Getting started
SessionPaw shows every browser window and its tabs in one list beside your browser. From that list you can jump to any tab, name and color windows, save whole desks of windows for later, and put tabs you are not using to sleep.
This page gets you set up and walks you through the basics in about five minutes.
Install
Pick the store for your browser:
- Chrome Web Store (also works for Brave, Vivaldi, Arc and other Chromium-based browsers)
- Microsoft Edge Add-ons
- Firefox Add-ons
After installing, SessionPaw opens Side View for you and shows a welcome page.
Pin the icon
Browsers hide new extension icons in the extensions menu (the puzzle-piece button). Pin SessionPaw so it is always one click away:
- Click the extensions button in the toolbar.
- Find SessionPaw and click the pin next to it.
The three places SessionPaw lives
| Where | How to open | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Side View | Opens on its own when the browser starts. Or click the icon, then Open Side View at the bottom left. | The full workbench: all windows, all tabs, sessions, Concept Mode. |
| Popup | Click the toolbar icon, or press Ctrl+E (Cmd+E on Mac). | Tools for the current tab only: URL breadcrumbs, tab history, link cleaning, favicon download, QR code. |
| Browser side panel | Press Ctrl+G (Cmd+G on Mac). | A compact list that starts on the current window. |
Side View is a small separate window that docks to the left edge of your screen. SessionPaw moves your other browser windows over so they sit beside it, not under it.
Keep Side View open while you work. Automatic backups and tab history only run while it is open.
Five-minute tour
1. Jump to a tab (30 seconds)
- Open Side View.
- Click any tab in the list. The browser switches to it, and its window comes to the front.
- The Recent Tabs box at the top lists the last tabs you used. Click one to go back to it.
2. Name and color a window (1 minute)
- Click the title of a window card and type a name, such as "Tax return" or "Paper draft". Press
Enteror click away to save. - Right-click the window title and pick one of the three colored dots.
Names and colors make it easy to tell windows apart. See Windows.
3. Read the tree (1 minute)
- Open a link in a new tab. The new tab appears indented under the tab you opened it from.
- Hover a tab's icon to see two small arrows. Use them to indent or outdent it by hand.
See The tab tree.
4. Save your desk (1 minute)
- Click the green power button at the top of Side View.
- Choose Save All. A snapshot of every window and tab is stored.
- To get it back later, choose Saved Sessions from the same menu.
See Saving and restoring sessions.
5. Free memory (30 seconds)
- Click the snowflake button at the top of Side View.
- Choose Hibernate other windows. Tabs in your other windows stop using memory, but stay in place.
See Hibernate and memory saving.
6. Look around (1 minute)
- The round button at the bottom right of the list opens shortcuts to the Bookmark List, Read Later, Bookmarks Manager, Session Manager, Recently Closed and Other Devices.
- The orange wand at the top opens Concept Mode, a mind map for your windows and research.
- The palette button changes the appearance.