New gestures in update of Chrome for Android

November 26, 2020, by Santiago Comment

On October 1, 2013, Google Chrome for Android received an update that included support for various gestures or finger movements on the screen. The idea was to give “shortcuts” to the user to handle the browser somewhat faster. To this day, these gestures continue to work in the latest version of the browser, as well as others that have been added in the last six years.

Those gestures include one that lets you quickly switch tabs, preview tabs, manage, update, and zoom with one finger (even on websites that do not allow to enlarge their content).

1. Drag your finger horizontally on the top bar (for example, where you enter URLs) to switch to the previous tab or the next tab. In the latest versions of Chrome (EJ: version 86) you can also change tabs by sliding to the left or right of the screen in any area of ​​the page to go to the previous and next tab respectively. If you have gesture navigation enabled on your device, try to swipe just past the edge of the screen for the Chrome gesture to take effect.
2. Swipe vertically from the top bar down to enter the tab manager. It is the same result as when tapping the square button.
3. In that tab manager, long press on a tab to preview its content. Obviously this is useful from the second tab.
4. Press and hold on the tabs button (the square next to the three dots) to close a tab, open a new normal tab, or one in incognito mode. To close a tab you can also enter the tab manager and slide any one to the side.
5. Drag from the menu button (the three dots) down to open it and select any option (without lifting your finger). You will save a touch on the screen.
6. Swipe down on any area of ​​a loaded web page to update it.

Zoom

Double tap on the screen to zoom or enlarge and twice to unzoom. Now, if you keep your finger on the screen after the second tap, swipe up or down to adjust the amount of zoom.

If you come across pages that do not zoom, go to the Google Chrome settings (three-dot button, Settings), tap on Accessibility and leave the “Force zoom” box checked. Now you can forcefully enlarge the content of a website programmed to not allow that.

Despite doing the above, pages with content already adapted to the mobile screen, that is “adaptable” or “responsive” websites, will not zoom. If you want the zoom to work on them, you will have to activate the “Computer version” from the three-point button in Chrome.

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