Introduction
BackTick is a productivity engine for Chrome that reimagines tab management. It is built for power users who find the standard browser tab strip inefficient for managing dozens of tabs across multiple windows.
By pressing Alt + Q, BackTick injects a high-performance "Command Palette" overlay directly into your current webpage. This allows you to search, switch, and manage tabs without ever lifting your hands from the keyboard.
Installation
Upon installation, BackTick requires several permissions to function:
- Access to Tabs & Groups: To read titles and organize your workspace
- Site Access (<all_urls>): To draw the overlay on top of any website you visit
- Audio Access: To enable the Volume Booster and Mute controls
- Visit the Chrome Web Store
- Click "Add to Chrome"
- Confirm the permissions when prompted
- Done! BackTick is ready to use
💡 Tip
Pin BackTick to your toolbar for quick access to settings. Right-click the extension icon and select "Pin".
The "First Run"
- Open any webpage (e.g., google.com)
- Press Alt + Q
- The overlay appears with your cursor in the search bar
- Action: Press Enter immediately to switch to your last used tab
Basic Navigation
| Shortcut | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Alt + Q | Open/Cycle | Opens the palette. Pressing repeatedly cycles through tabs (1st → 2nd → 3rd) |
| ↑ ↓ ← → | Move Selection | Navigate between tabs in the grid |
| Enter / Space | Select | Switch to the highlighted tab |
| Alt + ~ | Quick Close | Instantly closes the highlighted tab |
| Escape | Close UI | Close the overlay without switching |
Core Philosophy
- "Liquid Productivity": The tool should appear instantly when needed and vanish the moment you are done. No friction.
- Keyboard-Centric: Every feature, from volume control to group management, is mapped to a key. Use the mouse if you want, but you don't have to.
- Privacy-First: BackTick runs 100% offline. It does not track your history, usage, or transmit data to any server.