Google has quietly begun rolling out a highly requested customization for Chrome on Android: the ability to move the address bar to the bottom of the screen. This feature, already familiar to Chrome users on iOS since 2023, aims to improve one-handed usability on increasingly large phones by placing the omnibox closer to where your thumb naturally rests. The update started appearing for some users on June 24, 2025, and will gradually reach everyone in the coming weeks. In a blog post, Google’s Nick Kim Sexton explains that this change is about “flexibility to choose your preferred location — so you can browse with more ease,” recognizing that hand size and device dimensions vary widely among Android users.

The idea of placing browser controls at the bottom isn’t new. Apple’s Safari made a bold move in iOS 15 (released September 2021) by redesigning its tab and address bar layout, shifting them to the bottom for easier reachability on taller iPhones. While that change initially sparked backlash—some users found the floating bar disruptive—Apple responded by offering an option to revert to a top-aligned bar, emphasizing user choice. Over time, many grew accustomed to the bottom placement for thumb-friendly access, and other browsers took note. Chrome for iOS added a bottom address bar option in 2023, aligning with that ergonomic trend.

On Android, Chrome began experimenting with a bottom address bar option as early as October 2024, appearing behind feature flags and in early tests among select users. After months of feedback and refinements, the feature reached the stable channel in June 2025. Reports from 9to5Google and Android Central indicate that Chrome version 135 and above prompts some users with a hint—“You can touch and hold to move the address bar to the bottom”—and adds a new “Address bar” menu in Settings for manual control. Google emphasizes that this is an opt-in setting, not a forced change, reflecting lessons learned from earlier iOS rollouts.

How to enable or disable the bottom address bar

Making the switch is straightforward. If the feature is live for you:

1. Long-press on the address bar until a context menu appears, then select “Move address bar to bottom” (or back to the top).
2. Alternatively, open Chrome’s Settings, look for the newly introduced “Address bar” section, and choose Top or Bottom placement.

Google notes that the change begins appearing immediately for eligible devices and users, with a gradual “over the coming weeks” rollout so that server-side gating can ensure a smooth experience.