How to put a to-do list on Chrome's new tab
Set up a personal task list on Chrome's new tab and make the first few tasks clear enough to act on.
Updated 2026-10-03
To put a to-do list on Chrome's new tab, use an extension that replaces the new-tab page, then write a small personal list there. Chrome's built-in New Tab settings let you manage website shortcuts, but Google's help page does not describe a built-in task list in that area.
Set up the new-tab list
The To-Do List Chrome Extension displays a task list when you open a new tab. On desktop Chrome:
- Open its Chrome Web Store page and select Add to Chrome. Review and confirm the browser's installation prompt.
- Open a new tab. If Chrome asks whether to keep the new-tab change, confirm it if this is the page you want.
- Add a few personal tasks with verbs and visible results, such as "Send the draft to Maya" rather than "Project." If you use multiple lists, keep today's tasks together and put another project in a separate list.
The exact controls may look different as the extension changes. The important check is that a new tab shows your tasks. Chrome Help explains that Chrome can identify an extension controlling the New Tab page in its footer. If another extension controls that page, open Chrome's More > Extensions > Manage extensions, turn off the conflicting extension, then open a new tab again. A managed work or school browser may restrict extension installation.
Make the list useful when you return to it
Because you open new tabs throughout the day, use this page for the few tasks you need to keep in sight. A crowded list becomes easy to ignore. Put less immediate work in another list.
For example, "Prepare the report" may still be too large to begin. Create subtasks such as "Collect this week's figures" and "Check the chart labels." Add a note if a task needs context that would otherwise be lost. The extension's feature listing describes multiple lists, notes and deadlines; the site's feature overview also describes subtasks.
Use a due date for a real deadline. Setting a due date is not the same thing as receiving a push or email reminder. If you need a timed alert, arrange that separately. At the end of the day, check off completed tasks and decide which unfinished action belongs on tomorrow's list.
Know where your tasks live
The product site says the list works offline and stores tasks locally. Treat it as a personal list on this browser, not as a confirmed backup or a shared team board. If you need access from another device or a team workflow, choose a service that explicitly provides those features.
If you switch back to Chrome's own New Tab page, its website shortcuts are available again. A task extension changes what that page displays, so decide which view is more useful for your daily browsing.