How to Fix Chrome Pinned Tabs Not Loading on Startup in Windows 11: Step-by-Step Solutions

Many users like to keep their favorite websites easily accessible by pinning tabs in Google Chrome. However, sometimes these pinned tabs do not load automatically when you start your Windows 11 computer. This can be frustrating if you rely on Chrome opening specific pages every time you launch the browser.

Fortunately, there are several simple ways to fix this issue and get your pinned tabs loading on startup again. The solutions range from quick settings checks to more advanced troubleshooting steps.

This guide will walk you through each method step-by-step, with clear explanations to help even beginners understand the process. By the end, you should be able to restore your pinned tabs to load automatically without hassle.

Let’s get started with some quick notes before diving into the fixes.

Quick Note: Prerequisites and Initial Checks

Make sure Chrome is updated: An outdated browser can cause unexpected issues. Check for updates by clicking the three-dot menu > Help > About Google Chrome.
Confirm Windows 11 is up to date: System updates often fix bugs that affect apps. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
Check your startup settings in Chrome: Chrome has options for how it behaves on startup, which affect pinned tabs.
Test with a new Chrome profile: Sometimes, profile corruption can cause problems with pinned tabs loading.

Step 1: Set Chrome to Continue Where You Left Off

One common reason pinned tabs don’t load on startup is that Chrome isn’t set to reopen tabs from your last session. To fix this, you need to change your startup settings.

Open Google Chrome.
Click the three-dot menu icon in the upper-right corner.
Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
In the left sidebar, click On startup.
Choose the option Continue where you left off.

This setting tells Chrome to reopen all tabs, including pinned ones, from your last browsing session. Without this, Chrome might open a new tab or a specific set of pages instead.

Step 2: Properly Pin Tabs and Close Chrome

Sometimes pinned tabs don’t save correctly if Chrome is closed improperly or if the tabs weren’t pinned the right way. Follow these simple steps to ensure your tabs stay pinned.

Open the websites you want to pin in separate tabs.
Right-click on each tab and select Pin tab. Pinned tabs will shrink and move to the left.
Once all desired tabs are pinned, close Chrome by clicking the X button or pressing Alt + F4.
Reopen Chrome and verify if the pinned tabs load automatically.

Closing Chrome properly while pinned tabs are set ensures the browser saves your session correctly. If you close Chrome before pinning or force close it, your pinned tabs might not be remembered.

Step 3: Disable Extensions that Might Interfere

Some Chrome extensions can block or interfere with tabs loading on startup. It’s a good idea to check if any extensions are causing the problem.

Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu > Extensions > Manage extensions.
Toggle off all extensions temporarily.
Restart Chrome and see if pinned tabs load on startup.
If tabs load correctly, enable extensions one by one to find the culprit.

Disabling problematic extensions can restore normal browser behavior. If you find one causing issues, consider removing or updating it.

Step 4: Clear Chrome Cache and Cookies

Cache and cookies sometimes cause loading problems, including pinned tabs not opening properly. Clearing them can fix this.

Open Chrome and press Ctrl + Shift + Delete to open the Clear browsing data window.
Select All time for the time range.
Check Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
Click Clear data.
Restart Chrome and check if pinned tabs load on startup.

Clearing cache and cookies removes corrupted data that might block tabs from loading properly. This step often resolves minor loading glitches.

Step 5: Create a New Chrome User Profile

If the problem persists, your Chrome user profile might be corrupted. Creating a new profile can help.

Open Chrome and click your profile icon in the top-right corner.
Click Add to create a new profile.
Follow the prompts to set up the new profile.
Open your desired websites, pin the tabs, then close and reopen Chrome.
Check if pinned tabs now load on startup with the new profile.

A fresh profile resets all Chrome settings and data related to your user, which can fix issues caused by corrupted files.

Alternative Method: Use Chrome’s Startup Shortcut

You can create a Windows shortcut that forces Chrome to open specific URLs on startup. This is an advanced option for users comfortable with modifying shortcuts.

Right-click on your desktop and select New > Shortcut.
In the location field, enter the Chrome executable path followed by the URLs you want to open. For example:
"C:Program FilesGoogleChromeApplicationchrome.exe" --new-window https://www.example.com https://www.another.com
Click Next, name the shortcut, and click Finish.
Place this shortcut in the Windows Startup folder: Press Win + R, type shell:startup, and press Enter. Move your shortcut into this folder.

When Windows starts, Chrome will open with the specified websites. This method bypasses pinned tabs but achieves a similar result.

FAQs

Why do pinned tabs not load automatically in Chrome?

This often happens when Chrome’s startup settings aren’t set to continue where you left off, or if there’s profile corruption, extension conflicts, or improper browser closure.

Can I force Chrome to always open pinned tabs on startup?

Yes, by setting Chrome’s startup option to “Continue where you left off” and properly pinning tabs before closing the browser.

Will clearing cache delete my pinned tabs?

No, clearing cache and cookies removes temporary data but does not delete pinned tabs or bookmarks.

Is it safe to create a new Chrome profile?

Yes, creating a new profile does not affect your system but resets your browser settings and data for that profile only.

Can extensions cause pinned tabs to not load?

Yes, some extensions interfere with browser startup behavior. Disabling extensions can help identify if one is causing the issue.

When Nothing Works

If you have tried all the steps above and pinned tabs still do not load on startup, consider the following final options:

Reset Chrome settings: Go to Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults. This will reset Chrome but keep bookmarks and passwords.
Reinstall Chrome: Uninstall Chrome from your PC and download the latest version from the official website to ensure a clean installation.
Check official Google support: Visit the Google Chrome Help Center for additional troubleshooting guides and updates.

Conclusion

Getting your pinned tabs to load automatically on startup in Windows 11 is usually a matter of adjusting Chrome’s settings or fixing minor profile issues. Start by ensuring Chrome is set to continue where you left off and that tabs are pinned correctly before closing the browser.

If problems persist, disabling extensions, clearing cache, or creating a new profile often solves the issue. For advanced users, creating a startup shortcut with specified URLs provides an alternative workaround.

By following these simple steps in order, you can restore your pinned tabs functionality and enjoy a smoother browsing experience every time you start Chrome on Windows 11.