[Tip] Restore HTTPS and WWW in Website URLs in Google Chrome Address bar

This tutorial will help you in showing full website URLs (containing HTTPS, WWW terms) in Google Chrome address bar.

If you use Google Chrome web browser and you upgraded to a new version, you might have noticed that Google Chrome no longer displays HTTP, HTTPS and WWW terms in the address bar URLs.

When you open a website in Google Chrome web browser and you type full URL of the website containing HTTPS and WWW phrases, Google Chrome automatically removes the phrases and just shows website domain name only.

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BONUS TIP: Click twice in the address bar and Google Chrome will reveal full URL of the website showing HTTPS, WWW and other terms as shown in following animated image:

Reveal_Full_Website_URL_Google_Chrome_Addressbar.gif

It might be very confusing and annoying for some users. Many users want to know what protocol (HTTP/HTTPS) is a website using and whether the website contains WWW in its URL or not.

If you want to restore HTTPS and WWW in websites URLs shown in Google Chrome address bar, this tutorial will help you.

Restore_Https_www_Website_URL_Google_Chrome_Addressbar.png

Fortunately Google Chrome comes with a hidden preference/flag to bring back the classic functionality and users can force Google Chrome to show full websites URLs containing HTTPS and WWW terms in the address bar.

PS: The URLs shown in Chrome’s address bar are called steady state displayed URLs and the HTTP/HTTPS are called URL scheme. WWW and other sub-domains are known as trivial subdomains in Google Chrome.

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Check out following steps to restore HTTPS and WWW terms in Google Chrome address bar:

UPDATE: Google has removed the preference/flag mentioned in this tutorial from Chrome 79 and later versions. There is a new preference/flag available to restore full websites URLs in address bar. You can read about it in following tutorial:

[Tip] Always Show Full URLs in Google Chrome Address bar

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 Steady in the “Search flags” box.

It’ll directly go to following options:

Omnibox UI Hide Steady-State URL Scheme
In the omnibox, hide the scheme from steady state displayed URLs. It is restored during editing. – Mac, Windows, Linux, Chrome OS, Android
#omnibox-ui-hide-steady-state-url-scheme

Omnibox UI Hide Steady-State URL Trivial Subdomains
In the omnibox, hide trivial subdomains from steady state displayed URLs. Hidden portions are restored during editing. – Mac, Windows, Linux, Chrome OS, Android
#omnibox-ui-hide-steady-state-url-trivial-subdomains

Omnibox UI Hide Steady-State URL Path, Query, and Ref
In the omnibox, hide the path, query and ref from steady state displayed URLs. Hidden portions are restored during editing. – Mac, Windows, Linux, Chrome OS, Android
#omnibox-ui-hide-steady-state-url-path-query-and-ref

3. To enable display of HTTPS, WWW and other terms in the address bar URLs, select Disabled from the drop-down box for all above mentioned options.

Restore_Steady_State_URL_Google_Chrome_Omnibox_UI.png

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

That’s it. Now Google Chrome will always show full website URLs in the address bar.

PS: In future, if you decide to restore default behavior, select “Default” option from the drop-down box for all options and restart the browser.

Also Check:

[Firefox Tip] Restore Green Padlock Icon for Secure HTTPS Websites in Address bar

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

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. It seems the latest Chrome update (v79) doesn’t have the mentioned flags and we no longer have any option to revert to Classic HTTPs/WWW URLs in the Chrome browser.

  2. EDIT: I installed Suspicious Site Reporter from Chrome Web Store and the browser shows https:// and www. again 🙂

  3. ^^ More complete url can be seen in Chrome 79 address bar if you download “Suspicious Site Reporter” extension from Chrome web store:
    chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/suspicious-site-reporter/jknemblkbdhdcpllfgbfekkdciegfboi

    For pages using https it’ll view the full url: https://www.askvg.com
    For pages having just http it’ll view: Not secure | http://www.askvg.com

  4. The flags are gone, it’s not acceptable for me as a dev and it’s the perfect reason to quit chrome and go back to firefox or even the new edge.

  5. IMPORTANT INFORMATION! It is still possible to get back “https://www.” syntax by installing Suspicious Site Reporter extension from Chrome Web Store 😉

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