Better Ctrl-W

Closes highlighted tabs. To replace ctrl-w on Windows/Linux for Vim users!

Better Ctrl-W is a Chrome extension designed specifically for Vim users who often face accidental tab closures when using the Ctrl-w shortcut on Windows or Linux. Unlike Mac users who use Cmd+w for tab closing without conflict, Windows/Linux users encounter issues as Ctrl-w immediately closes the current tab, which may result in lost work, especially when editing text.

This extension allows you to reconfigure keyboard shortcuts to prevent unwanted tab closures. By assigning Ctrl-w to "Do absolutely nothing" and a custom shortcut like Alt-w to "Close highlighted tabs," users can safely close multiple selected tabs at once without disrupting their Vim editing workflow. Setup is simple via chrome://extensions/shortcuts. Designed to enhance productivity and protect against accidental data loss, Better Ctrl-W is a must-have for Vim users seeking seamless browser integration on non-Mac platforms.

By:
thalesmello
Users:
1,000
Rating:
4.06
(16)
Version:
0.1 Last updated: 2020-05-03
Creation date:
2020-05-02
Risk:
Very low risk impact Low risk likelihood
Size:
7.07KB
Full description:
See detailed description
Source:
Chrome Web Store
Data ingested on:
2025-07-18

User reviews

Pros
  • Works effectively for terminal applications
  • Helps avoid accidental tab closures in browsers
  • User-friendly configuration process
Cons
  • Requires manual configuration after installation
  • Changes to keybindings cannot be reversed easily
  • Disables Ctrl-W functionality outside of Chrome
Recent reviews
Make sure to follow usage instructions
by An*****, 2024-01-15

This extension does not work automatically after installation. You have to find the "Usage" instructions in the Overview to configure it. The configuration is simple and this extension works perfectly. I can finally use the browser-based terminal application without constantly closing the browser tab.
by El*****, 2023-02-16

does not work on Chrome 105.x 在 Chrome 105.x 版本无法正常工作
by Mi*****, 2022-09-15
View all user reviews ›

Extension safety

Risk impact
Risk impact measures the level of extra permissions an extension has access to. A low risk impact extension cannot do much harms, whereas a high risk impact extension can do a lot of damage like stealing your password, bypassing your security settings, and accessing your personal data. High risk impact extensions are not necessarily malicious. However, if they do turn malicious, they can be very harmful.

Better Ctrl-W does not require any sensitive permissions.

Risk impact analysis details
  • Low This permission has no access or impact on the user's system or data, thus carrying no risk.
Risk likelihood
Risk likelihood measures the probability that a Chrome extension may turn malicious. This is determined by the publisher and the Chrome extension reputation on Chrome Web Store, the amount of time the Chrome extension has been around, and other signals about the Chrome extension. Our algorithms are not perfect, and are subject to change as we discover new ways to detect malicious extensions. We recommend that you always exercise caution when installing a Chrome extension.

Better Ctrl-W has earned a fairly good reputation and likely can be trusted.

Risk likelihood analysis details
  • High This extension has low user count. Unpopular extensions may not be stable or safe.
  • Low **** ********* *** ******* **** **** * ****** **** ***** ******** *** **** ****** ** ** ****** *** *****
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