[Tip] Enable Real Working Search Box on New Tab Page in Google Chrome

When you launch Google Chrome browser or open a new tab in Chrome, you get a a big Google Search box in the middle of the New Tab page. When you click inside the search box and start typing text, the focus is immediately moved to the address bar and all the text you type, is entered into the address bar instead of the search box.

Actually the search box present on Chrome’s new tab page is fake or dummy and doesn’t provide any functionality. It has been put on the new tab page to let users know that they can search on Google using the new tab page. But the actual search is done from the address bar.

If you are annoyed by this behavior and want to make this fake search box working on the new tab page in Chrome, this tutorial will help you.

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Newer versions of Chrome browser come with a hidden preference/flag which can be used to make the fake search box on new tab page fully functional. Once you enable this preference, the search box on new tab page starts working and allows you to type text inside it. The focus is no longer switched to address bar.

Following screenshot shows the real working search box on new tab page in Google Chrome web browser:

Real_Search_Box_Working_New_Tab_Page_Google_Chrome.png

If you also want to activate real working search box on new tab page in Chrome, following steps will help you:

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

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

It’ll directly go to following option:

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Real search box in New Tab Page
Enables a search box in the middle of the NTP that will accept input directly (i.e. not be a “fake” box). Search results will show below the non-fake input (“realbox”). – Mac, Windows, Linux, Chrome OS
#ntp-realbox

3. To enable real search box, select Enabled for Real search box in New Tab Page option from the drop-down box.

Enable_Real_Search_Box_New_Tab_Page_Google_Chrome.png

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

That’s it. Now try to type inside the search box on new tab page and it’ll accept the text input.

PS: If you decide to disable the feature, select “Default” option from the drop-down box and restart the browser.

Also Check:

[Fix] Restore Real Working Search Box on New Tab Page in Firefox 89 and Later

[Tip] Disable New Tab Hover Pop-ups and Restore Classic Tab Tooltips in Google Chrome

[Tip] How to Hide Bookmarks Bar on New Tab Page in Google Chrome

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.

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