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10 Chrome Flags you should consider enabling
In this tutorial we explain what Chrome flags are, how they're useful, and suggest some flags you should consider enabling in Chrome.
Google Chrome is one of the most popular browsers out there, especially if you're using a Chromebook. The stable version of Chrome is excellent on its own, but for power users, there are numerous tweaks you can add to suit specific needs.
How to take a full page screenshot in Google Chrome for Android
You can now take a full page screenshot on Chrome on Android if you're using Google Chrome 94. Here's how you can enable the feature!
Google has updated the Chrome browser for Android with version 94 which brings some new features. One of the more interesting features currently hidden behind a feature flag is the ability to take full-page screenshots. If you're on a webpage that can scroll down and you want to capture the entire contents of the page, you will now be able to do so on this version of Chrome. A lot of smartphone makers include the ability to take scrolling screenshots on their custom UIs, and Android 12 also has the feature built-in. But if you don't have it on your phone by default, you can now use this feature in Chrome.
Google Chrome is experimenting with tab widths in new tab scrolling feature
Google appears to be experimenting with tab widths in Chrome. The new feature is related to another tab scrolling feature that's in testing.
Chrome is reportedly making your habit of opening dozens and dozens of tabs a little easier to manage. Chromium developers are allegedly experimenting with different widths of tabs when the tab scrolling feature (also in testing) is turned on.
Google's new Chrome Labs lets users test experimental browser features
Google is testing a new feature in the latest Chrome Canary build called Chrome Labs, which lets users test experimental browsing features.
Google constantly adds new features to Chrome with each new update. But before these features are released to the public, users can test them out by enabling the respective experimental flags in the chrome://flags page. However, keeping track of all the new flags can prove to be a bit difficult, as the chrome://flags page lists a whole bunch of them, and it provides no information about recent additions. To address this issue, Google is now testing a new feature called Chrome Labs, which will promote some of the new flags directly to users.
[Update: Screenshots] Google Chrome's media controls can soon be popped out into a floating overlay
Soon, it looks like the media controls that show up in the Google Chrome toolbar will be able to detach and float anywhere on screen.
Google has been working on revamped media controls for Chrome for a while now, and they recently went live in the Stable version earlier this year. The global media controls allow you to manage whatever media is playing right from the toolbar instead of navigating away from your current tab to the tab/window that's playing the media. Soon, it looks like those media controls will get even handier.
Google Chrome for PCs tests less annoying permission prompts
Google is testing a feature that makes other permission requests in Chrome less annoying. The prompts no longer pop-up over the webpage.
Google has been on a mission as of late to combat annoying notification requests and permission prompts. In Chrome 80, Google made a toggle for enabling "quieter" notification prompts. We saw this go a step further in Chrome 84, where abusive prompts are automatically minimized. Now, Google is testing a feature that makes other requests less annoying as well.
New Google Chrome flag will show the full URL in the omnibox on desktop
Chrome 76 made it so the entire URL is not displayed in the omnibox. A new Chrome flag will allow users to show the full URL.
One of the things people like about the Chrome browser is its simple design. While it may not feel lightweight in terms of performance, the interface is still clean and simple. Sometimes, however, that simplicity can be taken too far. Chrome 76 removed part of the URL from the omnibox, but a new Chrome flag can bring it back.
How to enable Chrome for Android's dark mode
Google Chrome browser for Android gets a dark mode with version 74 and you can activate using the steps in this simple guide.
If you have been using Android since prior to the Android Lollipop release, you might remember the Holo UI which embraced a dark gray background and blue accents. With Lollipop, Google adopted Material Design, which swathed the entire UI with a thick, flat coat of white. Now, as OLED and AMOLED panels get cheaper and more widely accessible, Google will give users the opportunity to turn the lights off with the upcoming Android Q. While you will have to work your way through the Android Q Developer Preview in order to toggle the system-wide dark theme, Google is already experimenting with individual dark modes inside certain apps. One of these is Google Chrome, which received a dark mode on Android with version 74 and if you're willing to try it out, there are some basic steps to follow.
Google Chrome is testing a bottom toolbar that shows your tabs
The Google Chrome app may eventually get a revamped bottom toolbar that shows all of your tabs for quickly switching between them.
I'm a big fan of the way that the Google Chrome team does their work. By developing in the open, we're able to see what they're working on, try new features before they're released for the public, and give feedback ahead of release. Google encourages users to try out new features by making them easily accessible in the chrome://flags page. However, not every new feature is available as a flag. For instance, we spotted a redesign of the bottom toolbar that shows your tabs at the bottom for easily switching between them. If you tap the ^ icon, it brings up a mini tab switcher using the new grid layout. You can also tap the + icon to quickly add a new tab.
Google Chrome for Android is testing a new grid layout for tabs
The latest Google Chromium build is testing a new Chrome flag that shows tabs in a grid layout in the tab page. The flag will roll out to Canary soon.
Tab hoarders and people with fat fingers, rejoice. Google Chrome's tab page could get a whole lot less cluttered thanks to the introduction of a new Chrome flag. The flag, only available in a freshly built Chromium APK at the time of publication, "allows users to see their tabs in a grid layout in the tab switcher." The flag can be accessed at chrome://flags#enable-tab-grid-layout on Android devices. Here's what Chrome's tab page looks like with and without the flag enabled.
[Update: Now in stable] Google Chrome now has a long press back button gesture to show history
Google appears to be testing a long-press of the back button gesture to show recent navigational history in mobile versions of Google Chrome.
As Google continues to attempt to improve it's UX in Google Chrome, they've been trying in other ways to improve their browser too. According to the Chromium Gerrit, an addition is in the works that will allow you to long-press your device's back button to view your recent navigational history. The feature will be enabled via a Chrome flag and will only be available on mobile devices.
Google Chrome will combat annoying sites that stop you from going back
It's very aggravating when a website doesn't let you leave the page by going "Back" and, thankfully, Google Chrome is doing something about it.
One of the most annoying things on the internet is websites that hijack your browser. Unfortunately, this isn't something exclusive to shady websites. You've probably run across a legitimate website that doesn't let you go to the previous page when you click the Back button. This is a very aggravating practice and, thankfully, Google Chrome is doing something about it.
Google Chrome on Android to disable JavaScript automatically on 2G connections
Google Chrome will have a feature which will automatically disable JavaScript on 2G connections, which will help users in developing countries.
Google Chrome is a popular browser on all platforms, in fact, it's the most popular on several of them. It comes built-into Android, which makes it even more widely-used. Google is always hard at work making sure that their browser is accessible to everyone with the latest improvements in efficiency and reliability. They have rolled out features like Data Saver and Brotli for users on the slower internet connections. Now, they are disabling JavaScript on 2G connections.
Enable Google Chrome's new design with one Chrome flag
Google Chrome is undergoing major design changes. The Material Design revamp is still quite a bit away but for those of you who are interested in trying out all of Chrome's new design, there's a new Chrome flag that will enable all of the features.
The Google Chrome browser is open source, so we can track progress on its development quite easily. We've seen how Chrome is getting more optimized for touchscreen devices like the HP Chromebook X2 and the Acer Chromebook Tab 10, how a major Material Design revamp is underway, and how Chrome OS is receiving Android P-esque user interface changes. We cover the most interesting new Chrome flags that we discover, but it can be annoying having to dig around and enable multiple flags just to test all of the latest features. Google will be making that easier for us by consolidating all of Google Chrome's new design behind one Chrome flag.
How to make Google Chrome Touchscreen Friendly on Tablets & Laptops
Is it a pain to use Google Chrome on tablets and laptops with touchscreens? There's an easy way to make Google Chrome be more touch-friendly on Chrome OS for Chromebooks or Microsoft Windows for touchscreen laptops.
Google Chrome is by far the world's most popular Internet browser. There's a version for every major operating system out there, however, the only versions that are best suited for touchscreen devices are the Android and iOS ones. With Chrome OS tablets soon on the way, Google has been working on making the Chrome browser more touchscreen friendly with its "Touchable Chrome" feature. We first caught glimpses of what this would look like last month, but since then the feature has matured a bit and is now suitable for daily use.
Google is Testing a Horizontal Tab Switcher in Chrome for Portrait Mode
Google is testing a new horizontal tab switcher in Chrome for Android when the device is in portrait mode. Previously, the tab switcher shows tabs vertically when in portrait mode.
Google really, really loves their A/B tests. While the vast majority of users might be seeing one shade of green in the Play Store, another set of users might see a totally different color. Google Chrome for Android works a bit differently, though, as its open source nature and feature flags allow for anyone to participate in the company's public A/B tests. Today, a new commit has appeared on the Chromium gerrit that aims to revamp the tab switcher in Chrome for Android.
Home button in Google Chrome for Android is making a return
The home button in Google Chrome for Android is making a return. The button, when tapped, quickly brings the user back to the home page.
Google is constantly experimenting with new features and design tweaks for its Chrome browser. Usually, the interface changes are pretty minor, but sometimes they've been rather expansive such as the experimental Chrome Home interface which has been deprecated in favor of a new split toolbar 'Chrome Duplex' interface. Another change that to the interface that has caused a lot of strife among users is the removal of the home button in the toolbar.
Google is Deprecating the Bottom Address Bar 'Chrome Home' in Favor of a New 'Chrome Duplex' Interface
Google is deprecating the bottom address bar feature called Chrome Home in favor of a new split-toolbar feature called Chrome Duplex.
As smartphones with an 18:9 display aspect ratio continue to be released, we are seeing many applications receive redesigns that move buttons to the bottom of the screen. A notable example is the Pixel Launcher with the bottom search bar that was released alongside the Google Pixel 2. Another example that has actually been in the works for quite some time is the 'Chrome Home' experiment which moves the address bar to the bottom in Google Chrome for Android. Now, it appears that Google is deprecating this bottom address bar experiment in favor of something new called Chrome Duplex.
Chrome for Android is adding Language Settings for better Multilingual Support
Google's Chrome for Android web browser will soon add language settings to allow for better multilingual support. Available in the Chrome Canary build.
The most popular web browser in the world is by far Google's Chrome browser, though Mozilla's latest Firefox Quantum browser aims to dethrone it. Google doesn't intend to sit idly by as its competitors improve their browsers. Indeed, the company is continuously working to improve its Chrome browser as we've seen with multiple new feature additions to Chrome for Android.
Google Chrome for Android will soon get YouTube's Double Tap to Fast Forward or Rewind Feature
Google Chrome for Android will soon get the same double tap to fast-forward or rewind video control feature from the YouTube app. Now available in Canary.
Earlier this year, Google added a nifty new feature to the YouTube app: double tap on the sides of a video to fast forward or rewind 10 seconds. This feature started to roll out to some users in January before it was officially enabled in a later February build. And now, that same feature is coming to Google Chrome for Android starting with the latest nightly builds of Chrome Canary and Chromium.