What Is a Browser Startpage and How Do You Set One Up?

A browser startpage is the page you see when you open a new tab or launch your browser, and you can replace the default with a custom one like Bonjourr either by installing a browser extension or by changing your browser's homepage and new tab settings. The extension route is the most common for new tab replacement because most browsers don't let you set a custom new tab page through settings alone. Bonjourr is a free, open-source option that requires no account and collects no personal data, according to its site.

Startpage vs. homepage vs. new tab page

These three terms get used interchangeably, but they're different settings:

A "startpage" product like Bonjourr typically replaces the new tab page, which is why it ships as an extension.

How to set up a custom startpage

Option 1: Install a new tab extension (recommended for most people)

1. Check your browser's extension store. Bonjourr lists install options for multiple browsers on its site, including a "Try online" demo so you can preview it before installing.
2. Install the extension from your browser's official add-on store. Installing from the official store is the safer route than sideloading files.
3. Open a new tab to confirm the extension has taken over the page.
4. Customize it through the extension's settings — for Bonjourr, that includes fonts, backgrounds, clock style, widgets, quick links, and a search bar.

Expected result: every new tab opens your chosen startpage instead of the browser default.

Option 2: Change your homepage in browser settings

1. Open your browser's settings and find the homepage or "on startup" section.
2. Enter the URL of the page you want (for Bonjourr, use the online demo URL or your installed extension's page).
3. Save and test by clicking the Home button.

This changes the homepage but usually not the new tab page — so if your goal is a new tab replacement, use Option 1.

What to look for in a startpage

• Customization: backgrounds, clock format, fonts, search bar, quick links, widgets. Bonjourr offers all of these plus notes, checkboxes, a Pomodoro timer, dark mode, and custom CSS.
• Weight and speed: a startpage loads every time you open a tab, so a lightweight one matters. Bonjourr describes itself as minimalist and lightweight.
• Privacy: check whether the startpage requires an account or collects data. Bonjourr states it collects no personal data and needs no login.
• Open source: useful if you want to verify claims or self-host. Bonjourr is open source.
• No generative AI: Bonjourr explicitly states it doesn't use generative AI — relevant if that's a preference for you.

Trying Bonjourr as an example

Bonjourr is built by two independent developers and funded by donations (via Ko-Fi), which is why it's free without data collection. Its dynamic backgrounds come from a curated Unsplash collection that shifts with the time of day. To evaluate it:

1. Use the "Try online" demo on bonjourr.fr to preview the layout.
2. Install the extension for your browser from the official store.
3. Adjust settings to match your preferences; if you don't like it, disable or remove the extension and your original new tab returns.

One caveat from Bonjourr's own updates: the Safari App Store version is being discontinued due to maintenance costs and low usage, so Safari users should check the site for the current recommended install method before committing.

Common snags

• New tab didn't change: some browsers require you to enable the extension's new tab override in the extension's settings or in browser settings.
• Homepage changed but new tabs didn't: these are separate settings; use an extension for new tab replacement.
• Multiple new tab extensions: only one can control the new tab page; disable the others.