Google Tests 'Infinite Tabs Freezing' in Chrome to Boost Speed and Performance for Heavy Tab Users

Google is testing a new experimental feature called “Infinite Tabs Freezing” in Chrome to improve browser performance for users who frequently open large numbers of tabs. The feature will soon be available as a flag in Canary.

Chrome freezes tabs that haven’t been visited for a while by the user. Chrome’s memory saver mode, which uses tab freezing, allows users to choose memory savings after a shorter, longer, and optimal period of time. Google believes this “gives active tabs and other apps more computer resources and keeps Chrome fast.”

Google, which focuses on constantly improving Chrome performance, is now testing a new feature that will soon be available behind a flag. When enabled, it selectively freezes eligible tabs that are not among the five most recently used, helping to preserve Chrome’s speed and responsiveness. Background tabs such as those playing audio or video will remain active and will not freeze.

“Freezes eligible tabs which are not in the five most recently used ones, to preserve Chrome speed as new tabs are created. Tabs providing background functionality (e.g. playing audio, handling a video call) are not eligible for freezing.” the flag description reads.

Clarification from a Googler in the commit message thread reveals that only “audible” audio streams prevent a tab from freezing. This means that silent audio—such as sounds used for fingerprinting techniques—will not exempt a tab from being frozen.

There could be noticeable performance gains with this, as freezing tabs reduces memory consumption and CPU usage, optimizing Chrome’s speed.

That’s not all—Google is set to use the latest AI version in Chrome to show fewer geolocation request popups. Additionally, Chrome will likely offer all security settings in one place.