Match links with *

A close schedule normally needs the exact address of the tab you want to close. With * in the Website Link, one schedule can close a whole group of tabs, such as every page of a website or every subdomain. You can even enter only * to close all your tabs at a set time.

How matching links with * works

The * stands for any text you do not know or do not want to type. Where you put it changes what matches. Tab Scheduler ignores the http or https part of an address when it compares.

• * on both sides. *google.com* matches any address that contains google.com, whatever the subdomain or page path.
• * at the start. *example.com matches addresses that end with example.com, such as www.example.com or blog.example.com, but not a page such as www.example.com/news.
• * at the end. www.example.com* matches addresses that start with www.example.com, so every page of that site.
• Only *. A link of just * matches every tab, so all of them close. When the last tab is closed, the browser closes too.

Without any *, and with URL Filtering unticked, a tab must have exactly the address you entered. A slash at the end is ignored.

When you choose Close matching tabs, URL Filtering is ticked for you. While it is ticked, a tab matches when its address contains your link, so the start and end rules above do not apply. Untick it when you want them to work exactly as described. A link of only * closes every tab either way.

How to match links with *

1. Click the Tab Scheduler icon in your browser toolbar and choose Settings.
2. Enter your link with * in Website Link, for example *example.com*.
3. Choose how often it should run in Select Frequency.
4. Set Schedule Type to Close matching tabs.
5. Fill in the close fields, such as Close Time.
6. Under More options, untick URL Filtering if you use * only at the start or only at the end.
7. Tick Do not close pinned tabs or Do not close active tab if some tabs should stay open.
8. Click Save Schedule.

When to use matching links with *

• No videos during work. Enter *youtube.com*, choose Every Week, tick Monday to Friday in Close on days and set Close Time to 9:00. Every YouTube tab closes when your workday starts.
• One part of a site. Enter www.example.com/news* and untick URL Filtering. At the time you set, every news page on that site closes and the rest of the site stays open.
• A clean browser at night. Enter only * with Every Day and a Close Time of 23:00. Tick Do not close pinned tabs if your pinned tabs, and with them the browser, should stay open.

Good to know about matching links with *

• Use * with the Close matching tabs type. A link that ends with * cannot be saved for a schedule that opens a website.
• A link of only * closes the tabs in every window, including the one you are working in, unless you tick Do not close active tab. Check the time before you save.
• Matching tabs close whether you opened them yourself or a schedule did.
• Want an incognito-only clean-up? Combine * with Close only incognito tabs.
• Your computer must be awake and the browser must be running at the close time. Power Mode keeps the computer awake.