward from the start keeps the arrow greyed out.
Can I use the Backspace key to go back like in older browsers?
No. Chrome removed the Backspace shortcut in version 52 back in 2016 and it has not come back. Use + on Windows or + on macOS instead.
How do I reopen a tab I just closed by accident?
Press + + on Windows and Linux, or + + on macOS. Chrome restores the most recently closed tab. Press the shortcut again to keep bringing back older tabs, one at a time.
Does this work the same way on Chrome for Android and iPhone?
Same idea, different buttons. On Android, the back arrow lives inside the three-dot menu and a forward button appears once you have gone back. On iPhone and iPad, you use the system back gesture or a button at the top of the screen.
On a computer the pattern is simple: arrows for one page at a time, right-click when you already know the page you want, and History when the tab is gone.
Sorry about my last comment. The method does NOT work when going into a web site through Google search, which opens the site I want in Chrome, say Hulu.com. No forward arrow. 3-dot Option Menu looks different. However when going to Hulu.com directly in the Chrome browser, the Option Menu and the forward arrow is as described here. Same Chrome browser, but different result. Strange!