Tab Limit Overview

Tab Limit lets you manage the number of browser tabs your students can open during class. This tool helps students stay focused and makes it easier for you to monitor their online activity.

Before you begin

• You must have access to Tab Limit in Classwize.
• Students must use a Chromebook or a Windows device in Companion Mode.
• Students must have Linewize Connect for Chrome 3.7.5 or later running on their device.
• Students must use a Supported browser (Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge) for the limit to be enforced.

How Tab Limit works

When you set a tab limit, it acts as a "hard ceiling" on the number of tabs a student can open. 

Individual browser enforcement

Tab Limit applies separately to each supported browser. For example, if you set a limit of five:

• A student can have five tabs open in Google Chrome and five tabs open in Microsoft Edge.
• The limit applies across all open windows of the same browser type (for example, three tabs in one Google Chrome window and two in another reach a five tab limit).

Student experience

• Notifications: Students receive an announcement message stating, "Your teacher has set a Tab Limit of [X] tabs," whenever the limit is applied or changed.
• Blocking: Once a student reaches the limit, they are blocked from manually opening any additional tabs.

Automated tab closing

If a student has reached their tab limit and you use a Class Tool (like Open Tab or Screen Share) that opens a new tab, Classwize will automatically close an existing tab to stay within the limit.

Classwize follows a specific order to decide which tab to close:

1. Blank Tabs: Non-active tabs that are empty or showing a new tab page.
2. Blocked Pages: Non-active pages already blocked by school policy or Classwize Rules.
3. Other Inactive Tabs: Other non-active tabs, starting from the far left of the browser.

How Tab Limit works with Class Tools

• Focus: You can’t start a Focus if it requires more tabs than the tab limit. You also can’t lower a limit below the number of resources in a Focus plan.
• Open Tab or Screen Share: If a student is at tab limit, these tools may close an existing tab. You will see a warning before this happens.
• Pause Internet: You can set or edit limits while the internet is paused; they will apply once the pause ends.
• Modify Students: Any student joining the class will have the active tab limit applied immediately.

Using Tab Limit

You can adjust these settings at any time during an active class session, and the limit will end automatically when your class session ends.

You can:

• Set a Tab Limit
• Edit a Tab Limit
• End a Tab Limit