If you’re regularly keeping a check on the tech world then you know that Chrome has rolled out a brand new, New Tab page which displays a big Google logo and search box in the center of the screen, and most visited pages below it. Now, this new tab page has received lots of negative feedback from users because it removes the shortcuts to Chrome apps and recently closed tabs. Many of us rely on these shortcuts and were used to with them, but now with the new tab page, Chrome has introduced to us most visited pages and a big search box.
Google Search Bar In Chrome
Many people still wonder why would Google place a search bar in the new tab page, when the same functionality can be accessed by omnibox. Perhaps this move was to attract novice users who don’t know that they can directly search from the omnibox (the address bar).
Fortunately, there’s a way to get Chrome’s old new tab page back. To do this, you’ll need to make use of the Experimental Developer tools of Chrome. This can be done by typing the following into the address bar:
chrome://flags
Hit the enter key and then you’ll be able to see the below screen. Many of the options in this page are experimental, which means that you’ll need to be extra sure before you do any tweaking here. Don’t’ worry, we know what we’re doing and that’s why we need to change just a single setting. Hit the Ctrl + F key on keyboard and type the following in the search field:
Enable Instant Extended API
This will highlight a setting on the page. Now click on the dropdown menu and then change it to “Disabled” mode.
Chrome will inform you that the changes will only come into effect after restarting the browser. To restart the browser, scroll down and click on “Relaunch now” button.
Chrome will restart and now you’ll be able to see the old New Tab page. Well, what a relief!
Do share your thoughts in the comments below.
