What happened to The Great Suspender?

The original Great Suspender was a legitimate tab management extension that suspended inactive tabs to save browser memory. In late 2020, the project was sold to a new developer who introduced code that security researchers flagged as problematic. In early 2021, Google removed the extension from the Chrome Web Store and proactively disabled it for users who had installed it. The original developer had no involvement with the problematic version.

Is The Great Suspender malware?

The original version of The Great Suspender was a legitimate extension. However, after ownership changed in late 2020, the version released by the new owner contained code that security researchers identified as potentially harmful. Google disabled the extension to protect users. We recommend using established alternatives instead of trying to install any version of The Great Suspender from unofficial sources.

Is The Great Suspender still in the Chrome Web Store?

No. The Great Suspender was removed from the Chrome Web Store and proactively disabled by Google in early 2021. It is no longer available for installation from the Chrome Web Store. Searching for it may return mirror sites or similar-sounding extensions — neither of which are the original extension. Users should avoid these and use Chrome Memory Saver or Auto Tab Discard instead.

Is Great Suspender safe to use?

NO. The original Great Suspender was removed and disabled due to malware concerns. Do not install any version of this extension from unofficial sources. The risks outweigh any potential benefits.

Can I recover my suspended tabs after Great Suspender was disabled?

If tabs were suspended when the extension was disabled, some may have been recoverable from Chrome session data. Check chrome://discards/ for information. However, most suspended tabs were likely lost when the extension was disabled.

Why was Great Suspender removed?

The original developer transferred ownership, and the new owner introduced code that security researchers flagged as problematic. Google proactively disabled the extension to protect users.

What happened to the tabs I had open when Great Suspender was disabled?

Chrome may have recovered some tabs during session restoration. Check your recently closed tabs and browser session data. However, suspended tabs specifically may have been lost.

What are the best Great Suspender alternatives for Chrome?

Chrome Memory Saver is the official built-in solution ? open Settings > Performance > Memory Saver and turn it on. Auto Tab Discard is a well-maintained MV3 extension from the Chrome Web Store that lets you customize which tabs are suspended. OneTab provides manual tab consolidation. Workona is an option for users who want workspace-based session management. Each has a different level of automation and control.

Are there safe alternatives to Great Suspender?

Yes. Chrome Memory Saver is built into Chrome. Auto Tab Discard is a well-maintained alternative on the Chrome Web Store. Both are safe options for managing tab memory usage.

What replaced The Great Suspender?

There is no direct replacement for The Great Suspender. Chrome Memory Saver is the closest built-in option for automatic tab discarding. Auto Tab Discard is the most feature-rich extension alternative for automatic tab suspension. OneTab handles manual tab consolidation differently. No current tool replicates every feature of the original Great Suspender.

Is Auto Tab Discard a Great Suspender alternative?

Auto Tab Discard is a practical alternative for users looking for automatic tab suspension. It offers customizable discard rules, can exclude specific domains, and is actively maintained. It is not a feature-identical replacement but serves the same core purpose of reducing memory usage from inactive tabs.

Is Chrome Memory Saver enough after The Great Suspender?

For most users, Chrome Memory Saver covers the basic need of discarding inactive tabs to save memory. It requires no setup and works automatically. If you need more granular control over which tabs are discarded or want to exclude specific sites, Auto Tab Discard provides those options as an extension.

Should I use OneTab or Auto Tab Discard?

Choose Auto Tab Discard if you want tabs to automatically suspend based on activity without manual intervention. Choose OneTab if you prefer to manually decide which tabs to save into a list, share tab collections, or consolidate tabs at specific moments. Auto Tab Discard is closer to The Great Suspender in its automatic behavior.

Was The Great Suspender removed because of malware?

The original Great Suspender was removed because the new owner after the 2020 ownership transfer introduced code that security researchers flagged as problematic. Google proactively disabled the extension to protect users. The original developer had no involvement with the problematic version. The removal was not due to a technical issue — it was a security and trust concern.

RemovedTab Management

Best Great Suspender Alternatives for Chrome MV3

Quick Answer

The original Great Suspender was removed from the Chrome Web Store after a malicious version incident in 2021, and Chrome proactively disabled it for installed users. Users should avoid reinstalling old CRX copies from mirror sites because modified versions can contain unwanted code. For most Chrome users, Chrome Memory Saver is the simplest built-in replacement for tab suspension. Auto Tab Discard is a practical extension alternative for automatic tab unloading, while OneTab is better for manual tab consolidation and Workona is more focused on workspace management. The best option depends on whether you want automatic suspension, simple memory savings, or session organization.

What Happened

The original developer abandoned the project and transferred ownership in 2020.
The new owner introduced code that was flagged as malware by security researchers.
Google proactively disabled the extension for users who had installed it.
The extension was formally removed from the Chrome Web Store.
Some users searched for tab recovery options after the extension was disabled.

Best Alternatives to Great Suspender

Alternative	Best For	Status	Links
Chrome Memory Saver Built directly into Chrome · No additional extension required	Users wanting the built-in Chrome solution with no additional extensions	Active (MV3)
Auto Tab Discard Customizable discard rules based on tab activity · Respects tabs you want to keep active	Users wanting customizable tab management with discard rules	Active (MV3)	Chrome Store
Workona Workspace-based tab organization · Session saving and restoration	Users needing workspace organization with session management	Active (MV3)	Chrome Store
OneTab Simple one-click tab consolidation · Memory savings by reducing open tabs	Users wanting simple tab consolidation without auto-suspension	Active (MV3)	Chrome Store

Migration Steps

Do not install any version of Great Suspender from unofficial sources or CRX files.

Enable Chrome built-in Memory Saver: Settings > Performance > Memory Saver.

Install Auto Tab Discard from the Chrome Web Store for customizable tab suspension.

Use Chrome tab groups for organizing tabs manually.

Review your browser session data for any recoverable suspended tabs.

Safety Notes

NEVER install Great Suspender or similar CRX files from unofficial sources.
The original extension was confirmed to contain unwanted code after ownership transfer.
Only use extensions from the official Chrome Web Store with verified developers.
Be wary of sites offering "fixed" or "recovery" versions of removed extensions.

What Not to Do

Do not install random CRX files from unknown download sites.
Do not assume a similar name means it is from the same developer.
Do not grant broad permissions without checking the developer.
Export settings before removing old extensions if you still need the configuration.

Key Takeaways

The original Great Suspender was removed and disabled by Google in 2021 due to malware concerns after ownership changed.
Chrome Memory Saver is the official built-in solution ? no extension needed.
Auto Tab Discard is the most customizable extension alternative for tab suspension.
OneTab is manual consolidation, not automatic tab suspension.
Workona is primarily workspace and session management, not a pure suspender replacement.
Do not install unofficial Great Suspender CRX files ? they may contain unwanted code.

Current Status

Original Great Suspender: Removed and disabled
Chrome Memory Saver: Built-in and active
Auto Tab Discard: Active in Chrome Web Store

Comparison Table

Option	Best For	MV3	Cost	Open Source	Setup	Main Trade-off
Chrome Memory Saver	Users wanting zero setup with no extra extension	Built-in (N/A)	Free	No	None	Minimal customization ? on/off only
Auto Tab Discard	Users who want control over which tabs are discarded	Yes	Free	Yes	Easy	Requires some configuration for optimal use
OneTab	Users who prefer manual tab consolidation	Yes	Free	No	Easy	Manual only ? no automatic tab suspension
Session Buddy	Users who need to save and restore tab sessions	Yes	Free	No	Easy	Focuses on session management, not automatic suspension

Who Should Choose Which Option

Chrome Memory Saver

You want the simplest solution with no setup and are comfortable with minimal control.

Auto Tab Discard

You want to customize which tabs are discarded and under what conditions.

OneTab

You prefer to manually consolidate tabs into a list rather than automatic background suspension.

Session Buddy

You need to save complete browsing sessions and restore them later across sessions.

Common Failed Fixes

Trying to: Install an old Great Suspender CRX from a download site

Why it does not work: Chrome may block unofficial extensions, and the downloaded file may contain the unwanted code that caused the original removal.

Trying to: Install an extension with a similar name from a different developer

Why it does not work: Legitimate-looking clones can have different functionality and permissions. Always verify the developer before installing.

Great Suspender will not return to the Chrome Web Store

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

9to5Google ? The Great Suspender removed from Chrome Web Store for containing malware
9to5GoogleNewsPrimary source
Supports: Removal reason, malware concern, and timeline for The Great Suspender
The Verge ? Chrome blocks The Great Suspender extension
The VergeNewsPrimary source
Supports: Chrome proactive disable action and tab recovery context
Auto Tab Discard Chrome Web Store
Chrome Web StoreChrome Web StorePrimary source
Supports: Auto Tab Discard MV3 availability and active maintenance status
OneTab Chrome Web Store
Chrome Web StoreChrome Web StorePrimary source
Supports: OneTab MV3 availability and developer identity
Session Buddy Chrome Web Store
Chrome Web StoreChrome Web StorePrimary source
Supports: Session Buddy MV3 availability and active maintenance status