Is Chrome’s settings menu getting a search bar? What we know

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• An X post shows a new search menu in Chrome.
• The new menu enables navigation of nesting options within the browser’s settings.
• The features remain in the testing phase, with no general availability announced.

I’m a longtime Chrome user, but I’ve never been a fan of the browser’s user settings menu, which has grown into a dense collection of nesting submenus that can be difficult to navigate. That may be changing soon.

Change is still in the works

X (formerly Twitter) user, Leopeva64, posted a short video and several still images showcasing a potential new feature in Chrome Canary, which Google uses to test new Chrome web tools and features. The posts show the search bar pinned to the top of the settings menu for instant access. By entering the name of the submenu or feature you want to access, the new search bar could save a lot of time normally spent clicking around, trying to remember exactly where it’s located.

According to Leopeva64, other possible new features include a visual update that groups similar menu options into tiles for faster navigation of your most-accessed settings, as well as pinning the menu footer to keep it visible as you click through.

Chrome Extensions is also up for a possible refresh with a move to a dedicated submenu called Manage Skills to help keep all of your installed extensions organized and make it easier to remove ones that are no longer needed.

Also: How to take full-page screenshots in Chrome on any device – it’s easy and free

Google Lens may get a new submenu, called “Ask Google about this page,” for searching for items you see across an entire page, not just in a single image.

There’s no official word yet on when these features will leave Canary’s testing environment and become available in the regular Chrome menu. I’ve reached out to Google for a comment, but at the time of writing, I have not received a response.

Taylor Clemons

Staff Writer

Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes. See full bio