How to Switch Back to the Old Chrome Design

Chrome is a fantastic browser that nearly everyone has switched to in some capacity. Whether you’re using Chrome on a Windows or Mac OS device, you’ve installed the app on your iPhone or Android phone, or you’re using one of the many browsers based on Chromium, the open-source version that is used in apps like Brave and even Microsoft Edge.

How to Switch Back to the Old Chrome Design

If you use a regularly updated version of Chrome, you probably noticed a change about a year ago in the way that the Chrome browser looks. That’s because Google has had launched a new version of Chrome, complete with a designh overhaul. The new look swaps out Chrome’s familiar angles and squares for a softer look, with rounded corners, circular icons, and a slightly lighter color scheme. Thankfully, those who don’t like the new Chrome look can still restore the old design, at least for now.

 

Switch Back to the Old Chrome Design

The setting we need to change to switch back to the old Chrome design is, like most advanced Chrome features, toggled via a Chrome flag. To see and configure these flags, launch Chrome, enter the following in the address bar, and hit Enter/Return:

chrome://flags

Scroll down through the list of options (or use the search box at the top of the page) to locate UI Layout for the browser’s top chrome.

Use the drop-down menu to the right of this entry to change it from Default to Normal. Chrome will prompt you to restart the browser. You can do so by clicking the Relaunch Now button or by manually quitting and relaunching the app. Just keep in mind that while Chrome is quite good at remembering and reloading your open websites, it’s not always perfect. So be sure to set any bookmarks and save any data before relaunching the browser just to be on the safe side.

When the browser reloads, you’ll notice that the old Chrome design has now returned. Note, however, that while the look of Chrome has changed, you’ll still be running the newest version of the browser under the hood.

Unfortunately, it’s important to note that some users saw this option leave their flags page after an update in December 2018, so you may have to roll back your version of Chrome to continue using the older, angular design. Alternately, Chrome also offers a number of themes in their web store that allow you to change what the app looks like, so you may be able to save Chrome after all.

8 thoughts on “How to Switch Back to the Old Chrome Design”

andy says:
I’ve now lost all my bookmarks – very useful!!
Steve Larner says:
They’re still synced in Google if you go back to the latest version, that is unless you did not have sync turned on.
lawrence f boni says:
i am 93years old. i prefer the old version of chrome
taskil says:
ya, this is cool
QuackySackleDoo! says:
Well now its gone The UI layout.
ashley scott says:
how do we get the ui layout gone
Daan says:
Google is truly authoritarian. Change the looks of your browser and remove any option to revert back
micheal says:
so how to switch back to a previous version and turn off the auto updater. I don’t really care about the old or new UI/design, I just need it to interact with 3rd party software, which the latest version does not. SO, I’ve been deleting Chrome everyday and reinstalling version 75. total pain in the ass.
vladimir says:
There are several ways to disable auto updater. For windows, use group policy template provided from google and delete all updater files (still not guaranteed that it won’t update). Other way to get rid of auto updates is to use Chromium browser which is origin to chrome, or install chrome portable version. Chromium or chrome portable should work for non-windows systems as well.
Ash says:
Didn’t work for me, I cant find any UI Layout in search box
Gail R Sleeper says:
I want to change my Chrome account to read my later established account. When I am logged into it. I go to change settings and I can’t log into it. I am logged into the older account. I don’t want to lose any browser settings. Also it’s probably too late I had tried so many times to change my later gmail account back to the older version. I tried all recommended solutions in Google help and the Community. Nothing worked. I am constantly missing emails. I know this is not what this is site is response is regarding I would appreciate a response. Thank You.

Comments are closed.

Disclaimer: Some pages on this site may include an affiliate link. This does not effect our editorial in any way.

Todays Highlights
How to See Google Search History
how to download photos from google photos