Open, then close

With Open, then close, one schedule opens a website and closes it again later. It suits anything with a start and an end, such as an online class, a meeting or a timed practice session. You set both times in one place, so there is only one schedule to manage.

How an Open, then close schedule works

At the open time, Tab Scheduler opens your link in a new tab, just like a normal open schedule. At the close time, it closes every open tab that matches the same link. That includes copies you opened yourself, not only the tab the schedule opened.

For this type, URL Filtering starts unticked. The close step then looks for tabs whose address is the same as your link, ignoring only http or https and a slash at the end. Some sites change their address after loading, for example by adding a path or extra text at the end. If that happens, tick URL Filtering so that any tab whose address contains your link is closed.

Because the schedule both opens and closes, it needs both times. If you leave one empty, Tab Scheduler shows this message when you save. This schedule opens and closes, so it needs both an open time and a close time. To only open the website, change Schedule Type to "Open a website".

How to open and close a website on a schedule

1. Click the Tab Scheduler icon in your browser toolbar and choose Settings.
2. Enter the address in Website Link, such as class.example.com/room/42, and add a Title if you like.
3. Pick how often it repeats in Select Frequency, for example Every Week.
4. Set Schedule Type to Open, then close. The open fields and the close fields now both appear.
5. Fill in both sides. Set Open Time and Close Time. For One Time, also set Open Date and Close Date. For Every Week, choose days in both Open on days and Close on days. For Every Month, choose both Open on Day and Close on day.
6. Check More options for extras such as Do not close pinned tabs or Warn me 60 seconds before closing.
7. Click Save Schedule.

When to use an Open, then close schedule

• Evening class. Choose Every Week and tick Tuesday and Thursday on both sides. Set Open Time to 18:55 and Close Time to 20:05. The class page is ready before the lesson and gone after it.
• Daily stand-up. Choose Every Day for meet.example.com/team, with Open Time 9:55 and Close Time 10:20.
• Short practice blocks. Choose Custom Minute and enter 60 in Open Minute and 10 in Close Minute. A practice site opens every hour, and each tab of it closes 10 minutes after it opens.

Good to know about an Open, then close schedule

• Each Open, then close schedule counts as one schedule. The free plan includes up to 5, and Premium allows unlimited schedules.
• You cannot combine it with Open URL in Background. Ticking that option switches the schedule back to Open a website, because a page loaded in the background has no tab to close.
• On Browser Open only works with Open a website, so it is not offered for this type.
• With Random Minute, fill in a range on both the open side and the close side.
• Run on browser start if missed at scheduled time only covers the opening step.
• Your computer must be awake and the browser must be running at both times. Turn on Power Mode to stop the computer from going to sleep.