[Updated] Want to disable Tab Groups in Chrome on Android? Here’s how
The following video summarizes this article:
New updates are being added at the bottom of this storyâ¦
Original story (published on January 29, 2021) follows:
There appears to be a recent server-side update on Google Chrome browser for Android following which the tab-view has been completely altered for many.
Previously, tabs used to appear in a vertical cascading list of cards that spanned the entire length of the screen. This view only allowed previewing one site at a time.
But after the update, tabs now appear in a grid layout allowing several opened sites to be previewed at once without getting obscured.
This change also opens up an avenue for Tab Groups support â something that wasnât possible earlier. Tab Groups facilitate smoother work-flow as tabs can now be organized into neat little assortments.
This is especially useful for power users that keep dozens of tabs open at once. With the change, it will be much easier to find them if there is a large number open at once.
However, there are a couple of downsides to the update too. One-handed usage has become a tad more difficult as tabs are now placed at the top of the screen rather than being aligned to the center. Also, there are many that simply do not like how the grid layout looks.
And while itâs debatable if the changes are for the better or worse, itâs quite clear that most have already made up their minds.
There have been plenty of complaints from angry users asking for the update to be rolled back. Many are also asking for a way to disable the tab groups and grid layout on Chrome.
This is an annoying feature. And it doesnât even ask if user want to enable it. Chrome devs become worse day by day. It causes many problem for my company when using our web apps with chrome, such as showing update popup randomly, breaks old features, and now this.
Source
If you are one of such users, then there indeed is a way to change the tab view in Chrome for Android back to its previous state. And it involves Chrome Flags.
How to turn off grid-view/tab groups on Chrome for Android
Chrome Flags are experimental features that arenât yet enabled by default but can be with just a few clicks. Theyâre simple to use and can transform your browsing experience.
Similarly, there is a switch for the new tab grid-view as well under the list of available flags. To access it, you need to enter chrome://flags into the Chrome address bar.
You will then be directed to the flags page. Next, enter the words âtab gridâ in the search bar following which you should see the desired flag show up just like in the below image.
Simply select it and change its value from âDefaultâ to âDisabledâ. After this, restart Chrome a couple of times to see the grid layout revert to the good old vertical card view once again.
Furthermore, if you also want to disable tab groups on Chrome, just to be sure, then the #enable-tab-groups flag should help you with that.
Update 1 (February 04)
12:27 pm (IST): As per a Product Expert on the Google forums, it now seems that the option to disable group tabs via Chrome Flags has stopped working.
Seems like this flag was removed and this new feature is now by default, without an option to disable it.
Source
While we were unable to verify this, it could be possible that it actually is a server-side change and has been put into effect for select users only. If true, itâs highly disappointing.
Update 2 (February 20)
11:12 am (IST): As per several Redditors, the grid layout/tab groups UI appears to now have been rolled back on Chrome. A great relief indeed, but there is still no telling if Google might bring it back.
After all, it could be quite possible that the rollback was initiated due to unmentioned bugs. Anyway, for now, it is advisable to find any Chrome flags that include the word âgroupâ and disable them.
Update 3 (February 22)
11:12 am (IST): Contrary to recent reports that Google had rolled back the grid for Tab Groups layout, 9to5Google says the feature is actually rolling out widely.
03:44 pm (IST): As for those uninterested in the new feature, there is room to disable it via the Chrome flags settings, again, contrary to recent reports that the flag had been completely removed from Chrome.
Update 4 (February 23)
12:51 pm (IST): We have tested the workaround to disable the grid view at our end and can confirm that it works. We are sharing the step-by-step screenshots below.
Update 5 (February 24)
For those of you who are interested in keeping the grid-view intact but wish to disable grouping, hereâs a user-shared workaround for you.
In the Chrome address bar type âchrome://flags,â and youâll be redirected to the Experiments page. Over there, in the search box, type âTab.â Following the Tab Grid Layout, youâll see three Tab group flags namely âTab groupsâ, âTab groups continuation,â and âTab groups UI improvements.â
Set all three of them to âDisabled,â and then relaunch a couple of times for the grouping to be disabled while keeping the grid-view as it is.
Weâve tested the workaround at our end and can ensure that it works.
Update 6 (March 02)
Weâve come across user queries regarding naming/renaming tab groups on Android, just as can be done on Chromeâs desktop version. But going by the reports, the ability to rename and assign specific colours to tab groups is yet to be added to Android.
Update 7 (March 10)
Weâve already highlighted a workaround (update 5 section) to keep the grid-view as it is but disable grouping.
Now weâve caught hold of another user-shared workaround wherein you have to set âTab Grid Layoutâ to enabled, âTab Groupâ and âTab Groups Continuationâ to disabled and âTab Groups UI Improvementsâ to default.
This will take away the âGroup Tabsâ option that shows in the three-dot menu. Weâve tested the workaround at our end and can confirm it works.
Update 8 (March 18)
Just in case you arenât aware, sharing your feedback with the developers in case you donât like a feature (while itâs still under the experiment phase) is very important. The reason being, the flags for a feature show up under the Experiments only when a feature is being tested, meaning, you still have the option the enable/disable it.
But once the feature makes way to the stable release, there is no way to revert the change, but get stuck with it forever. This information was recently shared by one of the product experts at the Google Chrome community while addressing usersâ queries on how to disable the Reading list feature that was added with Chrome version 89 recently.
So sharing feedback in case of the Tab Groups/Grid view feature in question in this post also becomes important. Else, once the feature makes way to the stable release, you wonât have an option to revert the change. Take a look at how the expert explained the importance of timely give user feedback:
I would also like to recommend that if you donât like the function, send your opinion to the Chrome team about what aspect you donât like, or why you donât like it:
Report a bug or feedback on Chrome â Google Chrome Help
It is very important that you do this, since these comments will be received directly by the Chrome team (they do not usually go through the forums in Spanish). Also, it is important because if this function is set to the stable version for everyone, the flag will eventually be removed, and there will be no way to disable the option.
Update 9 (March 22)
In order to restore the cascading tabs in Chrome on your Android device, hereâs another workaround (slightly different from the one mentioned in this article) shared by a product expert at the community:
Please test another possible solution. Itâs about the flags again.
So: chrome: // flags and enter âgrid layoutâ should appear:
1. Tab grid layout
2. Tab groups
3. Tab groups continuation
4. Tab switcher on return
5. GTSAnd so set it to Disabled for 1,2,3,4 and Enabled for 5. Restart Chrome (or preferably restart the phone).
Update 10 (March 26)
Going by the information shared by one of the users, before the âTab groupsâ and âTab grid layoutâ flags are permanently disabled (with update version 90), one will be able to access them temporarily. Hereâs how:
These flags are set to expire in Chrome 90. After that you can access them temporarily by setting chrome://flags/#temporary-unexpire-flags-m90 until theyâre removed permanently.
Update 11 (March 26)
What if Google Chrome was fully customizable and experimental features like Reading List and Tab Groups were all under user control even when they hit stable? Let us know your thoughts by voting on this poll.
Update 12 (April 06)
In case you wish to disable tab grouping and bottom favicon bar, keeping the new tab grid layout intact, in the flags, set Tab Grid Layout to âEnabled.â
In the flag search box in Experiments, type âEnable conditional tabstrip,â and select âDisabledâ in the drop-down menu. Relaunch chrome a couple of times for the change to be implemented.
Update 13 (April 15)
Going by the latest user reports, Tab groups/tiled-view is back for some, despite disabling them in the flags. But at least according to some of the affected, the workarounds shared in update 9 section of this article resolved the issue for them.
So those of you facing the problem can give it a shot.
Update 14 (April 16)
For those of you who are facing the issue wherein the disabled Tab groups/grid view is back again despite the flag showing it Disabled, here are a few user-shared workarounds you can try:
Set âTab Groupsâ to Disabled.
chrome://flags/#enable-tab-groups
Then force stop the app and reopen.
Disable Grid layout AND tab groups, relaunch the browser then restart your device. Fixed it for me!
In chrome âSettingsâ âAccessibilityâ
âSimplified view for open tabsâ
I went into flags, searched for anything tab grid related and disables them all (not sure if that helped) because nothing changed. Then I cleared cache and the âfree spaceâ storage. When I restarted chrome after that, bye bye dumb tabs!
Update 15 (April 17)
Going by reports, the latest update (version 90) may be to blame for re-enabling the feature despite it disabled in the flags.
So all you need to do is enable chrome://flags/#temporary-unexpire-flags-m89 and chrome://flags/#temporary-unexpire-flags-m88. Hereâs how a user has explained this:
Your Chrome probably got updated to v90, thatâs why the flags arenât working anymore.
You can enable them again by going to chrome://flags/#temporary-unexpire-flags-m89 and chrome://flags/#temporary-unexpire-flags-m88 and enable both of them.
Now your flags will work again. Just tested on a updated v90 Chrome
While another user suggests:
Chrome://flags
Set it up like this
Temporarily unexpire m88 flags: enabled
Tab grid layout: disabled
Tab groups: disabled
Tab groups continuation: disabled
Tab switcher on return: disabled
Enable tab-to-GTS animation : disabled
RESTART PHONE
Update 16 (April 18)
Uninstalling the latest update is another alternative that you can try. But the problem here is itâll take away the dark mode as well. Hereâs how a user explains it:
My only option to get the original chrome tab view is to uninstall all updates, but then the old versions of chrome donât allow you to use Chrome on dark mode, so even though you can still change it in the flags, the url bar and nav bar at the bottom are still white
Update 17 (April 19)
Going by what a product expert has shared on the community if despite disabling Tab Grid Layout you still get the layout, it could be that the devs have considered the user feedback and removed the function, but the option is still there. Thatâs why youâre suggested to drop feedback.
Iâm getting the same.
I guess theyâve removed the function, but not removed the option dialog yet
go to menu > Help & feedback > send feedback
Update 18 (April 20)
For those of you facing the Tab groups re-enabled despite disabling after the recent update, reports suggest disabling â âTab Groups,â âTab Group Continuationâ and âTab Groups UI Improvementsâ does the trick. So you can give it a shot.
Update 19 (April 21)
A couple of users have shared a few more combinations of flags disabling which resolved the Tab Groups re-enabled issue for them. Hereâs what they shared:
I found this, and it works.
Chrome://flags
Set it up like this
Temporarily unexpire m88 flags: enabled
Tab grid layout: disabled
Tab groups: disabled
Tab groups continuation: disabled
Tab switcher on return: disabled
Enable tab-to-GTS animation : disabled
RESTART PHONE
In a new tab:
chrome://flags/#enable-start-surface
#enable-tab-grid-layout
#enable-tab-groups
#enable-tab-groups-continuation
#enable-tab-groups-ui-improvementsMine didnât revert until I had disabled all 5, but I also wasnât taking the most scientific approach.
Update 20 (April 22)
One of the affected users has shared that a simple tweak of switching between Default and Disabled, followed by a device reboot did the trick for them. So you can also give it a shot.
Today, Group Tabs reappeared. It was still disabled in the Group Tabs flag. Iâve switched between Default and Disabled and relaunched. Iâve restarted my phone. And I still have the Group Tabs.
On the other hand, a product manager at the Chrome community has mentioned this reappearance may have to do with the concerned flags taken down. Hereâs what they said while responding to one of the affected users:
Flags are experimental and can be removed anytime without any notice. So, that experimental feature may no longer be available.
Update 21 (April 23)
Another affected user has shared that keeping âTab Grid Layoutâ and âTab Groupsâ flags to Disabled and âConditional Tab Stripâ to Enabled is what did the trick for them.
So those of you struggling with grouping or grid view re-enabled recently can give this flag combination a try.
Update 22 (April 24)
Some users report that Tab Groups or Grid-view keep re-enabling on Google Chrome Android and we now have a dedicated article on what you can do to disable them. Head here for the same.
Update 23 (April 25)
One of the users has shared another combination of flags that worked for them (make sure you relaunch Chrome a couple of times for the change to be implemented).
The combination that works for me:
Tab Grid Layout â Disabled
Tab Groups â Disabled
Tab Groups Continuation â Default
Tab Groups UI Improvements â Default
Tab switcher on return â Disabled
Enable Tab-to-GTS Animation â Enabled
Conditional Tab Strip â Enabled
Update 24 (April 26)
Looking at the pattern of the Tab group/grid-view flags being overridden every time a new update is pushed, a product expert is now speculating that the feature is likely to make way to the stable build.
Meaning, there wonât be any way to disable it, unless Google decides to give an option to do so. Hereâs what the product expert said:
Yes it looks like the feature is going to be rolled out.
My guess is, not enough people complained
Update 25 (April 27)
In order to respect every selected flag option, what you can do is disable the concerned flags â i.e. Tab Groups, Tab Grid Layout, Tab strip, and Conditional Tab Strip â one by one, followed by relaunching the browser a couple of times (every time you disable a flag).
Update 26 (April 28)
Hereâs a user-shared video wherein theyâve suggested resetting all the flags to default before tweaking the respective ones to disable Grid view on Android.
Update 27 (May 14)
If you have tried all the aforementioned ways but still couldnât disable Chrome Tab Groups, you can give this hack a try.
We are sharing the user comment for your convininece:
Okay, I managed to fix it (probably temporarily) by disabling Start Surface too and resetting a few times. Try that?
A lot of fellow commentors on the Reddit thread confirmed this hack worked for them.
Update 28 (May 15)
Hereâs the complete workaround involving Start Surface that you can try:
go to chrome://flags
reset everything to default (optional, but I did it anyhow)
disable start surface, tab grid layout and tab groups
restart chrome a couple times (I think I had to do it 3-4 before it started working)
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