Want to load an entirely blank page or tab in your browser (to save energy, for instance, or as a background for a screenshot)? Find out here how to open the blank page URL in any browser (and how to link to or bookmark that page, too).
First, Pumped Full of Inertia
Open any bag of chips, and you open a carefully established atmosphere of inertia to the oxidizing influence of—oxygen.
Many a foodstuff is famously and repeatedly pumped with nitrogen in modified atmosphere packaging. The inert gas drives the oxygen out, cushions food against blows and keeps it fresh.
Now, want to open something seemingly empty in your browser, too? You can even have it opened by inertia:
How to Open the Blank Page URL in Any Browser
Time needed: 1 minute
To open a blank, white, and empty page in your browser:
- Go to the address bar.
Keyboard shortcut: In most browsers, you can press Command L (Mac) or Ctrl L (Windows and Linux) to focus the address bar.
- Type
about:blank.Blank page link: You can also follow this about:blank link.
- Press Enter.
Blank address: Some browsers do show the blank page but do not show about:blank in the address bar, instating leaving it (quite appropriately) blank.
How to Open the Blank Page URL in Any Browser
Can I bookmark the blank page?
Yes.
To bookmark about:blank in your browser:
- Open the blank page. (See above.)
- Save it as a bookmark.
How: Many browsers use Command D (Mac) or Ctrl D (Windows, Unix) as a keyboard shortcut for bookmarking and offer a button in the toolbar as well; in mobile browsers, saving a bookmark is often found in the sharing, three dots or hamburger menus.
Does not bookmark: If your browser refuses to bookmark about:blank, bookmark any other page and edit that bookmark’s address toabout:blank.
Can I make about:blank my home page or new tab page?
Yes, usually you can.
In your browser’s settings, choose the option to set the home page manually and enter about:blank as the URI (or URL):
- Chrome: How to Use a Blank New Tab Page in Chrome (about:blank)
- Firefox: How to Start Firefox with a Blank New Tab Page
- Safari: How to Start Safari with a Blank Page
Can I link to the about:blank URI?
Yes.
Since about: is a recognized internet protocol URI scheme and about:blank a well-known entity under it (defined in RFC 6694), links to about:blank will usually work, yes.
Is the blank page always white?
No.
Most browsers will display about:blank as an entirely white page, but some opt for a different background color—gray, for instance.
(How to open a blank page URL in any browser tested with Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, Opera, Vivaldi, Brave and Firefox; updated December 2023)