20 Best Chrome Flags in 2021

ByJim Miller

Chrome Flags are experimental features that give users a sneak peek into Google's upcoming features and allow them to customize Chrome according to their preferences. With the recent release of Chrome 88, there are a whole bunch of new Chrome flags that you can try out. In this article, we will explore the 20 best Chrome flags for both desktop and mobile users.

Chrome Flags for Desktop

  1. Chrome Tab Search: With the new Chrome Tab Search flag, you can easily navigate between your open tabs by hitting Ctrl+Shift+A. A dropdown menu will appear on the top-right corner, allowing you to search for specific tabs and switch to them quickly.

chrome 88 tab search via chrome flag

  1. Chrome Permission Chip: The Chrome Permission Chip flag improves the permission pop-ups in Chrome. Instead of overlaying the content of webpages, the permission requests now stay within the Omnibox, making them less intrusive.

chrome permission chip in chrome 88

  1. Quieter Notification Flag: This flag presents notification requests in a subtle manner, similar to the permission chip. It eliminates accidental notifications and provides a better user experience.

chrome quieter notification chrome flag

  1. Mute Notifications During Screen Share: Enable this flag to hide Chrome notifications during screen sharing. It prevents embarrassing moments when personal notifications appear during video conferences.

Mute notifications and hide during screen share

  1. Copy Link to Text: This flag allows you to create a unique link to a specific portion of a webpage, which can be useful for sharing specific content with others.

link to a specific webpage via chrome flag

  1. Better Chrome PDF Viewer: Try out the new Chrome PDF viewer with a better user interface and a navigation pane for easier page navigation.

new chrome pdf viewer

  1. Dark Mode: Enable the Force Dark and Form Controls Dark Mode flags to view web pages and elements in dark mode, providing a more comfortable browsing experience.

  2. Import Passwords: This flag allows you to import passwords from other browsers or password managers into Chrome's password manager, making it easier to switch between platforms.

  3. Pull to Refresh Gesture: Enable this flag to use the pull to refresh gesture on your touchpad, making it easier to refresh web pages.

Chrome Flags for Mobile

  1. Dark Mode: Enable the Android Night Mode flag to enable dark mode on the Chrome mobile app, saving battery life and reducing eye strain.

  2. Chrome Duet Alternative: Use the Conditional Tab Strip flag as an alternative to Chrome Duet, pinning Chrome's toolbar to the bottom of the screen for easier access.

  3. Tab Groups on Mobile: Group your tabs on the Chrome mobile app for better organization and easier navigation.

  4. Read Later: Use the Read Later flag to save articles for later reading within Chrome itself, eliminating the need for third-party apps.

  5. Query Tiles: Get trending topics and general news right below the Omnibox with the Query Tiles flag, allowing you to explore outside your news bubble.

  6. Edit Passwords on Mobile: Edit your saved passwords directly on your mobile device with this flag, providing more flexibility in managing your passwords.

  7. Sneak Peek: Enable the Ephemeral Tab Bottom Sheet flag to preview links in an ephemeral tab, similar to the Google Now app.

  8. Download Later: Pause downloads and schedule them for later with the Download Later flag, offering more control over your downloads.

Chrome Flags for Both Desktop and Mobile

  1. Increase Download Speeds: Enable the Parallel Downloading flag to divide files into segments and download them parallelly, increasing download speeds.

  2. Enable Reader Mode: Use the Reader Mode flag to convert articles into a minimal, ad-less design for distraction-free reading.

  3. Smooth Scrolling: Enhance scrolling on Chrome with the Smooth Scrolling flag, providing a smoother scrolling experience on desktop and high refresh rate displays on Android.

These are just a few of the many Chrome flags available for users to customize their browsing experience. Keep in mind that flags are experimental features and may change with future Chrome updates. Have fun exploring and trying out these Chrome flags to enhance your browsing experience.

Also Read: 5 Best Free VPN Chrome Extensions for Privacy