For developers and advanced users seeking to test Chrome features or tweak browser behavior on Android, the chrome://flags/#enable-command-line-on-non-rooted-devices flag offers a powerful solution.

This feature allows you to pass command-line switches to Chrome without rooting your device, enabling advanced testing and customization.

What Is chrome://flags/#enable-command-line-on-non-rooted-devices?

This experimental Chrome flag enables the browser to read command-line arguments from a file on non-rooted Android devices.

By default, Chrome doesn’t process command-line switches on production builds unless the device is rooted or running a debug build.

Enabling this flag allows Chrome to read switches from a specific file, facilitating advanced configurations without root access.

How to Enable and Use the Flag on Android

1. Enable the Flag in Chrome

• Open Chrome on your Android device.
• Navigate to chrome://flags/#enable-command-line-on-non-rooted-devices.
• Set the flag to Enabled.
• Restart Chrome to apply the changes.

2. Prepare the Command-Line File

You’ll need to create a file named chrome-command-line in the /data/local/tmp/ directory.

This file should contain the command-line switches you want Chrome to use. The first line must start with an underscore (_) followed by the desired switches.

Example:

adb shell ‘echo “_ –disable-web-security –user-agent=CustomAgent” > /data/local/tmp/chrome-command-line’

This command disables web security and sets a custom user agent.

3. Force Stop and Restart Chrome

After setting up the command-line file, force stop Chrome to ensure it reads the new configuration:

adb shell am force-stop com.android.chrome

Then, launch Chrome as usual.

4. Verify the Applied Switches

To confirm that Chrome has applied your command-line switches, navigate to chrome://version in the browser. Look for the “Command Line” section to see the active switches.

 

 

Use Cases for Developers

Enabling command-line switches on non-rooted devices is particularly useful for:

• Testing Experimental Features: Activate features not yet available through standard settings.
• Custom User Agents: Simulate different devices or browsers.
• Disabling Web Security: Facilitate testing of cross-origin requests during development.
• Performance Tuning: Adjust settings like GPU usage or memory allocation for optimization.

Important Considerations

• Security Risks: Disabling web security can expose your device to vulnerabilities. Use caution and only in controlled environments.
• Stability Issues: Experimental flags may cause Chrome to behave unexpectedly. Monitor performance and disable flags if issues arise.
• Compatibility: Not all command-line switches are supported on Android. Test thoroughly to ensure desired outcomes.

Applicability to Other Platforms

While this guide focuses on Android, similar command-line configurations can be applied to Chrome on Windows and macOS.

However, the process differs and may require administrative privileges.

By leveraging the chrome://flags/#enable-command-line-on-non-rooted-devices flag, developers can unlock advanced testing capabilities on Android devices without the need for root access.

Always exercise caution when modifying browser configurations and ensure you understand the implications of each command-line switch used.