Top SiteLauncher for Chrome Tricks Every Power User Should Know

How to Set Up SiteLauncher for Chrome: A Step-by-Step GuideSiteLauncher for Chrome is a lightweight, customizable extension that lets you open websites instantly using a grid of tiles and keyboard shortcuts. Whether you want to replace slow bookmark menus, speed up tab opening, or access frequently used sites with a single keystroke, SiteLauncher can streamline your browsing workflow. This guide walks you through installation, configuration, creating and organizing tiles, keyboard shortcuts, syncing, backup, and advanced tips to get the most from SiteLauncher.

What SiteLauncher Does and Why Use It

SiteLauncher provides a visual launcher page and configurable keyboard shortcuts (hotkeys) to open sites quickly. Key benefits:

Faster access to frequently used sites.
Customizable layout with tiles, icons, and labels.
Keyboard-driven navigation to reduce mouse use.
Support for groups/folders to organize sites.
Lightweight and simple compared with full-featured start-page extensions.

Before You Begin: Requirements

Google Chrome (or Chromium-based browser) installed and up to date.
An internet connection to download the extension.
Basic familiarity with installing Chrome extensions and editing settings.

Installation

Open Chrome and go to the Chrome Web Store.
Search for “SiteLauncher” (check publisher name to ensure you pick the right extension).
Click “Add to Chrome,” then confirm by clicking “Add extension.”
After installation, you’ll see the SiteLauncher icon in the toolbar (a small grid or rocket icon depending on the version).

Initial Setup and First Run

Click the SiteLauncher icon in the toolbar. If it opens a “first-run” or setup dialog, follow the prompts.
Open the options page by right-clicking the SiteLauncher icon → “Options” (or “Manage extension” → “Extension options”).
You’ll see the main configuration interface: tile grid, groups, hotkeys, and import/export options.

Choose Layout and Appearance

Grid size: Select how many columns/rows you want. A common setup is 4–6 columns for desktop screens.
Tile size: Pick small, medium, or large tiles depending on how many sites you want visible.
Theme and colors: Choose light or dark theme and customize tile colors or use site favicon for recognition.
Show labels: Toggle whether site names are shown under icons.

Practical tip: For quick visual scanning, use site favicons and short labels (1–2 words).

Adding Sites (Tiles)

In Options → Tiles (or “Sites”), click “Add new site” (button name varies).
Enter the site title (visible label), URL, and optionally paste an icon URL or choose a built-in icon.
Assign a hotkey character (see Hotkeys section below) if you want keyboard access.
Optionally add a description or notes (useful if you have many similar sites).
Save the tile.

Repeat for all frequently used websites.

Bulk-add tip: If the extension supports import, prepare a CSV or JSON with title/URL/icon and import to save time.

Organizing with Groups (Folders)

Create groups to categorize tiles (e.g., Work, News, Social, Dev).
Add tiles to groups by editing a tile and selecting its group, or by dragging tiles into group panels (depending on version).
Set a default group to open when you click the extension icon.

Organizational advice: Keep 8–12 tiles per group for fast visual scanning; create more groups instead of overcrowding one grid.

Keyboard Shortcuts (Hotkeys)

SiteLauncher lets you open sites by pressing a combination (e.g., Alt+S followed by a single letter) or assign single-character hotkeys under the extension’s options.

In Options → Hotkeys, enable the global launcher hotkey (e.g., Alt+Q or Ctrl+Space). This opens the SiteLauncher overlay.
Assign single-letter or digit keys to individual tiles (A, B, 1, 2…). When the overlay is open, press the assigned key to open the site.
Alternatively, configure direct Chrome keyboard shortcuts via chrome://extensions/shortcuts to trigger specific tiles or the launcher.

Tip: Choose mnemonic letters (G for Gmail, T for Trello) for quick recall.

Opening Behavior and Advanced Options

Open in current tab, new tab, or new window — set per tile or as a default behavior.
Open with incognito (requires enabling extension in incognito via chrome://extensions).
Set target (same profile) or open with a different profile using profile URLs if needed.
Configure whether the launcher opens as a popup, new tab page, or overlay.

Import, Export, and Backup

Export settings (JSON/CSV) from Options → Import/Export to back up your tiles and groups.
Import exported files to restore on another device or after reinstalling Chrome.
Regular backups are advised if you heavily customize many tiles and groups.

Syncing Between Devices

SiteLauncher itself may not sync across devices unless it stores data in Chrome sync or you manually export/import.
If Chrome sync is enabled and the extension supports it, your settings can sync with your Google account.
Otherwise, export the JSON from one device and import it on another.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Missing icon: Ensure the extension is enabled (chrome://extensions). Pin the icon to the toolbar for easy access.
Hotkeys not working: Confirm global hotkey is set and not conflicting with other extensions or OS shortcuts. Use chrome://extensions/shortcuts to resolve conflicts.
Icons not loading: Some websites block favicons; upload a custom icon URL or use a local image if supported.
Data lost after reinstall: Restore from an exported backup JSON.

Advanced Tips & Productivity Tricks

Use groups as temporary “sessions” (Morning, Research, Meeting) and switch quickly with hotkeys.
Create tiles that open web apps or specific pages (e.g., Slack channel, Jira board) instead of just homepages.
Combine SiteLauncher with a custom New Tab extension for a unified start page.
Use keyboard-only workflow: launcher hotkey → letter key → open — reduces mouse context switching.
Periodically prune unused tiles to keep the launcher fast and focused.

Alternatives and When to Use Them

Built-in Chrome bookmarks: better for hierarchical organization and sync, but slower for keyboard-driven access.
Speed Dial extensions: more visual and often include thumbnails; use if you prefer screenshots over icons.
Dedicated start pages (Momentum, Start.me): include widgets and analytics beyond simple site launching.

Feature	SiteLauncher	Chrome Bookmarks	Speed Dial Extensions
Keyboard hotkeys	Yes	No (limited)	Sometimes
Visual tiles	Yes	No	Yes
Easy bulk import/export	Varies	Yes	Varies
Lightweight	Yes	Yes	Varies
Grouping/folders	Yes	Yes	Yes

Security and Privacy Considerations

Review extension permissions before installation; minimal permissions are preferable.
If you store sensitive URLs (banking, personal accounts), consider not assigning global hotkeys if others use your machine.
Use incognito mode with caution; enable the extension in incognito only if trusted.

Example Setup: A Productivity Layout

Grid: 5 columns, medium tiles, show labels off.
Groups: Work, Communication, News, Dev Tools.
Hotkeys: Global launcher Alt+Space. Assign G = Gmail, S = Slack, J = Jira, T = Trello.
Open behavior: New tab for web apps, same tab for documentation.

Result: Press Alt+Space, then G to open Gmail in a new tab — two keystrokes, zero mouse.

Conclusion

SiteLauncher for Chrome is a small extension that can significantly speed up your browsing when configured thoughtfully. Install it, set up concise tiles and mnemonic hotkeys, organize with groups, and back up your settings. With a minimal time investment you can transform repetitive site-opening into a fast, keyboard-driven flow.

If you want, tell me how you categorize your sites (work, social, dev, etc.) and I’ll draft a ready-to-import JSON for a starter configuration.