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If you have recently updated to Google Chrome version 69, you will have noticed the browser's interface has had a dramatic overhaul, changing from clean edges to subtle curves. If you’re not a fan of the new style, this article will show you how to change the 'New Tab' page back to the old layout from Chrome version 68, without losing any other features.
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Google Chrome’s browser interface has remained vastly unchanged over the last few years, with only minor cosmetic tweaks taking place. Most of Chrome previous material design changes were implemented behind the scenes and only affected Chrome’s settings menus. These changes were met with quite a lot of frustration from the community as some options were removed while others were moved to more difficult places to access.
For the release of Chrome version 69 things haven’t been any different with a large part of the Chrome community frustrated by the new material design layout. Although this change hasn’t been as dramatic as the previous settings menu change, it has changed some aspects that people use each and every time they open Chrome which does take a little getting used to. Thankfully, if you aren’t quite ready for this new Chrome layout, you can revert back to version 68s material design using the instructions shown here: How to Change Google Chrome’s Interface Back to the Old Style (version 68)
Although the above article will show you how to change the main interface back to the old squared edge style, it won’t automatically change everything on Chrome’s ‘New Tab’ page. So follow the steps shown below to revert Chrome’s New Tab page back to its old look prior to version 69.
How Do You Change Google Chrome’s ‘New Tab’ Page Back to the Old Style?
To change Chrome’s ‘New Tab’ page back to the old look after updating to Chrome version 69, you’ll need to do the following. First open Google Chrome, then open a new tab and type chrome://flags into the address bar and press Enter. Once you are on the main Chrome flags page click in the search bar and type ntp-ui-md. This will bring up several options, the option you need to change is called New Tab Page Material Design UI, so click the drop down box to the right and change the setting from Default or Enabled (it could be either) to Disabled.
Alternatively, you can enter chrome://flags/#ntp-ui-md into the address bar and go directly to the New Tab Page Material Design UI entry and Disable it from there.
Next, type chrome://flags into the address bar and press Enter. Once you are on the main Chrome flags page click in the search bar and type ntp-icons. This will bring up several options, the option you need to change is called New Tab Page Material Design Icons, so click the drop down box to the right and change the setting from Default or Enabled (it could be either) to Disabled.
Alternatively, you can enter chrome://flags/#ntp-icons into the address bar and go directly to the New Tab Page Material Design Icons entry and Disable it from there.
After you have made these two changes, click the blue Relaunch Now option to Restart Chrome. When Chrome restarts, you will have the old version back.
Note: Some search engines that are enabled to work from the search bar or as extensions may also affect how this feature works. For example, DuckDuckGo will lock your New Tab page to the old style automatically. If you have any other issues with the feature not changing, disable any Chrome themes or Stylus themes you may have enabled and try again.
As always Chrome usually gives you a few months of extra time using the flags menu rollback, however, the new material designs will eventually get forced on you. The only permanent way to stay on the current layout is to avoid updating to Chrome version 69 but this will eventually have security ramifications. Personally, I think it’s best to just accept the change and move on.
