Chrome on iPhone and iPad has a few time-savers that are easy to miss: swipe the edge of the screen to go back, pull down on a page to reload, open a new tab or close the tab, swipe the toolbar to switch tabs, add Chrome’s Home Screen widgets for one-tap search, and sign in to see your computer’s tabs on your phone. Each is below. If you don’t have Chrome yet, see our guide to Chrome for iPhone and iPad. For more, see our list of Chrome hidden features.
Swipe Gestures in Chrome iOS
These gestures are built in and on by default, so there is nothing to turn on:
- Navigate Forward and Backward: Swipe in from the edge of the screen to go back or forward a page.
- Refresh, New Tab or Close Tab: Pull down from the top of the page. Chrome offers three actions there: Reload, New tab and Close tab. Let go to reload, or slide sideways before letting go to pick one of the others.
- Switch Tabs: Swipe left or right on the toolbar to move to the next or previous tab. On iPad, swipe at the top, on the tab strip.
Handoff Between Chrome and Mac
Handoff lets you start something on one Apple device and continue on another nearby. Apple’s Handoff guide lists the settings:
Setting up Handoff
- Make sure Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are on, and both devices are signed in to iCloud with the same Apple Account.
- On your iPhone, open Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity (or AirPlay & Handoff) and turn on Handoff.
- On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings > General > AirDrop & Continuity (or AirDrop & Handoff) and turn on Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices.
- Open a webpage on your iPhone, then look for the Handoff icon in your Mac’s Dock to continue there.
Chrome Widgets for iPhone
Chrome’s widgets put search, incognito mode and voice search on your Home Screen. The widgets are Search, Quick Actions (search, Incognito search, voice search, Google Lens and a QR code scanner) and the Chrome Dino game. Here’s how to add one:
Adding Chrome Widgets
- From your iPhone’s Home Screen, touch and hold an empty area until the apps jiggle.
- Tap the Edit button at the top, then Add Widget.
- Scroll or search to find Chrome, tap it, and swipe through the widget options.
- When you see the size you want, tap Add Widget.
- Move the widget where you want it on your Home Screen and tap Done.
Voice Search in Chrome iOS
Voice search in Chrome for iOS lets you search by speaking. Here’s how to use this feature:
Using Voice Search
- Open the Chrome app on your iPhone.
- Tap the address bar or open a new tab, then tap the Microphone icon above the keyboard or on the new tab page.
- Speak your query clearly, and Chrome will display the search results. The first time, allow Chrome to use the microphone.
Improving Accuracy
For better voice recognition, ensure:
- Your microphone is not obstructed.
- You’re in a quiet environment.
Syncing Tabs with Desktop Chrome
Syncing your tabs between Chrome on iOS and your desktop lets you pick up where you left off. Follow these steps to sync your tabs:
Setting Up Sync
- On your iPhone, open Chrome and sign in with your Google Account if you haven’t already.
- Tap More (the three dots) > Settings, then tap the name of your account at the top.
- Turn on History and Tabs.
- On your desktop, open Chrome and make sure you are signed in to the same Google Account, with history and tabs saved to it.
- To view tabs from your phone on your computer, open
chrome://history/syncedTabs.