Confusing dozens of open tabs in Yandex Browser on Android is a familiar problem for most users. Over time, they accumulate like a snowball: here are forgotten pages from a month ago, and accidentally opened links from instant messengers, and duplicates of the same sites. But for some reason, the standard cross closes only one tab at a time, and looking for the “close all” button in the browser menu is not always intuitive.

In this article we will examine all current methods for mass closing tabs in Yandex Browser on Androidincluding hidden functions and workarounds for older versions of the application. You will learn how to do this in 2 clicks, how to set up automatic cleaning and what to do if the browser starts to glitch after deleting tabs. And also - why sometimes it’s better not to close them all (spoiler: this can save your traffic!).

Why tabs accumulate and when they need to be closed

Mobile Yandex Browser by default, saves everything open tabs even after restarting the application. This is convenient if you often return to the same pages, but over time it leads to:

  • 🐢 Slowdown of the browser —each tab consumes RAM, even in the background.
  • 📶 Traffic leakage —some sites update content in the background (for example, social networks or news portals).
  • 🔍 Privacy problems —authorization data or personal information may remain in open tabs.
  • 🔄 Synchronization failures —if you use one Yandex account on several devices.

However not always you should delete all tabs in a row. For example, if you:

  • 📚 Prepare for an exam and keep dozens of reference materials open.
  • 🛒 Compare products in online stores (prices or characteristics).
  • 📊 Work with web applications where history is important actions (for example Google Docs or Trello).
⚠️ Attention: Tabs with incomplete forms (for example, paying on a bank website or filling out a form) when closed may lead to data loss. Always save drafts or copy important information before mass clearing.
📊 How often do you close tabs in the browser?
Every day
Once a week
Only when the browser starts to slow down
Never close

Method 1: Standard closing through the browser menu

The most obvious, but not always noticeable method. Works in all versions Yandex Browser for Android, including the latest updates of 2026.

  1. Open the browser and tap on icon "Tabs" (square with a number in the lower right corner).
  2. A panel with open tabs will appear at the top of the screen. Click on three dots ⋮ (menu).
  3. In the drop-down list, select the item "Close all tabs".
  4. Confirm the action in the pop-up window.

If you have Yandex Browser Lite (light version), the path will be slightly different:

  1. Tap on the tabs icon.
  2. Click on "Management" (trash icon).
  3. Select "Close all".

☑️ Check before closing tabs

Done: 0 / 4

In some firmware (for example, on Samsung s shell One UI) the browser menu may look different. If you don't find the "Close all" option, try:

  • 🔍 Hold your finger on any tab - sometimes a context menu appears.
  • 🔄 Restart the browser (swipe to close in the multitasking menu).

Method 2: Swipe gesture (for new versions)

In Yandex Browser version 23.7+ a hidden gesture has appeared for quickly closing tabs. It does not work on all devices, but if your smartphone supports Android 10 and higher, try:

  1. Open the tab bar (tap on the square with a number).
  2. Do double swipe to the left on any tab (as if you were “swiping” it off the screen).
  3. If the gesture works, a hint will appear: "Close all tabs?".

This method is convenient when you need to quickly clear the browser with one hand. However, it has some nuances:

  • ✅ Works even if the tab bar is open on top of another page.
  • ❌ May accidentally trigger when scrolling through the list of tabs.
  • ⚙️ You can disable this gesture in the browser settings (path: Settings → Gestures → Closing tabs).
💡

If the double swipe does not work, try making it slower or with a larger amplitude. Sometimes the touch screen does not recognize too fast movements.

Method 3: Through the browser settings (to clear history)

If standard methods do not work (for example, due to an interface glitch), you can close all tabs via data clearing settings. This method will also delete cookies and cache, so use it only if necessary.

  1. Open the browser menu (three dots ⋮ in the upper right corner).
  2. Go to Settings → Privacy → Clear data.
  3. Tick the boxes:
    • 🗂️ "Tabs"
    • 🍪 "Cookies and site data" (optional)
  • Click "Clear" and confirm the action.

    • The advantage of this method:

    • 🔄 Works even if the browser is frozen and does not respond to taps.
    • 🛡️ At the same time clears unnecessary data, speeding up work.

    Disadvantages:

    • 🔓 You will have to do it again log in to sites where you were authorized.
    • 📊 Some site settings (for example, language or theme) may be reset.
    ⚠️ Attention: If you use synchronization with Yandex account, tabs closed in this way will disappear on your other devices (PC, tablet).

    Method 4: Reset the browser to factory settings

    An extreme method that should be used only if:

    • The browser is very slow and does not respond to other methods.
    • Tabs do not close due to a failure (for example, after updates).
    • You want to completely reset all settings.

    Instructions:

    1. Open Android Settings → Applications.
    2. Find in the list Yandex Browser and tap on it.
    3. Select Storage → Clear data.
    4. Confirm reset (this will delete all data, including bookmarks and history!).

    After the reset, the browser will open as after the first installation. To restore bookmarks:

    1. Log in to your Yandex account.
    2. Go to Settings → Synchronization and enable it.
    Method Speed Is data saved? Suitable for
    Standard menu ⚡ Fast ✅ Yes (bookmarks, history) Regular cleaning
    Swipe gesture ⚡⚡ Instantly ✅ Yes Quick closing
    Cleaning through settings 🐢 Slow ❌ No (will delete cookies) Deep cleaning
    Reset browser 🐢🐢 Longest ❌ No (full reset) Troubleshooting
    💡

    Resetting the browser to factory settings is “heavy artillery”. Use it only if other methods did not help, since you will have to set everything up again.

    Method 5: Automatically close tabs on a schedule

    If you constantly forget to clear tabs, you can set automatic closing in the background. To do this:

    1. Open Yandex Browser Settings → Advanced → Automatic cleaning.
    2. Enable the option "Close unused tabs".
    3. Set an inactivity period (for example, 1 day or 3 days).
    4. Save the settings.

    How this works:

    • The browser will close tabs that you have not returned to for longer than the specified period.
    • Active tabs (current and frequently used) will remain untouched.
    • Bookmarks and history will not be affected.

    Limitations:

    • The function is available only in the full version of the browser (not in Yandex Browser Lite).
    • Does not work for tabs with web applications (for example, Google Docs or Figma).
    What happens if you enable automatic cleaning on a weak phone?

    On devices with less than 2 GB of RAM, automatically closing tabs can lead to frequent browser restarts. In this case, it is better to clear them manually once every time. 2-3 days.

    What to do if tabs do not close

    Sometimes Yandex Browser may "glitch" and not respond to closing commands Here's what will help:

    • 🔄 Restarting the browser: Close it through the multitasking menu (swipe up on most Androids) and open it again.
    • 📱 Restarting the phone: Sometimes helps with system failures.
    • 🔧 Clearing the cache:
      1. Open Android Settings → Applications → Yandex Browser → Storage.
      2. Click "Clear cache" (not data!).
  • 🔄 Browser update: Outdated versions may contain bugs. Update via Google Play.

    • If the problem persists:

    • Check whether third-party launchers or memory optimizers are installed - they may block the browser.
    • Disable saving traffic in the browser settings (sometimes it conflicts with tab management).
      • ⚠️ Attention: On some models Xiaomi, Huawei and Honor the operation of background processes is limited by the system. To ensure that the browser closes tabs correctly, add it to the list "Protected applications" in the battery settings.

      FAQ: Frequently asked questions about closing tabs in Yandex Browser

      Is it possible to close all tabs except one?

      Yes, but only manually. Open the tab bar, hold your finger on the one you want to keep, and select "Close other tabs" from the context menu. There is no automatic way to do this.

      Why do tabs open again after closing?

      Most likely, you have enabled synchronization with another device (for example, a PC), where these tabs remained open. Disable synchronization in your Yandex account settings or close them on all devices.

      How to close tabs in Yandex Browser on Android using a voice assistant?

      Alice in Yandex Browser does not support voice commands for managing tabs. But you can use Google Assistant with the command: "Open Yandex Browser and clear tabs" - this will redirect you to the cleaning menu.

      Will closing tabs save battery power?

      Yes, but not significantly. According to tests, background tabs consume ~5-10% additional charge per day with active use. Open pages with animations or videos consume more energy.

      Is it possible to restore closed tabs?

      If you closed them through the standard menu, yes, for ~1 hour they are displayed in Stories (section "Recently closed"). If you used a browser reset, recovery is impossible.