That boils down to the fact that Google simply hasn’t included one. At the very least, not by default. But you can, in fact, turn on and set a home button in Google Chrome to any site you like. And that’s just what this guide sets out to explain.
Google Chrome used to have a home button and you may still find it useful
Now, Google Chrome did previously include a Home icon and button in the navigation pane. The button was removed in favor of simply sending users to the New Tab Page via the associated UI several years back. It’s also still present, at the top-left-hand side of the navigation bar UI on mobile. Of course, most users likely don’t mind the missing feature on desktop, as evidenced by Chrome’s placement among the best current browsers. But some absolutely do. After all, a Home button can be a useful browser feature to have. Just as any shortcut can be. Not least of all, that’s because — in most browsers — the home button can be customized. Specifically, so that it opens up whatever page you’d like it to open. Google has set the button to return users back to its New Tab page in Chrome. But that can be changed. So it is possible to set your most used page as the primary home page. That means, in turn, that whether you’re using Chrome for work or play, getting to the site you’ll likely need most is a one-tap or one-click affair. All without having to utilize the bookmark bar or type in a URL.
Get your home button back in Google Chrome
The first step in customizing your home button, however, is going to be getting the button back in Chrome. Google hasn’t necessarily made that the most intuitive process ever. But it is a relatively easy one as long as you know where to look.
Set a home page you’ll actually use
Like turning the button back on, customizing it isn’t necessarily the most intuitive process either. But, also like turning the button back on, it is fairly easy to accomplish. So let’s dive in. Now, if for some reason the page doesn’t set properly, there is most likely an issue with your entered URL. The easiest fix will be to use your usual method to manually reach the page you’d like to set — whether that’s via a Google search, the bookmark bar, or URL navigation. Then, copy and paste the URL from the Omnibox into the text entry field from the steps above.
Can you set a home page on mobile?
Of course, most Chrome users are likely accessing the browser from their smartphones. Fortunately, Chrome for mobile already features a home button icon at the top of the UI. However, it is also possible to change the default home page on mobile. So let’s take a look at how you can accomplish this on your smartphone.
