Google's Chrome Browser Testing Bottom-Placed Address Bar on iOS

Google's Chrome browser for iOS is testing an option for users to shift the address bar to the bottom of the screen, two years after Apple’s Safari made the same change.

chrome bottom url bar
The move, spotted by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser, is currently in beta testing in the Testflight version of the app. Currently the change is optional, enabling users to set the URL bar to the top or bottom by pressing and holding the bar to bring up a switch, or by changing the location via Settings -> Address Bar.

Apple in its iOS 15 beta testing phase introduced a redesigned Safari experience that moved the URL bar and tab interface to the bottom of the iPhone, a decision that initially proved controversial with ‌iPhone‌ users.

Locating the bar at the bottom of the interface made it easier to browse with one hand, but not everyone was happy. After listening to feedback, Apple added a toggle to show the address bar at the top of the ‌iPhone‌ rather than the bottom, for users who preferred the more iOS 14-like experience.

It's not clear whether Chrome will roll out the change to all users – Google tried a similar change in Chrome for Android in 2017, then subsequently removed the feature. However, with iPhone screens historically getting iteratively bigger, many will likely welcome the change, should it stick.

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Top Rated Comments

Steve121178 Avatar
22 months ago
For me, the address bar at the bottom on a phone makes complete sense. Glad to see most mainstream browsers are now offering this UI toggle.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coffeemilktea Avatar
22 months ago
You know, I've wondered: what exactly is the appeal of using Chrome on iOS?

Apple won't allow the developers to use Blink or V8 or any of the regular Chrome technologies in the app, so instead iOS Chrome is basically just Safari with some extra Google tracking on top, and none of the "real" Chrome features. ?
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sniffies Avatar
22 months ago

You know, I've wondered: what exactly is the appeal of using Chrome?
There, fixed it for ya.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
senttoschool Avatar
22 months ago

No, thank you. I'll continue to use Brave browser instead. I don't like ads.
Don't support Brave. It's just Chromium with uBlock Origin installed by default. It's nothing special.

However, Brave is a crypto company selling an unregistered security. They also replaced website ads with their own ads, stealing revenue from website owners in a very shady way.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jonnysods Avatar
22 months ago
It’s crazy how long it took me to get used to it in safari, and now I love it.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LambdaTheImpossible Avatar
22 months ago
If it takes this long for browser vendors to work out that things are easier when they are closer to your fingers then we are, to use a technical term, ****ed.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)