How to Hide the Chrome Address Bar Without Fullscreen

Chrome always shows the address bar at the top of the window. You cannot fully hide it the way some apps do, but there are two clean ways to get it out of the way without pressing F11 to go fullscreen.

Option 1: Install the Page as an App

When you install a website as an app in Chrome, it opens in its own window without the address bar. This works especially well for tools you use every day, like Gmail, Notion, or YouTube.

1. Open the website you want to use.
2. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of Chrome.
3. Click Save and share, then select Install page as app.
4. Give it a name and click Install.

The site will now open in a separate app window with no address bar, bookmarks bar, or tab strip.

Option 2: Use a Keyboard Shortcut on Chromebook

On a Chromebook, you can hide the browser toolbar using a window mode that does not go full screen. This keeps your taskbar visible at the bottom while removing the Chrome UI at the top.

1. Open Chrome on your Chromebook.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + F to toggle the compact window mode.

The address bar and tab strip disappear, but the window stays in its normal size. Press the same shortcut again to bring them back.

Option 3: Use the Kiosk-Style Flag (Advanced)

Note: Flags are experimental features and can make Chrome unstable. If Chrome behaves unexpectedly after enabling a flag, return to chrome://flags and click Reset all.

1. Type chrome://flags in your address bar and press Enter.
2. Search for Chrome Refresh 2023 or toolbar to explore relevant experimental UI options.
3. Look for display or toolbar flags and experiment with enabling or disabling them.
4. Click Relaunch to apply changes.

Quick Tips

• The “Install as app” method is the cleanest option for a distraction-free experience.
• On Windows and Mac, you can also try Ctrl + Shift + F in some Chrome versions to trigger a compact mode.
• Extensions like Immersive Reader can also hide browser UI when reading articles.

Installing a page as an app gives you the closest thing to a hidden address bar in Chrome, without any experimental settings or full-screen mode.