Chrome DevTools is an essential suite of web development tools built directly into the Google Chrome browser. It allows web developers and even curious users to inspect and debug web pages. While incredibly useful for troubleshooting and optimization, there are times when you need to close DevTools and return to a cleaner browsing experience. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of various methods to close Chrome DevTools, ensuring you can quickly hide them when they are no longer needed.
Whether you’ve accidentally opened DevTools, finished your debugging session, or simply want to declutter your browser window, understanding how to effectively close these tools is crucial. Let’s explore the different ways you can dismiss DevTools, catering to your preferred method, be it using the Chrome UI or keyboard shortcuts.
Closing DevTools via the Chrome Menu
For users who prefer using the graphical interface, Chrome offers a straightforward method to close DevTools through its menu system. This is particularly useful when you’re already navigating with your mouse.
Step-by-Step Guide to Close from the Menu
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Locate the Chrome Menu: Look for the three-dot menu icon, typically situated at the top-right corner of your Chrome browser window, to the right of the address bar.
Alt text: Chrome’s three-dot menu icon, positioned at the browser’s top right corner.
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Open the Menu and Navigate to “Developer Tools”: Click on the three-dot menu icon to open the Chrome dropdown menu. Hover over “More tools” to expand a submenu.
Alt text: Selecting ‘More tools’ from Chrome’s dropdown menu to access developer options.
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Select “Developer Tools”: In the “More tools” submenu, you will see “Developer tools”. If DevTools is currently open, this option will act as a toggle. Clicking “Developer tools” will close the DevTools panel if it’s visible.
Alt text: The ‘Developer tools’ option within the ‘More tools’ submenu, used to toggle DevTools visibility.
By following these simple steps, you can easily close Chrome DevTools using the browser’s built-in menu. This method is intuitive and requires no memorization of keyboard shortcuts, making it accessible for all users.
Using Keyboard Shortcuts to Quickly Hide DevTools
For those who prefer efficiency and speed, keyboard shortcuts offer the quickest way to close Chrome DevTools. These shortcuts are system-specific and provide a toggle functionality, meaning you can use the same shortcut to both open and close DevTools.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Closing DevTools
The primary shortcut to close DevTools is the same shortcut used to open the last used panel. Here are the shortcuts based on your operating system:
| Operating System | Shortcut to Close DevTools (Last Panel) |
|---|---|
| Windows or Linux | F12 or Ctrl + Shift + I |
| Mac | Fn + F12 or Cmd + Option + I |
Pressing these key combinations will close the DevTools window immediately. If DevTools is already closed, these shortcuts will reopen the last panel you were using (like Elements, Console, etc.).
Closing the Elements Panel Specifically
If you opened DevTools using the “Inspect” option (right-click on a webpage element and select “Inspect”), you likely activated the Elements panel. While the shortcuts above will close DevTools entirely, if you wish to quickly close the Elements panel specifically (and DevTools as a whole if no other panels are active), you can use the following shortcuts, which are also used to open the Elements panel:
| Operating System | Shortcut to Close DevTools (Elements Panel) |
|---|---|
| Windows or Linux | Ctrl + Shift + C |
| Mac | Cmd + Option + C |
Using these shortcuts is incredibly efficient for developers who frequently need to toggle DevTools visibility while working. Memorizing these shortcuts can significantly speed up your workflow.
Closing Automatically Opened DevTools
In some cases, DevTools might be set to open automatically for every new tab. This is often enabled for debugging purposes but can become bothersome when no longer needed. To stop DevTools from automatically opening, you need to reverse the command that initiated this behavior.
Stopping Automatic DevTools Opening
If you initiated automatic opening via the command line using flags like --auto-open-devtools-for-tabs, you need to ensure Chrome is launched without this flag to stop this behavior.
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Close All Chrome Instances: Completely close all running instances of Google Chrome. This includes any minimized windows or background processes.
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Restart Chrome Normally: Reopen Chrome in your usual way, such as clicking the Chrome icon in your taskbar, desktop, or applications menu. Do not use the command line with the
--auto-open-devtools-for-tabsflag.
By restarting Chrome without the specific command-line flag, you will revert to the default behavior where DevTools does not automatically open with each new tab.
Why Close DevTools?
While DevTools is invaluable for web development and debugging, there are several reasons why you might want to close it:
- Decluttering Workspace: When you are finished with debugging or inspection, closing DevTools cleans up your browser window, providing more screen space for browsing.
- Performance: Although DevTools is designed to be lightweight, in very resource-intensive scenarios, closing it might free up minor system resources.
- Accidental Opening: Sometimes, DevTools might be accidentally opened via shortcuts. Knowing how to quickly close it resolves this minor inconvenience.
- User Experience: For regular browsing, DevTools is not necessary and can be visually distracting for non-developers.
Conclusion
Closing Chrome DevTools is as simple as opening it, with multiple methods available to suit different user preferences. Whether you choose to use the Chrome menu for a point-and-click approach or keyboard shortcuts for rapid dismissal, you now have a comprehensive understanding of how to remove DevTools from your view. Mastering these techniques ensures a smoother and more efficient browsing and development experience. Remember to choose the method that best fits your workflow and enjoy a cleaner, less cluttered browser window when DevTools is no longer required.
