Google Chrome’s Download Bubble[ chrome://flags/#download-bubble] is a new interface that replaces the traditional download bar at the bottom of the browser with a download icon in the top-right toolbar.
When you download a file, clicking that icon reveals a floating bubble that shows recent downloads.
This new design is cleaner and less intrusive, but many users find it inconvenient compared to the classic download shelf, which gave more immediate visibility to individual downloads, including their progress, file names, and quick access buttons.
Why Did Chrome Replace the Downloads Bar?
Google introduced the Download Bubble as part of a broader effort to modernize Chrome’s user interface and unify it with similar features in other browsers like Microsoft Edge.
However, the change sparked a lot of feedback from both casual users and developers who preferred the functionality and visibility of the older bar.
Can You Revert to the Classic Download Bar?
You used to be able to switch between the two interfaces using an experimental feature flag (chrome://flags/#download-bubble).
However, this option was removed starting with Chrome version 119.
If you’re using Chrome 118 or earlier, you can still access and modify this flag to change the download UI.
How to Enable or Disable the Download Bubble (Chrome Versions Before 119)
If you’re using Chrome 118 or earlier, follow these steps to toggle the Download Bubble:
Step-by-Step Instructions (Windows, macOS, Chrome OS)
1. Open Chrome
Launch the Chrome browser on your computer.
2. Go to the Flags Page
Type or paste the following into the address bar and press Enter. If you’re unfamiliar with Chrome Flags, they are experimental settings used to test new features.
bash
CopyEdit
chrome://flags/#download-bubble
3. Locate the Download Bubble Flag
You will see two related flags:
- Enable download bubble
- Enable download bubble V2 (if available)
4. Change the Flag Settings
- Set both flags to Disabled to restore the classic downloads bar.
- Set them to Enabled to use the new download bubble UI.
5. Relaunch Chrome
Click the Relaunch or Restart button at the bottom of the flags page to apply the changes.
Platform-Specific Screenshots & Notes
On Windows
- Navigate to chrome://flags/#download-bubble
- Disable the relevant flags
- Click Relaunch
- Your downloads will now appear in the classic bottom bar (if supported)
On macOS
- Follow the same steps as Windows
- Chrome on macOS supports the same flags interface
On Chrome OS (Chromebooks)
- Use the built-in Chrome browser
- The flags page is identical to Windows/macOS
- Changes apply immediately after relaunch
| Chrome Version | Can Disable Bubble? | Flag Available? | Workaround |
| Chrome 118 or earlier | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Use chrome://flags |
| Chrome 119+ | ❌ No | ❌ Removed | None officially supported |
Chrome on Android – Not Applicable
On Android, Chrome does not use either the download bubble or download bar.
Downloads are managed through system notifications and the Chrome download manager. The chrome://flags/#download-bubble flag does not exist on Android.
As of Chrome 119 and Later
The option to toggle the Download Bubble has been removed in Chrome 119 and newer versions.
You will no longer find the flag in chrome://flags, and command-line workarounds no longer function as of Chrome 121.
The bubble UI is now the default and cannot be turned off without using third-party extensions or downgrading (not recommended).
Related Experimental Features
If you’re exploring other Chrome flags, here are a few you might find useful:
- Force Dark Mode
<a href=”chrome://flags/#enable-force-dark“>chrome://flags/#enable-force-dark</a>
What it does: Forces a dark theme on all web content, even if the site doesn’t support dark mode. Useful for testing how your pages render under dark conditions.
- Allow Insecure Localhost
<a href=”chrome://flags/#allow-insecure-localhost“>chrome://flags/#allow-insecure-localhost</a>
What it does: (Removed in Chrome 119) Used to let Chrome ignore SSL certificate errors for https://localhost, easing local HTTPS development with self-signed certs.
- ASH Debug Shortcuts (Chrome OS)
<a href=”chrome://flags/#ash-debug-shortcuts”>chrome://flags/#ash-debug-shortcuts</a>
What it does: Enables extra keyboard shortcuts in Chrome OS’s Ash window manager—handy when debugging Chrome OS UI or running in developer mode.
- Command-Line Flags on Non-Rooted Android
<a href=”chrome://flags/#enable-command-line-on-non-rooted-devices“>chrome://flags/#enable-command-line-on-non-rooted-devices</a>
What it does: Allows you to launch Chrome on non-rooted Android devices with custom command-line arguments (e.g., –ignore-certificate-errors), bringing desktop-like flexibility to mobile testing.
