How to duplicate tab via keyboard only in Google Chrome?

Question

Is there a way to duplicate a Chrome tab in macOS via keyboard only?

Showing the menu option to do this.

There are a lot of keyboard shortcuts like Cmd+T, Cmd+Shift+T, is there a way to duplicate a tab from the keyboard?

Answer 1

There are two answers below:

1. Keyboard shortcut to duplicate Google Chrome tab, keeping URL history and general position on the webpage, in macOS. This uses Automator running an AppleScript.

2. Old answer: Simple keyboard shortcut Cmd+L and Opt+Return, but doesn't keep URL history nor general position on the webpage. This shortcut is mentioned somewhere in Is there a shortcut key to duplicate a tab in Google Chrome?.

1. Keyboard shortcut to duplicate Chrome tab, keeping URL history

To duplicate a Chrome tab while retaining URL history, you can run the following AppleScript using Automator, and assign this task to a keyboard shortcut in System Settings:

1. Open Automator and choose Quick Action.

2. Search for and drag Run AppleScript from the left side to the main workflow window.

3. Copy and paste the following into the Run AppleScript box:

on run {input, parameters}
    
    if application "Google Chrome" is running then
        tell application "Google Chrome"
            activate
        end tell
        tell application "System Events"
            click menu item "Duplicate Tab" of menu 1 of menu bar item "Tab" of menu bar 1 of application process "Chrome"
        end tell
    end if
    
    return
end run

4. Set the "Workflow receives" to "no input". It should look like this now:

5. Save the script (Cmd+S) and enter the name "Duplicate Chrome tab". The script will be saved in the default directory ~/Library/Services/.

6. You've created the script with Automator and saved it, now you need to install it to make it visible to System Settings. Go to ~/Library/Services/ and open the script up again, this time it uses the default app "Automator Installer", now press Cmd + S once more to save and now install it. This makes the service visible in System Settings.

7. Open System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts... > Services > General, and tick the checkmark next to Duplicate Chrome tab, and assign a keyboard shortcut like Ctrl+T.

8. Open Google Chrome to a tab with some URL history, then press your keyboard shortcut. If you get a pop-up window saying you need permissions, make sure you allow it inside System Settings.

9. Voila, you now have a keyboard shortcut to duplicate a Chrome tab with URL history, and this also remembers your general placement within the webpage.

2. Keyboard shortcut to duplicate Chrome tab, without URL history

This was my old answer, but it doesn't retain URL history nor does it remember your placement within a webpage:

Press Cmd+L to select the current URL, then Opt+Return to duplicate the current tab.

Is there a shortcut key to duplicate a tab in Google Chrome?

Answer 2

I do not really like this solutions, but it works from the keyboard only:

1. In chrome create a bookmark (right click in the bookmark bar -> 'Add Page').

2. Edit the url to be:

   javascript:(function(){ var url = window.location.href; window.open(url, '_blank');})();

3. Edit the name to be "Duplicate Tab"

4. Save

If you want to duplicate the current tab, type cmd + L (edit current url) and type "Duplicate Tab" and enter. if you have a tool to run a script from a keyboard shortcut (like Raycast) it will be even faster