Turn a design reference window into a milestone
A mood board changes for a different reason than a code review: references are added, rejected, and regrouped as the visual direction sharpens. Treat the browser arrangement as a dated critique artifact. In the current window, name groups for direction, typography, interaction, accessibility, or competitor patterns, then save a Tabwell snapshot before the review. The local record contains URLs, titles, order, pinned tabs, and native group fields, so the spatial map can be rebuilt later. It does not copy the image, Figma canvas, page body, comments, or a reference that subsequently disappears. Capture durable visual evidence in the design repository and use Tabwell for the route back to the sources. Pro's tokenized search over saved title, URL, and group-name fields is useful when a remembered studio, component, or domain must be traced to an older board.
Use snapshots as critique markers
Create milestones such as Checkout — critique 1, Checkout — accessibility pass, and Checkout — approved direction. Each snapshot represents the current Chrome window at that moment. Saving a later version does not turn the earlier one into a live collaborative board.
Preserve the reference, not just its address
- Keep screenshots or licensed assets in the project files.
- Write design decisions in the critique notes.
- Use a Tabwell group name to describe why a set of links mattered.
- Verify important URLs before an external site changes or removes them.
Restoring rebuilds the recorded browser grouping; it cannot reproduce content that the source website no longer serves.
Find an old visual direction
On Pro, search the indexed saved titles, URLs, and group names for a component name, foundry, accessibility topic, or domain. It is tokenized metadata search, not image recognition and not full-page indexing.
Recovery and storage boundary
For a scheduled critique or browser update, make and inspect a manual snapshot. Periodic captures can supply a recent recovery point after an unexpected shutdown when crash recovery is enabled, but Chrome exit itself creates no new snapshot. Free's timer is 60 minutes; Pro intervals are configurable. Get Tabwell from the Chrome Web Store. Current prices, purchase options, and terms are listed on the pricing page.
Snapshots, tab titles, and URLs stay in local IndexedDB. Billing and license requests use Tabwell's billing service and Polar without sending tab data. Optional redacted crash diagnostics can be enabled; they are off by default. See the privacy policy.
FAQ
Is a Tabwell snapshot a permanent mood-board archive?
It is a record of browser URLs, titles, order, pinned state, and group fields. Save screenshots, assets, and decisions in the design repository.
How should design milestones be named?
Use the project plus a critique stage or decision, such as Checkout — accessibility pass, so the saved arrangement has a clear date and purpose.
Can Tabwell search an image by appearance?
No. Pro searches a tokenized index of saved tab titles, URLs, and native group names. It does not inspect images or page bodies.
What happens if a reference URL changes?
The snapshot retains the saved URL and title, but it cannot preserve content the external site changes or removes. Keep durable evidence separately.
Does closing Chrome create a final design snapshot?
No. Make a manual snapshot before critique or relaunch. Periodic recovery can be older than the latest arrangement.