Hide and password-lock your Chrome session without closing, moving, or recreating your tabs.
Users
9
+1 in 30 days
Rating
5.0 / 5
unchanged in 30 days
Ratings
2
0 in 30 days
Store rank
#200K
#167K among extensions
Version
0.1.4
updated 20 Jul 2026
Users
monthly, 3 months
Latest, 17 Oct 2026:9 usersMove the mouse over the chart for any month
Ratings count
monthly, 3 months
Latest, 17 Oct 2026:2 ratingsMove the mouse over the chart for any month
The Chrome Web Store rounds user counts down to the leading digit, so the user line moves in steps. The ratings count is exact and is the better signal of real adoption.
About TabbyGuard: Browser Lock Without Closing Tabs
STEP AWAY WITHOUT LOSING YOUR PLACE
TabbyGuard is a local-first Chrome session guard that hides your browser behind a passphrase while keeping your tabs, tab groups, pinned tabs, windows, and layout exactly where you left them.
Use it when stepping away from your computer, briefly handing over your laptop, presenting your screen, or protecting sensitive websites from casual access.
LOCK CHROME YOUR WAY
Lock your session using:
• The TabbyGuard toolbar popup
• The right-click menu
• An automatic inactivity timer
• Lock on Chrome startup
• The Panic Paw emergency shortcut
TabbyGuard never closes or recreates your tabs to lock the session.
FEATURES
• Session-preserving lock
Your tabs, tab groups, pinned tabs, order, and window layout remain intact.
• Automatic protection
Lock Chrome after inactivity or whenever the browser starts.
• Panic Paw
Press Alt + Shift + G to hide your session immediately.
• Temporary unlock
Pause protection for 5, 15, 30, or 60 minutes. TabbyGuard automatically hides the session again when time runs out.
• Guest Handoff
Open a clean Guest window while your existing tabs and windows remain hidden.
• Guarded sites
Require your TabbyGuard passphrase before opening selected websites.
• Guarded tab groups
Protect specific Chrome tab groups while leaving the rest of the browser available.
• Local passphrase verification
Your passphrase is verified on your device. No account, cloud recovery, or email address is required.
• Responsive cat guardian
TabbyGuard reacts differently when watching, locked, temporarily unlocked, in Guest mode, or given the wrong passphrase.
• Cat GIFs
Meet a random guard cat on the lock screen and request another whenever necessary. For security reasons, obviously.
PRIVATE BY DESIGN
TabbyGuard requires no account and uses no analytics or backend for its core protection features.
Your passphrase verifier, preferences, and protected-site settings remain in Chrome’s local extension storage.
Optional cat GIFs are loaded from Cataas only when displayed. Your passphrase, tab contents, browsing history, and visited URLs are not sent to the GIF service.
IMPORTANT SECURITY NOTE
TabbyGuard is designed to prevent casual viewing and accidental access when you briefly step away or share your computer.
It is not a replacement for your operating system’s screen lock, does not encrypt your Chrome profile, and can be disabled by someone who controls the device.