Chrome Tips: How to Auto Hide Download Bar in Google Chrome Browser
How to Hide or Disable Chrome's Download Bar: A Step-by-Step Guide
If you use Google Chrome as your web browser, you may have noticed that every time you download a file, a bar appears at the bottom of your screen showing the progress and status of your downloads. This is called the download bar, and while it can be useful for some users, it can also be annoying or distracting for others.
In this article, we will show you how to hide or disable Chrome's download bar using different methods. You will learn how to use extensions that can automatically hide or clear the download bar after a certain time, or how to disable it completely using Chrome's flags. You will also discover what are the benefits of hiding or disabling Chrome's download bar, such as saving screen space, protecting your privacy, and improving your browsing experience.
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Why You May Want to Hide or Disable Chrome's Download Bar
Chrome's download bar can be handy for keeping track of your downloads, but it can also have some drawbacks. Here are some reasons why you may want to hide or disable it:
It takes up valuable screen space, especially if you have a small monitor or use a laptop.
It shows sensitive information, such as file names, sizes, and sources, which can be seen by anyone who looks at your screen.
It interferes with other elements on the page, such as pop-ups, buttons, links, or images, making them harder to click or view.
It stays on your screen until you manually close it or exit Chrome, which can be annoying if you have multiple downloads or forget to close it.
If you want to avoid these issues and enjoy a cleaner and smoother browsing experience, you may want to hide or disable Chrome's download bar using one of the methods below.
How to Hide Chrome How to Hide Chrome's Download Bar with Extensions
One of the easiest ways to hide Chrome's download bar is to use extensions that can do it for you. Extensions are small programs that add extra features or functionality to your browser. You can find and install extensions from the Chrome Web Store, which has thousands of options for different purposes and preferences.
In this section, we will show you how to use three popular extensions that can hide Chrome's download bar in different ways. You can choose the one that suits your needs and preferences best, or try them all and compare their results.
AutoHideDownloadsBar
AutoHideDownloadsBar is an extension that automatically hides the download bar after a set amount of time or after the downloads are completed. You can also manually show or hide the download bar by clicking on the extension icon in the toolbar. This extension also displays notifications and shows the progress of your downloads in the icon panel.
To use this extension, follow these steps:
How to disable the download bar in Chrome browser
AutoHideDownloadsBar extension for Chrome
Autohide Downloads Bar extension for Chrome
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Go to the AutoHideDownloadsBar page on the Chrome Web Store and click on "Add to Chrome".
Confirm by clicking on "Add extension" in the pop-up window.
Once installed, you will see a blue arrow icon in the toolbar. Click on it to access the options menu.
Here, you can adjust the settings of the extension, such as setting the delay for hiding the download bar, displaying notifications, and showing progress in the icon panel. You can also enable or disable the extension from here.
Now, whenever you download a file, the download bar will automatically hide after the time interval you set or after the downloads are finished. You can also click on the icon to show or hide the download bar manually.
Autohide Downloads Bar
Autohide Downloads Bar is another extension that closes the download bar after a set amount of time. Unlike AutoHideDownloadsBar, this extension does not display notifications or show progress in the icon panel. It also does not have an option to manually show or hide the download bar.
To use this extension, follow these steps:
Go to the Autohide Downloads Bar page on the Chrome Web Store and click on "Add to Chrome".
Confirm by clicking on "Add extension" in the pop-up window.
Once installed, you will see a green arrow icon in the toolbar. Click on it to access the options menu.
Here, you can adjust the settings of the extension, such as setting the time interval for closing the download bar and enabling or disabling notifications. You can also enable or disable the extension from here.
Now, whenever you download a file, the download bar will automatically close after the time interval you set. You cannot show or hide the download bar manually with this extension.
Always Clear Downloads
Always Clear Downloads is an extension that clears completed downloads from the download bar every five seconds. This extension also allows you to exclude certain file types or domains from being cleared, so you can keep the downloads that you want. This extension does not have an option to manually show or hide the download bar.
To use this extension, follow these steps:
Go to the Always Clear Downloads page on the Chrome Web Store and click on "Add to Chrome".
Confirm by clicking on "Add extension" in the pop-up window.
Once installed, you will see a red arrow icon in the toolbar. Click on it to access the options menu.
Here, you can adjust the settings of the extension, such as excluding certain file types or domains from being cleared. You can also enable or disable the extension from here.
Now, whenever you download a file, the download bar will automatically clear after five seconds. You cannot show or hide the download bar manually with this extension.
How to Disable Chrome's Download Bar with Flags
If you want to disable Chrome's download bar completely, you can use Chrome's flags, which are experimental features that can change the browser's behavior. However, you should be careful when using flags, as they may cause instability, errors, or security issues. You should also backup your data and settings before changing any flags, and revert them if you encounter any problems.
To disable Chrome's download bar with flags, follow these steps:
Type chrome://flags in the address bar and press Enter.
Search for New Downloads UI in the search box at the top of the page.
Select Enabled from the drop-down menu next to the flag.
Click on Relaunch at the bottom of the page to restart Chrome and apply the changes.
Now, whenever you download a file, you will not see the download bar at all. Instead, you will see a small icon in the toolbar that shows your downloads. You can click on it to access your downloads page.
If you want to restore the download bar, just repeat the steps above and select Default or Disabled from the drop-down menu next to the flag.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to hide or disable Chrome's download bar using different methods. You have learned how to use extensions that can automatically hide or clear the download bar after a certain time, or how to disable it completely using Chrome's flags. You have also discovered what are the benefits of hiding or disabling Chrome's download bar, such as saving screen space, protecting your privacy, and improving your browsing experience.
We hope you have found this article helpful and informative. If you have any feedback or questions, please feel free to leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you!
FAQs
Here are some common questions and answers related to hiding or disabling Chrome's download bar:
How do I access my downloads if I hide or disable the download bar?
You can access your downloads by clicking on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of Chrome and selecting Downloads. Alternatively, you can type chrome://downloads in the address bar and press Enter. This will open your downloads page, where you can see all your downloaded files and manage them.
How do I restore the download bar if I change my mind?
If you have used an extension to hide or clear the download bar, you can restore it by disabling or uninstalling the extension. To do so, click on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of Chrome and select More tools > Extensions. Find the extension that you want to disable or uninstall and toggle it off or click on Remove. If you have used a flag to disable the download bar, you can restore it by changing the flag back to its default or disabled state. To do so, type chrome://flags in the address bar and press Enter. Search for New Downloads UI in the search box and select Default or Disabled from the drop-down menu. Click on Relaunch to restart Chrome and apply the changes.
How do I update or uninstall the extensions that hide or disable the download bar?
To update or uninstall the extensions that hide or disable the download bar, you can follow the same steps as above to access the extensions page. To update an extension, click on the three-dot menu icon next to it and select Update. To uninstall an extension, click on Remove. You can also check for updates for all your extensions by clicking on the three-dot menu icon in the top-left corner of the extensions page and selecting Update all.
How do I troubleshoot any issues with hiding or disabling the download bar?
If you encounter any issues with hiding or disabling the download bar, such as errors, crashes, or compatibility problems, you can try some of these troubleshooting steps:
Check if your Chrome browser is up to date and update it if needed. To do so, click on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of Chrome and select Help > About Google Chrome. Chrome will automatically check for updates and install them if available.
Check if your extensions are up to date and update them if needed. To do so, follow the steps above to access the extensions page and update your extensions.
Disable or uninstall any other extensions that may conflict with the ones that hide or disable the download bar. To do so, follow the steps above to access the extensions page and disable or remove your extensions.
Clear your browser cache and cookies, which may store outdated or corrupted data. To do so, click on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of Chrome and select More tools > Clear browsing data. Choose a time range and select Cached images and files and Cookies and other site data. Click on Clear data.
Restart your computer and try again.
If none of these steps work, you can contact the developers of the extensions that hide or disable the download bar for further assistance. You can find their contact information on their respective pages on the Chrome Web Store.
Are there any alternatives to hiding or disabling the download bar?
If you don't want to hide or disable Chrome's download bar completely, but still want to have more control over it, you can try some of these alternatives:
You can drag and resize the download bar to make it smaller or larger according to your preference.
You can right-click on the download bar and select Show in folder to open the folder where your downloaded file is located.
You can right-click on the download bar and select Pause, Resume, or Cancel to manage your downloads.
You can right-click on the download bar and select Open when done to automatically open your downloaded file when it is completed.
You can right-click on the download bar and select Always open files of this type to automatically open files of a certain type when they are downloaded.
You can right-click on the download bar and select Show all downloads to open your downloads page, where you can see all your downloaded files and manage them.