Google bringing back bottom address bar in Chrome

Google could be bringing back the bottom address bar in the Chrome web browser. The Chromium Gerrit changes indicate Google may be reintroducing a feature it abruptly pulled four years ago.

The bottom address bar making a comeback in the Chrome app

Google regularly updates its Chrome browser. However, the search giant is known to pull back features even when users find them useful. The bottom address bar suffered a similar fate.

Google unceremoniously removed the bottom address and search bar from the Chrome app for iOS and Android. Perhaps realizing its mistake, Google reintroduced the feature last year but restricted it to iOS.

🤔…https://t.co/9Sr1t38O4v
. pic.twitter.com/UMrja1PzDe

— Leopeva64 (@Leopeva64) September 5, 2024

According to the Tweet, the Chromium Gerrits version of the browser has a flag for the bottom toolbar. When enabled, this flag allows users to switch the location of the address bar. According to Android Police, Google is planning to offer an option to switch the address bar to the bottom on smartphones and tablets.

When will Android device users get to change the location of the search bar?

Currently, Android device users can access the search and address bar within the Google Chrome browser only at the top of the screen. There’s no option to switch its location.

However, the presence of the relevant flag inside Chromium Gerrit indicates the estimated time frame in which Android users can gain the ability to change the location of the address bar.

Modern smartphones are quite tall. Accessing the address bar located at the top needs two hands. A bottom-mounted address bar is useful for one-handed usage and accessibility. Samsung already offers this feature in the Samsung Internet app.

The Chromium Gerrit changes usually affect the Canary build first. In other words, Google could introduce the feature in an upcoming Chrome Canary version. If the company does not suddenly change its mind, Android users could get the bottom address bar before this year ends.