Chrome Experimenting with Preventing Unintentional Website Exits
Google Chrome on Android has received an update that brings a new swipe back animation, similar to the one found on iOS devices. This feature, which enhances gesture navigation, can be activated by enabling a hidden flag in Chrome.
Enabling the Predictive Back Gesture
To enable the new animation, follow these simple steps:
- Open Google Chrome on your Android device.
- Paste the following URL into the address bar and hit enter:
- Enable the Predictive Back Gesture feature.
- Relaunch Chrome when prompted.
With these steps, you'll be able to enjoy a smoother back navigation experience, reminiscent of iOS devices.
How it Works
This new feature leverages Android 16's predictive back APIs, which enhance gesture navigation by previewing the destination of the back swipe with animations. The overall system and apps supporting these APIs show a slick predictive back animation, and Chrome is now among them.
It's worth noting that this feature flag may require Chrome's latest version and Android 16 or later for full compatibility.
A Preview of the Past
The new animation offers a quick preview of the previous page, making it easier to avoid accidental navigation. If you open a page from another app, you'll catch a glimpse of that app as you swipe. However, if the page came from a link in another tab, there will be no preview, and the animation will snap back without it.
Gradual Rollout
Google is gradually rolling out this new animation, so not everyone will see it immediately. Mishaal Rahman of Android Authority has spotted the new back animation on Chrome 138.
For those who can't wait for the full official rollout, enabling the flag above is currently the primary method to try the new animation early.
Similarities with iOS and Android
Android's own predictive back system also shares similarities with the iPhone's back animation. The live preview in Chrome's new animation is smoothly scaled and faded in, which could help cut down on accidental exits from important pages.
If you hold a back swipe in Chrome's new animation, a live preview of the last webpage will be displayed. If a page leads back to a new tab, a blank gray screen with the Chrome logo will be displayed instead.
This new swipe back animation in Chrome adjusts based on where the user came from, adding to the overall seamless navigation experience.
- The new swipe back animation in Chrome, made possible by Android 16's predictive back APIs, is reminiscent of iOS devices and enhances gesture navigation, similar to gadgets like smartphones that use technology to provide smooth navigation experiences.
- With the Predictive Back Gesture feature enabled, users can enjoy a slick and efficient navigation system on their Android devices, showcasing the harmony between Chrome's and Android's technology, akin to how smartphones leverage gadgets and technology to deliver user-friendly interfaces.
