Users might not like what Google did with extension icons

Mar 5, 2016 01:35 GMT  ·  By

Google began rolling out version 49 of its Chrome browser a few days ago, and as more users started receiving the update, they noticed something strange in the browser's UI.

All of a sudden, after updating to Chrome 49, users started seeing a bunch of icons appearing on the right side of the URL address bar.

Unknown to many was the fact that, in October 2015, the Chrome team started debating a Chrome UI change that was eventually approved and made its way into the stable channel with version 49.

This change moves all the custom icons an extension might add, from inside the URL bar to its right, on the toolbar itself, between the URL bar and the Chrome main drop-down menu.

Take for example this extension, which in its preview image shows an icon clearly in the browser's URL bar (even circled in red, so everyone spots it). After you update to Chrome 49, the same icon will be moved outside, like in the screenshot you can find below (and circled in red for nostalgia's sake).

Chrome UI change was done with security in mind

Chrome engineers explained the UI change as an effort to protect users from extensions that use the URL bar to hide their presence. This is the case with PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs), which often abuse their installers to push browser extensions.

The Chrome URL bar didn't always show all the extension icons due to lack of space, but starting with Chrome 49, all icons will be displayed, and users will find it easier to detect a new extension (if it comes with custom actions to warrant a toolbar icon).

In case users still need their space and don't want to be overrun by icons all over their browser, they can right-click an extension's icon and choose the "Hide in Chrome menu" option. This sends the extension's icon in a box at the top of the main Chrome drop-down menu (image below).

Extension icons can also be hidden in the Chrome main menu
Extension icons can also be hidden in the Chrome main menu

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Google Chrome 49 moves extension icons outside the URL bar
Extension icons can also be hidden in the Chrome main menu
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