Google Chrome’s web browser for Android devices is finally catching up to the notable design change that Safari made with the 2021 introduction of iOS 15: it’s offering a way to move the address bar to the bottom of the screen too.
The company announced on Tuesday that the latest version of its Chrome for Android browser will now allow users who prefer the modernized experience, designed to be easier to use on mobile devices, to opt to set their address bar to appear at the bottom of their screen instead of the top. The feature was previously available on Chrome for iOS, following Apple’s lead in the space.
Having learned from Apple’s prior challenges, Google is not forcing the change on all its users, however. Instead, it’s adding a new feature that lets users configure the address bar’s location to their liking.
To move the address bar to the bottom of the screen, you’ll long-press on the bar and then select the option to move it to the bottom. You can also configure the location of the address bar in Chrome’s Settings menu.
Users often prefer the option as it places the address bar closer to where they’re holding their phone, allowing them to type more comfortably.
When Apple first rolled out the update, some users rebelled against the change, complaining that the placement of the bar, which initially floated atop the page’s content, was problematic as it made some websites nearly unusable. The bar would block out various elements that users needed to tap on, they said, which required them to swipe the bar down and out of the way. Others simply didn’t like the change.
In response to user feedback, Apple moved the bar to the bottom, below the page content, and made it an optional choice as opposed to the default.
Google is approaching the design update in the same way by allowing users to make the decision.
The company said the feature will begin to appear on Android devices starting today and will roll out to all users over the weeks ahead.
