While the update to nine tiles is welcome, many power users and developers want even more control. For them, third-party extensions and official APIs offer a path to customization.

The update makes the browser feel "alive" rather than static, a subtle reminder that Chrome is a service, not just a tool.

Master Chrome's New Tab: Troubleshooting and Customizing the "Most Visited" Shortcuts

The in Chrome’s New Tab Page is a subtle but impactful evolution of one of the browser’s oldest features. By expanding from 8 to 9 tiles, refining the ranking algorithm, and improving customization, Google aims to balance familiarity with discoverability — all while preserving local privacy. Developers and power users can leverage flags and policies to tailor behavior, but the default 9-tile layout is now standard across Chrome stable releases.

In Google Chrome, chrome://newtab/#most_visited is a local URL that displays your most frequently used site thumbnails. The "9" likely refers to a specific grid size or layout version (traditionally, Chrome displayed 8 or 10 thumbnails).

Customise your New Tab page in Chrome - Android - Google Help

With the update to nine tiles, you have more control over your most visited shortcuts. Here are some essential tips for managing the grid:

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Chrome automatically populates the sites based on your history [3].

Why an “updated” version matters

Chrome manages these entries inside an internal database called Top Sites (stored as an SQLite3 file within your local user profile directory).

If a sudden browser update or a settings shift has wiped out your shortcut panel, you can restore your grid tiles by forcing the core internal settings to reset: For Desktop Users (Windows, macOS, Linux) Launch and open a blank New Tab .

: Thumbnails are automatically suggested based on your browsing patterns. My shortcuts : Icons are manually curated by you. Hide shortcuts : Toggle the Show shortcuts to remove all thumbnails from the page. Google Help Managing Your Shortcuts

Customize your New Tab page in Chrome - Computer - Google Help

: Pages accessed this week will temporarily outrank heavily visited sites from last month.