Where to find Google Chrome browser settings. Setting up and managing Google Chrome

How to set up Google Chrome? This is the first question that comes to mind after installing Google Chrome. If you have asked yourself this question, then today on the pages I will write how to do it correctly.

It would seem that this browser could not be simpler, but it also has parameters, changing which significantly affects the behavior of this browser.

basic settings

All standard browser settings are located in one place, in the “Settings” item:

1. Let's start by working with tabs. First we need to decide what we will see when we open the browser. This could be a quick access page, a recently opened page, or a set of specific pages whose addresses must be entered individually.

For myself, I chose the second option; those who like to read news will appreciate the third option, but the first option is suitable for those who start every day with a clean slate.

2. After setting up work with tabs, you need to move the folder for downloading files to a drive other than the system one, for example to the drive "D". This is done in order not to lose downloaded files, then after reinstalling Windows they will remain on the computer.

To do this you need to climb into "Additional settings". They appear when you click on the link of the same name at the bottom of the main settings. Next you need to find the line "Downloads" and press the button "Change". Now select the appropriate folder on the disk "D" (example) and specify it as the location to download files.

3. Now you can change the appearance of the browser. You can find many colorful themes on the Internet, but if you want to create your own unique and inimitable theme, then it is very easy to do.

I wrote a short article about how , where I described the easiest way to create a beautiful theme. The entire process of creating a theme occurs in three steps. All you need is a few high-quality pictures and a little imagination.

The second thing regarding appearance is the visibility of the home page button and the bookmarks bar. Do not confuse the bookmarks bar (appears below the address input line) with the tabs bar (it’s at the very top), despite the similar names. Here the choice is up to your taste - click the checkboxes and try whichever you like best.

Additional settings

4. The choice of the main search engine is important. There are the most popular search engines to choose from, but it's easy to add your own. To do this you need to click on the button "Search Engine Management" and add your own version, taking other systems as an example, or, conversely, remove unnecessary ones.

If you are interested in how to customize it for yourself, then write it in the comments, since this plugin is aimed at the English-speaking Internet. I will be glad if you can offer him an alternative.

5. Adding multiple users can be useful if several people use the same browser. In this case, all settings, including plugins and bookmarks, will be individual for each user. To do this, it is advisable to have a Google account and sign in to synchronize all settings.

Why sign in to Google Chrome?

A Google account today provides many more options than it did five years ago. I will write a separate article about it, but for now I’ll talk about it in the context of Google Chrome.

When you sign into Chrome, Google saves all of your browser settings, such as appearance, installed plugins, bookmarks, passwords, and forms. This makes life very easy when reinstalling the system or when using multiple computers, since you don’t need to download and fill out anything manually, everything will be ready to go.

To work properly in the browser, you must first configure it. Initially, the browser, and in this article we will talk about Google Chrome, is configured the same for most users. The settings include many functions that allow you to improve your browser, since Google continuously collects statistics and data. Not all users like this type of fee. After all, only company employees know what data is sent by the browser about the user and his activities on the Internet and what then happens to it.

One of the famous browsers is Google Chrome. How to configure it so that further work does not cause inconvenience? Very simple. In the settings, we’ll turn off everything that might confuse or alarm us, go through all the settings and make the browser experience as comfortable as possible.

What is a browser

This is an application that allows you to visit website pages and view any content. A program that allows you to watch videos directly in the browser, download any interesting information and much more. There is simply an immense flow of information on the Internet, and our goal is to protect ourselves, our computer and our data from intruders in the Google Chrome browser. How can we configure it so that they cannot get into the computer and harm us? In the article you will find the answer to this question.

If you don’t know how to set up the Google Chrome browser, then let’s get started. After downloading and installing, when you open the browser for the first time, you will see a simple window (photo below). In the center is the Google logo, the search bar, and above the address bar, where previously it was necessary to write URL queries, but now this is the so-called smart line, which allows you to write there not only the exact address of the site, but also simply any queries, and the search will be carried out in the search engine. But more on that a little later.

Below the search bar there are quick access tiles, they are empty for now, but when you visit various sites, the most recently visited pages will be displayed there, which is very convenient.

Now let's go to settings

We click with the mouse on the button in the form of three horizontally located dots, a context menu will open in which we are interested in the “Settings” item.

Next you will see a window in which we will need to make changes to Google Chrome. How to configure the browser to work as efficiently as possible without causing inconvenience to the user? The main thing is to carefully read the description of the settings menu items and not be afraid to switch them. In any case, you can always return the browser to its original state.

More details on points

In the first point, we can synchronize our account in Chrome, thereby connecting Google Chrome browsers on other devices to our account.

Configure what exactly will open when the browser starts: a new page, a website, or previously opened tabs.
Here you can select a theme, if necessary, check the “Always show bookmarks bar” option, since you can configure bookmarks in Google Chrome in several ways. In this case, this panel will appear under the smart line.
Decide on a search engine. Here, if you are not satisfied with the Google search engine, you can switch it to another - Yandex, Bing or Mail. At your discretion.
Next, we can import bookmarks and settings from another browser into Google Chrome. How to configure - add, change or delete a user, as well as assign him an avatar from the proposed list? You can do it here.

At the very bottom of the page we need to click on the “Show more settings” link.
Then you have the opportunity to customize the content, clear the history, check or uncheck items about sending automatic statistics, protecting the device and turning on hints, check the “Remember passwords” option, and also select the page scale.
If necessary, you can configure proxy servers.
Change language settings.
Specify the path for downloading files. Check the “Always specify a location to download files” checkbox here. Then, every time you download, a window will open in your browser asking you to select a partition on your hard drive to save the files. Otherwise, the downloaded files will be saved in the Downloads folder on the system drive.
Configure certificates and virtual printer.
At the very bottom, the last item is the reset button. If the result you get is not satisfactory, you can always restore the default settings by using this button. Moreover, your bookmarks will be saved. But the settings will be reset to default.

Quick Access Settings

Exit and click on the “Setting and managing Google Chrome” button again. Here we see other sections.

Here you can configure Google Chrome tabs - open the page in a new tab or a new window.
The browser has the ability to open a window in incognito mode; this mode leaves no traces and does not save file history. This is relevant if you need to log into your account from someone else’s computer.
Section with settings for bookmarks, downloads and history.
You can also change the browser page scale here.
Print the page or save it in PDF format.

Customize your browser to suit your tastes

In the “Additional Tools” section you can install, download, and remove various browser add-ons and extensions. A huge number of interesting extensions can be downloaded by clicking on the “More extensions” button. The Google Chrome store has many free extensions, themes, applications and games that can be downloaded in one click.

But be careful, not all of them are safe, before downloading an unknown extension or theme, go to the official website of a particular plugin and read the reviews. It is not uncommon for malware to enter a computer via a browser with infected plugins and cause a lot of trouble for PC owners.

Google Chrome is considered one of the popular free browsers. Let's talk about the advantages and disadvantages of this program, and also discuss its installation, configuration and removal procedure.

Pros and cons of Google Chrome for Windows

Google Chrome is one of the most frequently downloaded browsers for Windows, along with Yandex.Browser, Mozilla Firefox and Opera. It is suitable if you have Windows 10, 8, 8.1 or 7 with a 64-bit system. It no longer works on Windows XP.

The advantages of Google Chrome include:

synchronization. A Google account helps you save information in your browser (bookmarks, passwords, browsing history, etc.) and transfer it to Google Chrome on other devices. You just need to log into your account and all the data previously saved in your account will appear in the program;
good page loading speed and traffic savings due to data compression;
Corresponding to each tab and window of a separate process. If one page freezes, the other will work without problems. There is no need to restart the entire browser;
Google Drive cloud storage and page translation using our own Google Translate service;
incognito mode. When enabled, all information about the sites you visited will not be saved. Your browsing history will be empty;
automatic update. The user no longer needs to constantly monitor browser updates.

There are downsides to every program. In Google Chrome they are as follows:

the browser monitors the user, collecting statistics about him;
most extensions are in English;
You cannot use your own background (images stored in the PC memory) as a screensaver.

How to download Google Chrome for Windows

It is better to download the installation file from the official Google resource, as this is a guarantee of security: the file will be virus-free.

System requirements

Google Chrome works stably on Windows OS if the computer meets the following minimum requirements:

Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 or later;
Intel Pentium 4 processor and higher with SSE2 support;
video memory VRAM 64 MB;
hard drive HDD 350 MB;
RAM 512 MB.

You can try to install Google Chrome on earlier versions of the OS, but remember that Google will not provide you with support if the program crashes. The browser will be unstable on older versions of Windows, in particular XP.

How to find out the version and language of the installed file

If the installer is downloaded from an official resource, then you won’t be able to find out the browser version right away. After installation, all the necessary information can be found in the “About the Google Chrome browser” section.

Go to About Google Chrome Browser to see the version number

You can find your browser version number on third-party websites that offer Google Chrome installer downloads.

It is not recommended to download the Google Chrome file from other sources. Only in extreme cases, when you need a specific version of the browser, you can turn to third-party sites.

The situation is different with the language of the installed file. It is mentioned in the address of the page from which the installer is downloaded.

The installer language is visible in the address of the installer download page

To change the language, go to the bottom of the page. In the right corner you will find the language menu. Select the one you need, for example, Russian. The page will automatically reload and switch to the site format in Russian.

Select installer language

Step-by-step installation instructions

So, let's move on to downloading and installing Google Chrome:

Using another browser, go to the official Chrome website. Click on the blue “Download Chrome” button.
Click on the blue “Download Chrome” button
Check the box next to “Automatically send usage statistics and crash reports to Google.” Click on the “Accept the terms and install” button.
Confirm that you accept the Google Chrome Terms of Service Agreement
In the downloads, find the ChromeSetup installation file and open it.
Open the ChromeSetup installation file
The PC system will ask you to confirm that you allow the application to make changes on your device. Click on the "Yes" button.
This will start downloading the files needed to install Google Chrome. Then the browser will automatically install itself on your PC. After that it will automatically open.

Video: How to install Google Chrome for Windows

How to set up and use Google Chrome

Customize Google Chrome to suit you. This is quite easy to do, since the program interface is concise and understandable. Let's look at the most interesting and popular parameters and features.

How to open, close, or pin tabs

You can open many pages in one Chrome window. To make a new tab, left-click on the rectangle located next to the last open page at the top of the window, where the resource names are located.

Open a new tab by clicking on the quadrilateral

To close a tab, just click on the cross in the upper right corner.

If the tab is pinned, it will open every time you launch the Chrome browser. To secure it, do the following:

How to Bookmark in Chrome

Bookmarks are pages pinned by the user to which he has quick access. The bookmarks bar is located below the address bar.

The bookmarks bar is located under the address bar in the Chrome window

You can pin the desired page to the panel as follows:

Video: Google Chrome basic settings

Where to get extensions

Extensions are mini-programs for the browser. A special online store has been created for Google Chrome, where you can find all the necessary add-ons. They are both paid and free.

To go to this store:

Open your browser menu and go to "More Tools" and then to "Extensions."
Open extensions section in Chrome
Click on the "Extensions" menu in the upper left corner.
Open the menu in the extensions tab
At the bottom, find the link “Open the Chrome Web Store” and click on it.
A new tab will open in which you can already select extensions. Enter your query into the search bar, for example, “Visual bookmarks.”
Enter your request and click Enter on your keyboard
In the search results, select the appropriate option and install the extension by clicking “Install”.
Click on the blue “Install” button
Confirm installation. The extension will be immediately downloaded and installed within a few seconds.
Confirm the installation of the required extension
An instruction window will open in which a mini-program will greet you. Click on "Next".
Read the mini-program instructions and click “Next”
Click on "Start using".
Click on "Start using"

How to configure hidden settings

In addition to the main settings, in Chrome you can open the so-called hidden settings. They are located at: chrome://flags.

Hidden settings are options that have not yet been introduced into the main functionality of the browser, but are considered experimental and are under development. Changing them can lead to malfunctions in the browser, so you should not change them thoughtlessly.

Let's look at a few of these options:

How to reset all settings

If some program has changed your Chrome browser settings, you may need to reset your browser. It is performed as follows:

Open Chrome on your PC.
Click on the browser menu in the upper right corner (three vertical dots). Select "Settings".
Select the "Settings" section
Scroll to the bottom of the page with the main options and click on the “Advanced” link.
Click on "Advanced"
Go to the very bottom of the page again. Click on “Reset settings”.
Click on “Reset settings”
Confirm that you want to reset all Chrome settings to default.
Confirm factory reset

Which options will go into the default state:

home page;
pinned tabs;
quick access page;
extensions and themes;
cookies and data (products in the shopping cart of online stores);
content settings (pop-up blocking, etc.);
search engine (will be Google again).

Video: How to reset Google Chrome settings

What to do if you encounter a problem while working in the browser

Any program can fail. Google Chrome is no exception, but often the reason lies in problems on the PC itself (viruses; third-party software that changes browser settings; incorrect date and time, etc.) or in a full browser cache. Let's look at the most popular browser failures.

Extensions are not installed

The browser may refuse to install extensions through the official online store. Let's look at all six common reasons and solutions arising from them:

Incorrect date and time on PC. The solution is to install the right ones. It is recommended to enable the “Set time automatically” function. To do this, in Windows 10 you need to go to the “Date and Time” section of Windows Settings and move the “Set time automatically” slider to the on position;
Set the correct date and time
Browser cache is full. Clear Chrome of accumulated files: cache, cookies, browsing history, etc. Do this in the “Clear browsing data” section in the “More tools” of the Chrome menu;
Delete unnecessary files in the cache and browsing history
malware. Scan your PC for viruses using your antivirus. If viruses are found, remove them and try installing the extension again;
blocking the installation by your antivirus. It may consider extensions to be malware and, accordingly, block their installation. The solution is to temporarily disable the antivirus. However, do not forget to turn it back on again;
blocking installation by other programs. Download the Chrome Cleanup Tool app from the official website. The program will scan the system and remove software that interferes with the browser;
Download Google's system scanning app
active compatibility mode. Extensions may not install if you previously enabled compatibility mode. Disable it in browser properties. To open this window, right-click on the shortcut and select the last partition.
Turn off Compatibility Mode in Internet Options

Video: solving a problem with installing an extension

Doesn't save passwords

If the Chrome browser stops saving passwords and you have to re-enter them every time, most likely the settings in the browser that are responsible for passwords have gone wrong.

Open the Settings section in Google Chrome using the menu button.
Find the “Passwords and Forms” block in the tab that opens. Click on "Password Settings".
Find the "Passwords and Forms" section
Turn on the “Offer to save passwords” and “Automatic login” options.
Enable saving passwords and automatic login to your accounts on websites
At the bottom of the page, find a list of sites for which passwords are not saved. Make sure your site is not there. If there is, delete by clicking on the cross. Close the tab - the changes will take effect. Passwords will now be saved in your Google Chrome browser.
See if the site is on the list of resources for which saving passwords is disabled

How to fix the “Your connection is not secure” error

Most sites now use a secure HTTPS connection, but it requires a certificate. The Chrome browser checks for the presence of these certificates. If it is missing or has expired, access to this site is restricted and the message “Your connection is not secure” appears.

The message “Your connection is not secure” may appear due to the lack of a security certificate for the site

However, this problem may not be due to a missing certificate.

If you are sure that the site is safe, click on the “Advanced” link, and then on “Go to site”.

Click on “Go to site”

How to remove Chrome

If you don't like the Chrome browser, you can remove it from your computer. There are two ways to do this. Let's look at each of them in detail.

Using built-in Windows tools

The simplest, fastest and most well-known way to get rid of a program is to use the built-in Windows tools. The disadvantage of this method is that there is no guarantee that browser-related files (registry entries, temporary browser files, etc.) will not remain in the PC memory.

Close the Google Chrome browser.
In the Start menu, search for "Programs and Features."
Select "Moderate" or "Advanced"
Click on "Select All" and then on "Delete".
In the next window, the program will offer to delete residual files (registry entries). Also click on “Select All” and “Delete”. Click on "Next". The program will complete the complete removal of Google Chrome files from your PC.
Click on “Select All” and then on “Delete”

Video: how to completely remove Google Chrome

The Google Chrome browser has more advantages than disadvantages. However, for some users these disadvantages may seem significant. The browser interface is laconic. It's also fairly easy to set up. This is what attracts PC users. It is better to install it from an official source. If you don't want to use Google Chrome but have already downloaded it on your PC, uninstall it using Revo Uninstaller to get rid of any residual registry files associated with it.

To make it more convenient to work with the Internet, you need to understand the capabilities of the browser. In this article we will look at the Main menu of the Google Chrome browser. This will allow you to understand in general terms what and where can be configured in order to at least know in the future the direction of searching for optimization or eliminating what is interfering. Moreover, with Google Chrome, not everything is as obvious as with Internet Explorer, which is the main browser of Microsoft Corporation.

In order to open the Main menu of the Google Chrome browser, you first need to find it. It is located in a tricky place: at the end of the address bar and opens by left-clicking on the three vertical dots icon:

Contents of the Main Menu of the Google Chrome Browser

Let's see what items the Main menu of the Google Chrome browser consists of:

Working with windows and tabs:

« New inset» - Creates a new tab in the browser (hot keys Ctrl+T)
« New window» - Creates a new browser window (hot keys Ctrl+N)
« New window in incognito mode" - Creates a new browser window in incognito mode (hotkeys Ctrl+Shift+N)

Working with browsing history, downloads and bookmarks:

« Story» is a composite menu item. Opens the history of visited pages (hot keys Ctrl+H)
« Downloads" - opens a window for working with downloaded files (hot keys Ctrl+J)
« Bookmarks» is a composite menu item. To work with browser bookmarks.

Working with the scale of the displayed page:

« Scale» - allows you to scale the displayed page, and also opens a full-screen display mode.

Working with the page and external devices:

« Seal...» - opens a dialog box for preparing a page for printing (hot keys Ctrl+P)
« Broadcast..." - opens a dialog box for preparing the page for broadcasting to external devices (for example, to a TV)
« Find..." - opens a text input field to search for it on the page (hot keys Ctrl+F)
« Additional tools...» is a composite menu item. To save the page and work on debugging it.

Working with page content:

« Change»
« Cut»
« Copy»
« Insert»

Browser settings and help:

« Settings» - opens browser settings for viewing and changing them
« Reference» - opens a page with instructions and tips on how to work with the browser.

Exit:

« Exit" - closes the browser window. (hot keys Ctrl+Shift+Q)

It might be useful to read: