Google has quietly started rolling out a new feature for Chrome on Android, allowing users to relocate the browser’s address bar to the bottom of the screen, a capability previously available only on iOS.
Announced in a blog post by Chrome’s Nick Kim Sexton, the update responds to growing concerns over one-handed usability on increasingly large smartphones.
The feature is straightforward: users can move the address bar by long-pressing it or toggling the new setting in Chrome’s interface preferences. This flexibility gives users control over ergonomics, especially when navigating with thumbs on larger devices.
In portrait orientation, users can choose “Top” or “Bottom” placement, though in landscape view it remains at the top.
With smartphone screen sizes continuing to increase, the top of the screen is becoming harder to reach, particularly on “phablets” with displays over 6 inches. By positioning the address bar nearer the thumb’s natural range, Google aims to reduce strain and enhance convenience for daily use.
While the iOS version has offered this since 2023, Android adoption is only now beginning. The rollout is in progress and may take time to reach all Android users. Initially, it may appear in Chrome Beta or Canary builds before hitting stable release.
Google isn’t new to this approach. Early tests in 2017, like Chrome Duet or Chrome Home in Android’s flags section, experimented with bottom-toolbars, but those features were later deprecated. The latest tool, however, is officially supported and integrated into Chrome’s settings.
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Doesn't seem to be available for Canadian users. Can anyone else confirm?