[Android]New tab is added automatically when launching the app

[A-t-s-u-s-h-i]

Description

We have several feedback says Brave Android adds a new tab automatically when launching the app.

This is the community thread for the issue.

https://community.brave.com/t/brave-opens-new-tab-on-startup/549900

Whenever I open Brave on Android, there’s a high chance that it opens up to a new tab automatically.

And the comments below are from PlayStore review.

A new tab will now open on startup. It's inconvenient, so I'd like to be able to skip it in the settings.

every time I start this app, a new tab is created, and I'm in a very troubled situation with multiple tabs.If it's a bug, please fix it as soon as possible.

Steps to reproduce

1. Closing and re-launching Brave

Actual result

A new tab is added automatically.

Expected result

Only existed tabs should be in the tab list.

Reproduces how often

Intermittent issue

Brave version

1.66

Device

Android 13; Build/TP1A.220624.014 (Galaxy S20 Ultra)
Android 14; Build/UP1A.231005.007 (Galaxy Z Fold 4)

Channel information

• release (stable)
• beta
• nightly

Reproducibility

• with Brave Shields disabled
• with Brave Rewards disabled
• in the latest version of Chrome

Miscellaneous information

No response

[ZdrytchX]

Can be reliably triggered if light/dark mode in display/appearance/theme is set to auto and you manually or automatically with time change system between day/night or dark or light mode. Causes app to restart and open into a new tab. Other factors may also trigger it. Did not have this issue a few months ago.

Brave 1.67.119, Chromium 126.0.6478.114
Android 12; Build/SP1A.210812.003

[kjozwiak]

The above requires 1.67.131 or higher for 1.67.x verification 👍

[Uni-verse]

Verified on Samsung Galaxy S21 using version:

Brave	1.67.134 Chromium: 126.0.6478.186 (Official Build) (64-bit) 
Revision	e27c9744a0ed98bfa60e287af7e5eaffde15bd57
OS	Android 13; Build/TP1A.220624.014; 33; REL

• Ensured that closing and re-launching Brave does not add a new tab.
• Ensured that closing Brave and changing light/dark theme in device settings manually and re-launching Brave again does not add a new tab.

Before	After