When you open your browser, you probably want to go straight to your favorite website. Whether that is Google, your email program or the news, you can easily set it as your homepage. In this article we explain how to set the homepage in Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari so your browser opens exactly where you want.

What is a homepage?

The homepage is the website that loads automatically when you open your browser or click the home button. By setting a useful homepage, you save time and do not have to type the same web address every time. You can even have several pages open at once.

Difference between the homepage and the new tab page

It is important to know the difference between the homepage and the new tab page. The homepage opens when you start the browser or click the house icon. The new tab page appears when you open a new tab within the browser. Both can be set separately.

Why set a homepage?

A well-chosen homepage makes your internet use more efficient. If you start every day by checking your email, set your email page as your homepage. Do you like reading the news with your morning coffee? Then make your favorite news site the homepage. It saves you a few clicks every day.

Setting the homepage in Google Chrome

Google Chrome offers flexible options for setting your homepage. You can choose a specific website or open several pages at once.

Setting a homepage

Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots at the top right of the window. Select Settings from the menu. In the left menu, click On startup. Here you see three options.

The first option is Open the New Tab page. This shows the default Chrome page with a search box and your most visited sites. The second option is Continue where you left off, which reopens all the tabs that were open when you closed Chrome.

The third option is Open a specific page or set of pages. Click it and select Add a new page. Type the web address of the homepage you want, for example www.google.nl or www.nu.nl. Click Add to save the page.

Setting multiple homepages

Chrome can open several pages at once on startup. After you have added the first page, click Add a new page again. Add all the websites you want to open this way. Each site opens in a separate tab when you start Chrome.

Using current tabs

Do you already have the pages open that you want as your homepage? Then click Use current pages. Chrome saves all currently open tabs as homepages. This is a quick way to set several sites at once.

Setting the homepage in Mozilla Firefox

Firefox offers extensive options for personalizing your homepage and new tabs.

Configuring the Firefox homepage

Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines at the top right. Select Settings and click Home in the left menu. Here you find all the options for your homepage.

Under Homepage and new windows, you choose what should be shown. The Firefox Home option shows the default Firefox page with shortcuts and recommended content. Choose Custom URLs to set your own website.

Setting a custom homepage

Select Custom URLs and type the web address of the homepage you want in the text field. You can enter multiple addresses by separating them with a vertical bar, the pipe symbol. For example: www.google.nl|www.nu.nl opens both sites in separate tabs.

You can also click Use Current Pages to set the currently open tabs as your homepage.

Customizing new tabs

Under New tabs, you decide what appears when you open a new tab. Choose Firefox Home for the default view or Blank Page for an empty page. A blank page loads faster and can feel calmer.

Setting the homepage in Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge offers various options to tailor your browsing experience to your preferences.

Edge startup settings

Open Edge and click the three dots at the top right. Select Settings and click Start, home, and new tabs in the left menu. Here you decide what happens when Edge starts.

Opening specific pages on startup

Under When Edge starts, choose one of the options. Select Open these pages and click Add a new page. Enter the web address of the website you want as your homepage, for example www.google.nl. Click Add.

You can add several pages that each open in a separate tab. Use the Use all open tabs button to quickly save all your current tabs as homepages.

Showing the home button

Edge can show a home button in the toolbar, the house icon that takes you to your homepage quickly. Go to Settings and click Appearance. Look for Show home button and turn the toggle on. Then choose which page should open when you click the home button.

Setting the homepage in Safari

Safari is the default browser on Mac and offers simple options for setting a homepage.

Opening Safari preferences

Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar. Select Preferences or Settings depending on your macOS version. Go to the General tab, where you find the homepage settings.

Setting the homepage

Under Safari opens with, choose how Safari should start. Options are a new window, a new private window, all windows from the last session or a specific homepage.

Under New windows open with and New tabs open with, select Homepage. Then enter the web address in the Homepage field. Click Set to Current Page if you want to use the page that is currently open.

Favorites as homepage

Safari also offers the option to show your favorites as your homepage. This gives you quick access to all your saved websites. Choose Favorites in the drop-down menus to turn this on.

Useful homepage suggestions

Not sure which website you want as your homepage? Here are some popular options.

Search engines

Google.nl or Google.com is a popular choice. You can start searching right away. Alternatives are DuckDuckGo for more privacy or Bing if you use Microsoft services.

News sites

For the latest news, sites like Nu.nl, NOS.nl or your favorite newspaper are ideal. You start your day with up-to-date information right away.

Email and productivity

Gmail, Outlook or your business email as your homepage lets you check your messages right away. Other productive options are Google Calendar, Notion or Trello.

Personal dashboards

Websites such as iGoogle alternatives or Netvibes let you create a personalized dashboard with news, weather, email and more on one page.

Troubleshooting

Sometimes the homepage does not work as expected. Here are solutions for common problems.

Homepage keeps getting reset

If your homepage keeps changing to another site, there may be unwanted software on your computer. Check your browser extensions and remove suspicious items. Also run a virus scan with your security software.

Homepage does not load

If the homepage does not load, check that the web address is spelled correctly. Make sure you enter the full address, including www if needed. Test whether the website works at all by typing it manually in the address bar.

Browser opens old tabs

If the browser keeps opening old tabs instead of your homepage, the Continue where you left off option is probably turned on. Change this to a specific homepage in the settings.

Extra tips for a better browsing experience

Besides the homepage, there are more ways to make your browser more efficient.

Organizing bookmarks

Create folders for your bookmarks and organize them by category. Put your most used bookmarks in the bookmarks bar for quick access.

Using extensions wisely

Only install extensions you really need. Too many extensions can slow down your browser. Remove extensions you no longer use.

Keeping your browser clean

Regularly clear your browsing history, cookies and cache. This can help if websites load slowly or cause problems. You usually find these options under Settings and Privacy.

Frequently asked questions

Can I have different homepages for work and home?

Not within the same browser, but you can use browser profiles. Chrome, Firefox and Edge support multiple profiles, each with its own settings and homepages. Create a work profile and a home profile.

Why does my browser show ads on the homepage?

If you see unwanted ads on your homepage, there may be adware on your computer. Check your installed programs and browser extensions. Remove anything you do not recognize and run a scan with anti-malware software.

How do I set a blank homepage?

For an empty homepage, type about:blank as the web address in the homepage settings. This loads a completely empty page, which can be faster and less distracting.

Can I sync my homepage across devices?

Yes, if you are signed in with your browser account, such as a Google Account for Chrome or a Firefox account, your settings are synced. Your homepage is then the same on all your devices with the same browser.

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