[Tip] Enable or Disable Bookmarks, History and Tabs Searching in Chrome Address bar

Google Chrome 106 and later versions come with a new feature called Omnibox Site Search Starter Pack or Omnibox Site Search Keyword Mode. This new search feature allows users to direct search inside their bookmarks, history or opened tabs using Chrome omnibox or address bar. This article will help you in enabling or disabling this new Site Search Keyword Mode feature in Chrome browser.

In newer versions of Chrome browser, you can type @ in the address bar and Chrome will show shortcuts to search bookmarks, history or running tabs for any desired term.

Following screenshot shows the new Site search keyword mode feature present in Chrome browser:

You can then select any option from the drop-down list and type your desired text phrase and Chrome will search for it in the selected category i.e. bookmarks, history or tabs.

Chrome also allows users to activate or deactivate these new site search shortcuts using Settings page. Just navigate to Chrome Settings -> Search engine -> Manage search engines and site search page and you’ll see all 3 sections (bookmarks, history and tabs) listed under site search section as shown in following screenshot:

Google is rolling out this new feature in phases and some Chrome users have already received this feature and some are waiting for it.

Chrome team has provided a hidden secret preference/flag to manually activate or deactivate this new feature in Chrome. Advanced users can modify this flag to enable or disable new Site search keyword mode feature in their Chrome browser right now.

Following steps will help you in enabling or disabling new Site search keyword mode feature in Chrome browser:

1. Open Google Chrome web browser and type chrome://flags/ in address bar and press Enter. It’ll open the advanced configuration page.

2. Now type @ in the “Search flags” box.

Look for following option in the result:

3. To enable the new site search feature in Chrome, select Enabled from the drop-down box for the above mentioned option.

To disable the new site search feature in Chrome, select Disabled from the drop-down box for the above mentioned option.

4. Google Chrome will ask you to restart the browser. Click on “Relaunch now” button to restart Google Chrome.

That’s it. It’ll immediately enable/disable site search keyword mode feature in your Chrome browser.

PS: In future, if you decide to restore default setting for this feature in Chrome, set the above mentioned flag to “Default” on chrome://flags page and restart your browser.

Also Check:

[Tip] Move Side Panel to Left in Google Chrome

[Tip] Enable or Disable New Downloads Flyout Button in Chrome Toolbar