[Tip] Add an Option to Toggle Aero Glass Frame On or Off in Google Chrome?

Recently we posted about a secret trick for Google Chrome to add a hidden “Purge Memory” button in its Task Manager window which can be read at following link:

[Tip] Add Secret “Purge Memory” Button in Google Chrome Task Manager

Today in this topic, we are going to share another secret trick to reveal a hidden option in Google Chrome. This trick will add a new option “Toggle Frame Type” in Chrome’s titlebar which will allow you to enable or disable Aero Glass transparency effect in Google Chrome window.

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Toggle_Window_Frame_Google_Chrome.png

By default if you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7 and if you are using Aero glass theme, Google Chrome window shows the Aero glass frame instead of its built-in window frame. But with the help of this secret trick, you can enjoy the built-in frame in Google Chrome even if you are using Aero glass theme in Windows.

Classic_Window_Frame_without_Glass_Google_Chrome.png

So if you also want to add this new option, check out following simple steps:

1. Right-click on Google Chrome’s shortcut and select Properties option.

2. Now you just need to add following text string at the end of the existing string present in Target text box as shown in following screenshot:

--debug-enable-frame-toggle

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Enable_Classic_Window_Frame_without_Glass_Google_Chrome.png

Make sure there is a blank space between existing string and your new string.

3. That’s it. Apply the changes and restart Chrome.

4. Now right-click on Chrome’s titlebar and click on “Toggle Frame Type” option and it’ll turn Aero glass off in Chrome’s window.

To again enable Aero glass mode, click on the option again. So it works like a switch to turn Aero glass mode on and off.

Published in: Google Chrome

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

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  1. ^^ No.

    @Asrin475
    Sure. Just put them one after other. Make sure to put a blank space between each of them. For example:

    chrome.exe –debug-enable-frame-toggle –purge-memory-button

  2. Is there anyway to get the toolbar / address bar transparent or glass effect ? like in FF

    thanks 🙂

  3. Can I do something like the opposite for WinXP? So my Chrome looks like the Islander theme I downloaded from DeviantArt.

  4. @NSDCars5 I’m guessing not. Windows Aero is handled a bit different than Windows XP’s theme, so prolly not.

  5. Now if there was a way for it to be forced to use the system msstyles in use by the system on any OS, that would be awesome.

  6. ^^ All such kind of parameters can be found in source code of Google Chrome:

    src.chromium.org/svn/trunk/src/chrome/common/chrome_switches.cc

  7. tried adding the command to shortcut on desktop, but their are parentheses around the target (“C:\Users\A.L. \AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe” when i add the text behind them nothing happens, when i add inside of them system says not a valid target. any ideas? thank you in advance . your site rocks – saved my bacon a couple of times now.

  8. ^^ Try to add the parameter after double-quotes as following:

    chrome.exe” –debug-enable-frame-toggle

  9. Is there any way to keep the frame toggled? Whenever I close Chrome and re-open it I have to re toggle it again :/

  10. hmm I seem to have the same issue as some others above. It doesn’t work for me. To bad, because I love the Glasmyfox ext for FF, and would love to have something like that for Chrome.

  11. Not a good idea to use in Windows 8.1 machine.. The title bar overlaid on the GC’s tabs/titlebar placeholder. So sort of like debugging win 98 app. Anyway, works like a charm in Windows 7.

    snap when I tried in Windows 8.1: 1drv.ms/1Eidy0j

  12. Seems the latest version of Chrome has removed this feature… as the debug doesn’t work any more (Windows 7).

    However, a workaround – if you install any AERO theme from the Chrome Apps store (doesn’t matter which one as long as it is an AERO theme) and then after installing it go into settings and under Appearance click the “Reset to default theme” button, this then reverts back to original Google and keeps the transparency.

    Have to admit I didn’t try the reverse (i.e. install non-AERO theme and reset to remove transparency) but from other sites on the web there is a specific .json file that governs this in all themes so in theory it should also work.

  13. It’s does work in Windows 10, but the frame is glitching out like this:

    i.imgur.com/XJFl3sj.png

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