Bottom-Placed Address Bar: Chrome’s New Option for iOS Users

Chrome is working on making the address bar easily accessible to iOS users at the bottom of the page.

The user interface of a web browser significantly influences how we interact with the digital world. The feature is available in the latest TestFlight version of Chrome for iOS users, exactly two years after Apple shifted Safari’s tab bar to the bottom in iOS 15.

In a Twitter post, iOS developer Steve Moose shares information about the new feature in the TestFlight version of Chrome.

“Google Chrome for iOS updated with Bottom Omnibox Setting. It was just added to the Testflight version of Chrome for iOS.”- captioned Steve Moose, iOS developer.

Google Chrome for iOS updated with Bottom Omnibox Setting. It was just added to the Testflight version of Chrome for iOS.
Link below with more screenshots and info: pic.twitter.com/W8Lrnc7GrX

— Steve Moser (@SteveMoser) August 23, 2023

Along with a description of the feature’s application and Screenshots for demonstration. The Developer ensures the feature is comprehensive for the masses and easily accessible.

Users discovered two ways to enable this amazing feature. To change the location of the address bar, press on the address bar until the switch location option pops up, and shift the address bar to the bottom of the Chrome window. Another method to change the location is to use Chrome’s settings.

As per the TechCrunch report, to resolve the issue for people, the feature is not yet visible in the latest TestFlight version. They can guarantee accessibility using the “chrome://flags/#bottom-omnibox-steady-state” flag.

Safari also allows users to shift the tab bar by using Settings > Safari > Tabs. However, the feature has been a default setting for the past two years.

The feature is tested to apply only to a limited number of lucky applicants and not just everyone, unfortunately. It is questionable if the feature will be provided permanently to all iOS users and if it will also surface on Android.

Notably, the feature was released in 2017 on Android. The company released it for experimental purposes but later removed the feature, not finding its service convenient enough for an upgrade.

Under the current scenario, the feature looks much more justifiable as the iOS screen becomes bigger. Users should be given the option of shifting the address bar, making it easy for them to reach and use the bar tools. This will give users the freedom to switch between a traditional and a new custom mode, allowing users to shift the address bar.

The feature is beneficial for users who use a browser in their everyday schedule and to easily reach the address bar with a single hand on big-screen devices without the need to perform finger gymnastics.

Users can easily navigate, search, and manage tabs using one hand, creating a smoother and more ergonomic experience with the feature, making it an innovative approach for the user interface.

As the tech world continues to develop, it is refreshing to watch Google add new, interesting and needed features to its library. It is thrilling to anticipate the outcome of the new testing and its potential positive impact on the lives of users.