Google is introducing a bookmarks bar for Chrome users on Android tablets and foldable devices (essentially large-screen devices) with Chrome version 146. The feature may sound familiar to you as it has been available on Chrome for desktop for years.
As seen on the desktop, the bookmarks bar appears below the omnibox, spanning the full width of the screen and displaying favorites next to site names, while a right-pointing chevron covers the overflow. Long-pressing a bookmark displays its full URL.
What problem does the bookmarks bar solve on tablets and foldable devices?
To turn on the bookmarks bar in Chrome on tablets or foldables, go to Settings > Appearance and select Show Bookmarks Bar.
Previously, accessing bookmarks on Android devices required opening the three-dot menu and navigating to the Bookmarks section, making the feature even more difficult to use on tablets and foldables, even for users who use it heavily on desktops.
However, for tablet users who need to juggle research, productivity and browsing a handful of websites, the feature reduces the hassle of accessing frequently visited sites (from 2 clicks to 1).
This changes the way Android users access frequently visited websites
The bookmarks bar does not interrupt the current page or open a separate screen. For Android users who access Chrome on a handful of devices, such as a work PC or a travel tablet, consistency helps streamline the experience.
Over the past year, Google has worked to improve Chrome’s tablet interface with a better tab layout, improved multi-window behavior, and more desktop-like controls as more users become familiar with it.
Given that Android 17 makes responsive layouts on large screens mandatory for developers, the bookmarks bar is a sign of where Google’s tablet ambitions are headed.
