Force Microsoft Internet Explorer to Always Use Google Chrome Frame to Open URLs

Recently Google released a plug-in for Internet Explorer which allows users to enjoy Google Chrome's rendering engine inside IE. That means you can enjoy Google Chrome's faster browsing speed, open web technologies like HTML5, etc in Internet Explorer.

This plug-in is called "Google Chrome Frame" and can be downloaded using following link:

Download Google Chrome Frame for IE

It supports all IE versions including IE6 and can be installed in Windows XP and later.

The only problem in using this plug-in is, the webpage should contain a pre-defined meta tag so that Google Chrome Frame can detect it and allow IE to use its rendering engine. The meta tag is as following:

<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="chrome=1">

But not every site is using this particular meta tag atm, so you can't enjoy Google Chrome Frame for each and every site.

But no need to worry. Here is a simple solution.

Force IE to use Google Chrome Frame if the Site doesn't carry meta tag:

You just need to add a prefix cf: in the site URL and it'll force IE to use Google Chrome's rendering engine to open that URL.

For example, if you want to open http://www.askvg.com in IE but want to use Google Chrome's rendering engine, you'll need to enter following URL:

cf:http://www.askvg.com

It'll force IE to use Google Chrome's rendering engine:

As you can see, if we right-click in the webpage, we can notice clearly that IE is using Google Chrome Frame.

Now if you don't want to add the prefix cf: each time you open a webpage, here is another solution!

Force IE to use Google Chrome Frame without need of cf: Prefix:

You'll need to edit Registry and add a new key which will force IE to open all URLs using Google Chrome's rendering engine without adding any prefix.

1. Type regedit in RUN or Startmenu searchbox and press Enter. It'll open Registry Editor.

2. Now goto:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\ChromeFrame

3. Under this key, create a new key OptInUrls. In right-side pane, create a new String value and set its name to *

That's it. If you want a ready-made registry script to do the task automatically, download following ZIP file, extract it and run "Force Internet Explorer to Always Use Google Chrome Frame.reg" file:

Download Registry Script

It'll add the required registry key and you'll be able to enjoy Google Chrome inside IE without any hassle.

The ZIP file also contains an uninstallation script to restore default settings.

You can also disable Google Chrome Frame plug-in in IE to restore default settings. Just goto "Tools -> Manage Add-ons", select "ChromeFrame BHO" and click on "Disable" button.

Restart IE and it'll stop using Google Chrome Frame.

So now you can use Google Chrome inside IE by installing "Google Chrome Frame" plug-in and the registry script mentioned above.

Thanks to "Amit" @ Digital Inspiration for this info...

NOTE: If you face any problem while using this method, try following:

1. Again open regedit and goto following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\ChromeFrame

2. In right-side pane create following DWORD values:

UseChromeNetworking
HandleTopLevelRequests

And set their values to 0

Complete list of AskVG articles

This article was posted in Browsers, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Troubleshooting.

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18 Comments

SCBright

I could not notice any speed improvement and, I had the following problems:
* all the accelerators of IE8 left
* the context menus were in English
* IE8 locked several times
And as you can see above, even the "Submit Comment" button was not properly working.

VG my sincere apologies to have repeated the comments, the problem was with the button "Submit" that didn't work
VG

^^ Once you switch to Google Chrome Frame, it'll use all Google Chrome features instead of IE. You can disable the plug-in if you face problems.
SCBright

I already did, anyway thanks for sharing.
Joshua

Two important pieces of information regarding Chrome Frame.

1) using cf: is great for a single page but as soon as you click on a link in that page it take you to the non Chrome Frame page.

2) using the Registry entry for OptInUrls you can not only specify to use the Chrome Frame for all sites but you have the option to list specific URL's or domain patterns to use instead.

For example: If you want all google related sites to use the Chrome frame but other sites to use the regular IE browser, you would have a registry entry like this.

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\ChromeFrame\OptInUrls]
"*google*"=""

You have the option to list as many web sites or domains as you like.
For example:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\ChromeFrame\OptInUrls]
"*.google*"=""
"www.yahoo*"=""
"www.askvg.com"=""
VG

^^ Indeed. Thanks for sharing your information.
Joshua Issac

Chrome Frame disables IE add-on effects in that tab, and continues working even after I have disabled it!

http://i35.tinypic.com/2rc07yo.png

The "chromeframe" part is not present in the user agent, but it shows "About Chrome Frame" in the context menu.
young

Hey,

I noticed after this mod was applied, I noticed that I couldn't see/preview other Web pages when I would hover over the IE8 icon on the taskbar. Is there another mod available or is this something that I have to live with?

Have a good one.

-young
sreemanth

How to change chrome language setting(english to french) in IE(IE7 installed chrome plugin)?
if i change in tools of IE it is not affecting chromeframe language.