Google Chrome for Android to support history gesture navigation
Google has been working on a new feature for Google Chrome for Android for a while that adds options to the mobile browser to go back and forward in history by using gestures.
Swipe from the left to go back in history or from the right to go forward. The main idea behind introducing gesture based navigation options is that it provides users with one-hand control over the process.
Google Chrome does not display back and forward buttons on Android in the main user interface. Users may activate the back button of the Android device to go back a page, or open Menu to select the Forward button instead.
One issue that arises from back button usage is that Chrome will close when you hit the back button if there is no page in history to go to. Chrome for Android does not indicate that.
Update: Google removed the flag from its Android browser and has not implemented the feature. An alternative is not available at this point in time. End
Google implemented gesture-based navigation of the history in Chrome Canary for Android. The feature is hidden behind an experimental flag at this point in time.
Experimental means that it may find its way into Chrome at one point in time, or that it is pulled by Google again.
Here is what you need to do to activate gesture-based history navigation in Chrome for Android:
- Make sure that Chrome Canary is up to date.
- Load chrome://flags in the address bar of the browser.
- Search for Overscroll history navigation.
- Or load chrome://flags/#overscroll-history-navigation directly.
- Set the experimental flag to Enabled.
- Restart the Chrome browser with a tap on the Restart button.
Once restarted, swipe to the left or to the right to go back or forward. Chrome displays an overlay icon that indicates the process to the user. The only option to cancel the process is to keep the finger pressed on the screen and swipe to the left or right screen border. The icon disappears when that is done and Chrome won't go back or forward in history.
Google Chrome for Android supports other gestures already. Users may swipe down on a page to display the list of tabs open in the mobile browser.
Now you: which mobile browser do you use? Does it support gestures?
Related content
Previous Post: « A first look at SmartAdblock for Firefox and Chrome
Next Post: Chrome Extension Manifest V3 could end uBlock Origin for Chrome »
“which mobile browser do you use? Does it support gestures?”
I use Boat, as it’s the least-worst of the mobile browsers I’ve tried. I does support gestures, but I don’t use them (I don’t find them useful on the whole) so I couldn’t say how well they work.
I hate gestures. Give me soft buttons.
I don’t have this option in Chrome://flags, any reason why not? (Currently on Samsung Galaxy S9)
I just checked in Canary and Stable, and it seems that Google pulled the flag again, it is no longer available.
Hello Martin.
This feature has been back in Chrome with new name:
Overscroll history navigation (chrome://flags/#overscroll-history-navigation)
You can see here: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=710542049398858&id=100013292076054
Please update this post
Source: From a comment in Android Authority
i wanted to like this site, but too many ads! and consciously outdated content…
thanks for offering a space for comments though. too bad my questions will probably never reach John or even be answered:
boat?
do you find any gestures useful?
and any updates on this gesture navigation for chrome?
i was actually hoping to find just a “back button history per tab”… 😁
Any way to off this feature
This feature is back, at least in Chrome Canary on Android. Unfortunately, however, it doesn’t have the old ability where holding horizontal overscroll would pop up a list of history for that current tab. That was super useful to have for easily navigating back multiple pages without having to jump through menus.