Skip to main content

​
What is the Meelio Extension?

The Meelio browser extension transforms your new tab page into a beautiful, productive workspace. It replaces the default browser new tab with a customizable dashboard featuring focus tools, ambient soundscapes, and productivity features.
The extension is built with Plasmo framework and supports Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Brave, and Safari browsers.

​
Key Features

The Meelio extension adds powerful productivity features to your browser:
  • New Tab Replacement: Beautiful, customizable new tab page with clock, greetings, and inspirational quotes
  • Site Blocker: Block distracting websites to maintain focus during work sessions
  • Tab Stash: Save and restore tab groups across multiple windows
  • Bookmark Management: Quick access to browser bookmarks with visual organization
  • Pomodoro Timer: Built-in timer with background service worker support
  • Ambient Soundscapes: Focus-enhancing background sounds
  • Task Management: Keep track of your to-dos directly from the new tab
  • Breathing Exercises: Quick mindfulness breaks

​
Installation

1

Download from Chrome Web Store

Visit the Meelio Chrome Web Store page and click Add to Chrome/Edge.
2

Confirm Installation

Click Add Extension when prompted to confirm the installation.
3

Grant Permissions

The extension will request optional permissions for tabs, tab groups, and bookmarks. You can grant these later when you use the respective features.
4

Open New Tab

Open a new tab to see your Meelio dashboard. Click the extension icon to quickly access settings.

​
Required Permissions

The extension requests the following permissions from your browser’s manifest:

​
Core Permissions (Required)

Purpose: Store your settings, preferences, and local dataThis permission is essential for saving your customization preferences, blocked sites, tab stashes, and other personalized settings. All data is stored locally in your browser using Chrome’s storage API.
Purpose: Display timer completion alerts and focus remindersUsed to notify you when Pomodoro timer sessions complete or when focus breaks are recommended.
Purpose: Sync data with Meelio cloud services (optional)Allows the extension to communicate with Meelio’s backend for cloud sync features when you’re signed in.

​
Optional Permissions (Granted on Demand)

Purpose: Enable Tab Stash functionalityRequired to save and restore browser tabs. The extension will request this permission when you first use the Tab Stash feature. You can revoke this permission at any time from browser settings.
Purpose: Preserve tab groups when stashingAllows Tab Stash to save and restore tab group configurations (colors, labels, groupings). Requested alongside the tabs permission.
Purpose: Access and manage browser bookmarksRequired for the Bookmarks feature to display your browser’s bookmark tree. Requested only when you open the bookmarks panel.
Purpose: Check if sites are blockedUsed by the Site Blocker to detect when you navigate to a blocked website and show the block screen.
Meelio never collects or transmits your browsing history, tab content, or bookmark data to external servers. All sensitive data stays in your browser’s local storage.

​
New Tab Replacement

When you install the extension, every new tab you open will display the Meelio dashboard instead of your browser’s default page.

​
New Tab Features

The new tab includes:
  • Clock & Time: Large, centered clock with current time
  • Personalized Greeting: Dynamic greeting based on time of day
  • Daily Quote: Inspirational quotes to start your browsing session
  • Custom Background: Choose from curated backgrounds or upload your own
  • Dynamic Islands: Quick access widgets for calendar and bookmarks
  • Search Bar: Universal search with keyboard shortcut support (Cmd/Ctrl + K)
  • Dock: Bottom navigation bar with quick access to all features

​
New Tab Components

Based on newtab.tsx:56-149, the new tab layout includes: 
// Top Bar with Dynamic Islands
- Calendar Dynamic Island
- Bookmarks Dynamic Island  
- Search Popover

// Main Content Area
- Clock
- Greeting
- Quote
- Pomodoro Timer (toggleable)
- Breathing Pod (toggleable)

// Feature Sheets (Slide-in Panels)
- Soundscapes
- Task List
- Notes
- Background Selector
- Site Blocker
- Tab Stash
- Bookmarks
- Calendar

// Bottom Dock
- Quick action buttons for all features
When you click the Meelio extension icon in your browser toolbar, it opens a new tab with the Meelio dashboard instead of showing a small popup window. From popup.tsx:4-6: 
chrome.tabs.create({ url: chrome.runtime.getURL("newtab.html") })
This design choice ensures you always have full access to all Meelio features rather than a cramped popup interface.

​
Background Service Worker

The extension uses a background service worker to handle timer functionality even when tabs are closed.

​
Timer Background Processing

From background.ts, the service worker:
  • Manages Pomodoro timer countdown independently of open tabs
  • Sends tick updates every second to all listening tabs
  • Triggers notifications when timer stages complete
  • Persists timer state across browser sessions
  • Handles pause, resume, and reset operations
The background service worker ensures your Pomodoro timer continues running even if you close all Meelio tabs.

​
Browser-Specific Notes

  • Full support for all features
  • Manifest V3 architecture
  • Tab groups fully supported
  • Build target: chrome-mv3

​
Extension Storage

The extension uses multiple storage mechanisms:
  • Chrome Storage API: For syncing settings and preferences
  • IndexedDB (Dexie): For local database storage of sites, tab stashes, and bookmarks cache
  • localStorage: Fallback for web version compatibility
All stores are prefixed with meelio:local: to avoid conflicts:
  • meelio:local:site-blocker
  • meelio:local:tab-stash
  • meelio:local:bookmarks

​
Next Steps

Site Blocker

Block distracting websites and stay focused

Tab Stash

Save and restore tab groups across windows

Bookmarks

Quick access to your browser bookmarks

Settings

Customize your Meelio experience

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Get started for freeTalk to us