Suspending Tabs

Suspending Tabs

VertiTab provides comprehensive tab suspension functionality to optimize memory usage while keeping tabs accessible. Suspended tabs remain in your tab bar but are terminated to free up memory, automatically reloading when you return to them.

What is Tab Suspension?

Tab suspension (also called “discarding”) is a memory-saving feature that terminates tab processes while preserving:

• Tab position in your browser
• Form content and scroll positions
• Browser navigation history (forward/back functionality)
• All tab metadata and organization

When you click a suspended tab, it automatically reloads, restoring your previous state just like using browser forward/back navigation.

1. Single Tab Suspension

Right-click Menu

Right-click on any tab to access suspension options:

• Suspend Tab - Basic tab suspension with expandable options
• More options (click the arrow) - Advanced suspension and management options

Advanced Suspension Options

When you click the arrow next to “Suspend Tab”, you’ll see additional options:

Individual Tab Actions

• Suspend This Tab - Suspend the current tab to free memory
• Suspend Other Tabs - Suspend all tabs except the current one (Premium)
• Suspend All Tabs - Suspend all tabs in the current window (Premium)

Tab Management

• Restore All Tabs - Restore all suspended tabs in the current window (Premium)

Auto-Suspension Control

• Disable Auto Suspend Tab - Prevent this specific tab from being auto-suspended (Premium)
• Disable Auto Suspend Domain - Prevent all tabs from this domain from being auto-suspended (Premium)

Tree-based Suspension (Premium)

• Suspend Tab Tree - Suspend this tab and all its child tabs in the tree hierarchy

Settings Access

• Auto Suspend Settings - Direct access to suspension configuration (Premium)

2. Multiple Tab Suspension

Selecting Multiple Tabs

You can select multiple tabs using:

• Click and Drag - Drag across multiple tabs to select a range
• Ctrl/⌘ + Click - Add individual tabs to your selection
• Shift + Click - Select a range of tabs from the last clicked tab

Suspending Selected Tabs

Once you have multiple tabs selected:

1. Right-click on any selected tab
2. Choose “Suspend Tab” from the context menu
3. All selected tabs will be suspended simultaneously

This is perfect for bulk memory optimization while keeping tabs organized and accessible.

3. Group Tab Suspension

Accessing Group Suspension

1. Right-click on any tab group header
2. Select “Suspend All Tabs” from the context menu

This suspends all tabs within that specific group, ideal for temporarily freeing memory from project-related tab collections while maintaining group organization.

4. Window-wide Suspension

Window Header Menu

1. Right-click on the window header area (the top bar of the VertiTab panel)
2. Select “Suspend All Tabs” from the context menu

This suspends every tab in the current browser window except the currently active tab, providing maximum memory savings while keeping your current work accessible.

5. Scheduled Tasks (Premium)

Tab-level Scheduling

Each tab can have individual scheduled suspension tasks:

1. Right-click on any tab
2. Select “Scheduled Task” from the context menu
3. Configure automatic suspension based on:
   • Time-based triggers - Suspend after specific time periods
   • Countdown - Suspend after a specified time

Task Management

• View active scheduled tasks with status indicators
• Modify or cancel existing scheduled tasks
• Set up complex suspension workflows

6. Auto Suspension System (Premium)

Memory-Based Auto Suspension

Access via Settings > Performance:

Suspension Method Selection

• Disabled - No automatic suspension
• Suspend Tabs - Automatically suspend inactive tabs to save memory
• Close Tabs - Automatically close inactive tabs (alternative to suspension)

Time-Based Auto Suspension

• Suspend Inactive Tabs Timer - Set minutes of inactivity before auto-suspension
• Threshold-Based Suspension - Suspend tabs when inactive tab count exceeds limits

Suspension Thresholds

Configure intelligent suspension triggers:

• Tab Count Trigger - When inactive tabs exceed a set number
• Time Threshold - Suspend tabs inactive for specified minutes
• Combined Triggers - Use both count and time conditions

Skip Rules for Auto Suspension

Protect important tabs from automatic suspension:

Tab Type Exclusions

• Pinned Tabs - Keep important persistent tabs active
• Playing Media Tabs - Preserve audio/video playback
• Active Tab - Never suspend the currently viewed tab
• Form Changed Tabs - Protect unsaved form data
• Offline Tabs - Maintain offline accessibility
• Notification Tabs - Preserve notification functionality

7. Site-Specific Settings (Premium)

Domain Whitelist Management

Access via Settings > Performance > Suspension Whitelist:

Whitelist Configuration

• Add Domain Rules - Specify domains that should never be suspended
• URL Pattern Matching - Use specific URL patterns for fine-grained control
• Bulk Domain Management - Import/export whitelist configurations

Common Whitelist Examples

gmail.com
docs.google.com
calendar.google.com
slack.com
teams.microsoft.com

Per-Domain Settings

• Disable Auto Suspend Domain - Configure from any tab’s context menu
• Apply to All Tabs - Automatically applies to all current and future tabs from that domain

8. Keyboard Shortcuts

You can set up keyboard shortcuts for suspension actions:

1. Go to chrome://extensions/shortcuts
2. Find VertiTab in the list
3. Assign shortcuts for the following functions:

Basic Suspension

• Suspend Current Tab - Suspend the currently active tab
• Suspend Other Tabs - Suspend all tabs except the current one
• Suspend All Tabs - Suspend all tabs in the current window

Group-Based Suspension

• Suspend Current Group Tabs - Suspend all tabs in the current group

Tree-Based Suspension

• Suspend Tab Tree - Suspend the current tab and all child tabs
• Suspend Tab Tree Children - Suspend only the child tabs
• Suspend Tab Tree with Parent and Children - Suspend the entire tree structure

System-Level Operations

• Suspend Inactive Tabs - Suspend non-active tabs based on rules
• Restore All Suspended Tabs - Restore all suspended tabs in the current window

Advanced Operations

• Suspend Tabs Based on Ignore Rules - Use configured rules for intelligent suspension

9. Advanced Tips

Memory Optimization Strategies

1. Selective Suspension - Use domain whitelists for important services
2. Threshold Management - Configure appropriate count and time thresholds
3. Media Preservation - Always skip media tabs to avoid interruption
4. Form Protection - Enable form change detection to prevent data loss
5. Group Organization - Use tab groups with group-level suspension for project management

Suspension Timing

1. Short-term Projects - Use manual suspension for temporary memory relief
2. Long-term Workflows - Configure auto-suspension with appropriate thresholds
3. Scheduled Workflows - Use scheduled tasks for regular maintenance
4. Emergency Cleanup - Use “Suspend All” for immediate memory recovery

Restoration Strategies

1. Gradual Restoration - Restore tabs as needed rather than all at once
2. Priority-Based - Restore important tabs first using selective clicking
3. Batch Restoration - Use “Restore All” for returning to full workflow
4. Auto-Restoration - Individual tabs restore automatically when accessed

Premium Features

Advanced suspension functionality requires VertiTab Premium:

• Multi-tab suspension operations
• Group and window-level suspension
• Auto-suspension system with thresholds
• Scheduled suspension tasks
• Domain-specific suspension rules
• Advanced skip rules and whitelists
• Keyboard shortcuts for suspension
• Tree-based suspension operations

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Tabs Don’t Suspend

• Check if tabs are in suspension whitelist
• Verify tabs aren’t playing media (if skip rule enabled)
• Ensure tabs don’t have unsaved form changes (if skip rule enabled)

Auto-Suspension Not Working

• Confirm suspension method is set to “Suspend Tabs”
• Check threshold settings are appropriate
• Verify tab activity detection is functioning

Suspended Tabs Won’t Restore

• Try clicking the tab again
• Check for network connectivity issues
• Use “Restore All Suspended Tabs” for batch restoration

Best Practices

1. Start Conservatively - Begin with higher thresholds and adjust based on usage
2. Monitor Memory Usage - Use browser task manager to verify memory savings
3. Test Whitelist Rules - Ensure important services remain accessible
4. Regular Maintenance - Periodically review and update suspension rules
5. Balance Performance - Find the right balance between memory savings and convenience

The suspension system is designed to provide seamless memory optimization while maintaining full access to your browsing workflow. Regular use of suspension features can significantly improve browser performance, especially when working with large numbers of tabs.