FAQ

Chrome for Android

Is Chrome for Android open source?

Chrome for Android is derived from Chromium. Since the launch of the first version, we have steadily open sourced all the critical components. You can build various Chromium components for Android as used in Chrome for Android using the instructions here.

Does Chrome for Android follow the same release cycles as desktop Chrome?

They share the same release cycle and release numbering. Not all features in desktop Chrome are available in the corresponding version of Chrome for Android, however.

Can I make Chrome for Android auto-update?

You can make it auto-update by checking either the per-app or global auto-update setting in Android Market.

What are the differences between Android Browser and Chrome for Android?

Chrome for Android provides the same fast, secure, and stable web browsing experience you’ve come to enjoy when using Chrome on desktop. We’ve taken a different approach to tabs and overall navigation. By signing in to Chrome on Android, users can have a unified, personalized Chrome experience across all their devices.

From a developer perspective, Chrome for Android supports powerful features like Chrome Developer Tools, Indexed DB, requestAnimationFrame, WebSockets and Web Workers.

How do I add a bookmark in Chrome to my home screen?

Create a bookmark via the menu, find it in the bookmark list, long-press on it, and tap "Add to home screen".

I’ve written my mobile web app to use feature X, but Chrome for Android doesn’t support it.

Please see if this is already a known issue and star it if it is. Otherwise, please log a bug. Also, see chromestatus.com to track new and upcoming features in Chrome.

Does Chrome for Android now support the embedded WebView for a hybrid native/web app?

A Chrome-based WebView is included in Android 4.4 (KitKat) and later. See the WebView overview for details.

Does Chrome for Android support apps and extensions?

Chrome apps and extensions are currently not supported on Chrome for Android. We have no plans to announce at this time.

Can I write and deploy web apps on Chrome for Android?

Though Chrome apps are not currently supported, we would love to see great interactive web sites accessible by URL.

What version of Flash is supported on Chrome for Android?

Chrome for Android will not be supporting Flash. As you may have seen in November, 2011, Adobe announced it has stopped investing in Flash for mobile browsing. Google has long been committed to making the web platform more powerful through open web technologies like HTML5 and is working with Adobe and other partners to further advance the web standard.

What HTML5 features does Chrome for Android support?

See this overview.

How do I debug my mobile web page?

Chrome Developer Tools are available for remote debugging with Chrome for Android. See the article on Remote Debugging for more information.

Can I hide the address bar?

The address bar hides automatically when you scroll down. Web apps that are installed using the Add to Homescreen feature don't display the address bar.

How similar is Chrome for Android with the desktop/laptop version of Chrome?

Chrome for Android is based on the same source as Chrome for desktop. Chrome for Android brings desktop-class browsing to mobile devices. We plan to continually evaluate applicability of other features from desktop to the mobile platform.

Is Canvas hardware accelerated?

Yes.

What about WebGL support?

WebGL is supported in Chrome for Android 30 and later.

Does Native Client work on Chrome for Android?

It does not, and we have no plans to announce at this time.

What is Chrome for Android’s User Agent string?

See the user agent article for an in-depth discussion.

Will Chrome Web Store be available on Android?

We have no plans to announce at this time.

Are you still working on the Android browser, or are you dropping support in favor of Chrome?

Android Browser and Chrome for Android are both derived from Chromium and already share a lot of code. We will continue to evaluate where it makes sense to harmonize our efforts; for instance, Google now has just one port of WebKit to maintain.

Will Chrome for Android work on my Android device?

Chrome for Android is supported only on Android 4.0 and higher.

Is Chrome for Android hardware accelerated?

Yes, hardware acceleration is an essential capability in Android 4.0 and is heavily utilized by Chrome for Android as well.

When will Chrome for Android launch in my country?

We are launching in a large set of countries and hope to expand it to other countries in the future.