Chrome's 'Organize Similar Tabs' Disappeared — Here's What to Do
June 20, 2025
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5 min read
If you opened Chrome after the M136 update and couldn’t find Tab organizer / Organize Similar Tabs, you’re not alone. Dozens of redditors reported that the entire feature — including the #tab-organization flags used to enable it — disappeared overnight, with no official explanation from Google.
History of Chrome's AI tab grouping
| Date | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2024 (M121) | Google launches Smartly organize your tabs as an Experimental AI feature. | https://blog.google/products/chrome/google-chrome-generative-ai-features-january-2024/ |
| Mid-2024 | The feature moves to Canary behind three flags; guides show how to turn it on. | https://www.androidpolice.com/google-chrome-ai-tab-management-features-finally-rolling-out-canary/ |
| May 2025 (M136) | All flags and menu entries are removed from stable Chrome builds. | https://www.reddit.com/r/chrome/comments/1kdlrxe/tab_organizer_feature_removed_in_chrome_136/ https://issues.chromium.org/issues/399174991 |
A working alternative: TabPilot
Until (or if) Google restores its own AI grouping, you can get the same (and a bit more) functionality with the free Chrome extension TabPilot.
| Chrome's (now-missing) AI grouping | TabPilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Removed in M136; no ETA for return | Works on any current Chrome build, no flags |
| Scope | One window at a time | All open windows at once |
| Speed (benchmarked) | ≈ 10 s for 20 tabs | ≈ 8 s for 100 tabs |
| Existing groups | Can only create brand-new groups | Can create new groups or drop tabs into your current ones |
How to restore one-click grouping (60 seconds)
- Install TabPilot from the Chrome Web Store.
- Click the extension's icon in the toolbar.
- Click "Group tabs".
FAQ
Why did Google pull the feature?
Google hasn't said. The change log that deprecates Tab Organizer in M136 points to a restricted bug, suggesting a security or privacy issue.
chromium.googlesource.comWill Chrome bring it back?
Maybe—but Google often pauses experiments for months at a time. TabPilot fills the gap right now and adds multi-window support the original never had.
Does TabPilot cost money?
The core grouping is free and lets you run up to five groupings per day. Need more? A Pro plan unlocks unlimited grouping and additional automation.
