ArchTabs is a Chrome extension that adds vertical tabs, Spaces, an archive, snapshots, a command bar, and optional AI commands to your browser. It is built to respect your privacy. Most browsing data stays on your device; optional analytics and optional AI provider calls are described below.
What we do NOT collect
- We do not collect, transmit, store, or sell the contents of pages you visit.
- We do not send tab URLs, tab titles, or page contents to our analytics.
- We do not ask for your name, email, or any account.
- We do not read or transmit form fields, passwords, cookies, or local storage of any site.
- We do not sell or rent data. Limited data is shared with Google Analytics and optional AI providers only as described below.
- We do not send website domains to an external favicon service.
What stays on your device
ArchTabs stores the following in your browser's local storage (chrome.storage.local), only on the device where the extension is installed:
- Your Spaces (name, color, emoji) and the assignment of tabs and groups to Spaces.
- Your snapshots and active snapshot state.
- Last-active timestamps per tab — used for the 14-day idle auto-archive feature. Stored as numeric IDs and timestamps only, never URLs or page contents.
- Your "Favorites" quick-access shortcuts.
- Collapse/expand state of tab groups.
- Your display density and command/AI settings.
This stored data stays on your device except where you explicitly use Chrome's own browser sync (which ArchTabs does not control), or where you submit an optional Connect AI request that needs tab, Space, or group context to complete your command.
Analytics
ArchTabs sends anonymous, aggregated usage events to Google Analytics 4 via the Measurement Protocol. The events are limited to:
extension_installed,extension_updated— install lifecycle.tool_usedwith atoolparameter (e.g.,space_switch,group_create,archive_tab,command_bar) — which feature was used.
The events do not contain tab URLs, tab titles, page contents, your IP address as a stable identifier, or any personally identifiable information. A randomly generated client ID is stored in chrome.storage.local so we can count distinct installs without identifying you. You can clear it at any time by removing the extension's local storage.
Optional AI mode
ArchTabs's AI mode is optional. No AI provider is contacted until you add a key/model and submit an AI command. When you use it, the selected provider receives only the information required to complete your tab-management request:
- Tab titles and URLs from the current Chrome window.
- Space names and tab group names.
- Your typed AI instruction.
ArchTabs never sends page contents, form fields, cookies, passwords, or site local storage to AI providers. If you choose Connect AI/BYOK mode, your API key is stored in chrome.storage.local on your device. It is used only to call the selected AI provider endpoint. The key is not sent to the developer.
The extension declares host permissions for these provider APIs: https://api.openai.com/*, https://api.anthropic.com/*, https://api.groq.com/*, https://api.deepseek.com/*, https://openrouter.ai/*, http://localhost/*, and http://127.0.0.1/*. These permissions are used only when you configure and submit an AI request for the corresponding provider. The localhost permissions are for optional local Ollama requests.
Permissions and why we ask
| Permission | Reason |
|---|---|
tabs | Read open tab titles/URLs to render the sidebar. |
tabGroups | Create/update Chrome tab groups so Spaces and the Archive group work. |
sidePanel | Render ArchTabs in Chrome's side panel. |
storage | Persist your Spaces, layout, and settings on your device. |
alarms | Run the hourly idle-tab archive check in the background. |
| Host permission | Reason |
|---|---|
https://www.google-analytics.com/* | Send anonymous install/update/feature-use events to Google Analytics 4. Events do not include tab URLs, tab titles, or page contents. |
https://api.openai.com/* | Optional Connect AI requests to OpenAI. |
https://api.anthropic.com/* | Optional Connect AI requests to Anthropic. |
https://api.groq.com/* | Optional Connect AI requests to Groq. |
https://api.deepseek.com/* | Optional Connect AI requests to DeepSeek. |
https://openrouter.ai/* | Optional Connect AI requests to OpenRouter. |
http://localhost/*, http://127.0.0.1/* | Optional local Ollama requests. |
Optional permissions are requested only when you explicitly enable the related command bar scope:
| Optional permission | Reason |
|---|---|
bookmarks | Search bookmarks from the command bar. |
history | Search browsing history from the command bar. |
sessions | Restore recently closed tabs from the command bar. |
ArchTabs does not request host permissions for websites you browse. It does not inject scripts into web pages.
Children's privacy
ArchTabs is not directed at children under 13 and does not knowingly collect any data from them.
Changes to this policy
If we change how ArchTabs handles data, we will update this page and the extension's listing in the Chrome Web Store before the change takes effect.
Contact
Questions or concerns: send a message via our feedback form or email the developer via the Chrome Web Store listing page.
← Back to ArchTabs