Make the most of the Chrome toolbar by customizing it to your liking

Main function Google Chrome aims to give you a window to the web. With so much engaging content on the Internet, you may not have given much thought to the browser framework that acts as a container for the sites you visit.

You’ll be forgiven if you’re still using the default toolbar configuration that was there when you first installed Chrome. But if you take a few minutes to customize it, it can make a big difference to your browsing. You can get faster access to the essential features you need, and you may even discover features you didn’t know about.

If you’re reading this in Chrome on desktop, you can try out some customizations now — all it takes is a few clicks. Here’s how to group the toolbar in Chrome, and all the different changes you can make.

Default layout

Extensions are always easily accessible in Chrome.

Photography: David Nield

Take a look at the top right corner of the Chrome browser tab and you’ll see two main buttons: one that reveals browser extensions (the jigsaw puzzle), and one that opens your bookmarks (the double star icon). There should also be a button that shows a down arrow, giving you access to recently downloaded files.

Right away, you can start customizing. If you click the jigsaw icon to show your browser extensions, you can also click the pin button next to any of these extensions to make them permanently visible on the toolbar. Although you don’t want your toolbar to become too cluttered, this means you can put your most frequently used add-ons at your fingertips.

For the add-on icons you choose on the toolbar, you can choose how they’re arranged as well: Click and drag on any of the icons to change their position (although the add-ons panel itself should remain in the same place). To remove the extension icon (without uninstalling the extension), right-click on it and choose Uninstall.

Make changes

Revamped toolbar customization pane.

Photography: David Nield

Click the three dots in the upper right corner of any browser window then Settings > Appearance > Toolbar Customization To access the main toolbar customization panel, which has been recently revamped. You will immediately see toggle switches that allow you to show or hide certain buttons on the toolbar.