How to Install and Use Google Chrome on Mobile Devices

Introduction

A web browser is a software program that enables users to access websites. When a user makes a request for a webpage on a website, the browser retrieves the content and displays it to the end user. Web browsers or browsers are used on many devices, ranging from desktop personal computers, tablets, and smartphones.
Communication technologies have been reshaped due to the transformation of mobile phones to smartphones. Many websites are now customized to display on smartphones, for easy access.

What is Google Chrome?

Google Chrome is a free browser. It was built by Google for accessing the internet and running web-based applications. Chrome can be used in Windows, Mac and Linus operating systems, likewise Android and iOS mobiles.
On February 7, 2012, Google launched Google Chrome Beta for Android 4.0 devices.On many new devices with Android 4.1 and later preinstalled. Chrome is the default browser for many Android phones. Google Chrome is based on the open source project Chromium but Chrome is licensed as proprietary freeware.
Chrome is also known for its cross platform synchronization, where users can have access to their history, bookmarks, and payment cards saved in Chrome when they use Chrome in mobile and personal computers.

Why Google Chrome?

There are a lot of web browsers with unique features, but Google stands out due to the factors discussed below.

Clean, Simple User Interface

Google Chrome has done away with many of the traditional context menus, settings options, and bookmark layouts. They have given users a genuinely fresh experience when surfing the web. You can rest assured when using Chrome that doing what you want with it is quick because you do not have to jump through hoops to get where you want to go. The clean interface makes that possible.

Searching From Address Bar

Google Chrome is the first web browser to introduce "Omnibar or Omnibox" where the address bar and search box serve as one. This concert was later implemented in other web browsers. For example,in the old browsers, you first visit the search engine by entering the address of the search engine you intend to use( example, google.com), before performing a search.

Tap and hold to search highlighted text

This feature allows users to highlight any text on a webpage,tap and hold it and perform a Google search without copying the text to the search box. This gives users more flexibility in search results.

Password protection

Chrome stores and protects user passwords.Users login credentials are autofill by using the autofill feature and monitors whether any have been exposed in data breaches. With this feature the user is not required to remember all passwords for every login details. The password manager is one the tabs in the Basic Settings that manages all your login credentials.

Incognito mode

Incognito mode is also known as private browsing. This is a browsing mode where the data filled in forms, browsing history, credentials, cookies, and sites visited are deleted from your device once the session is ended. Incognito mode protects your device and privacy.

Syncing across devices

This is turned on in the settings. This allows users to access their passwords, bookmarks, payment information and Gmail account on any device.

Dark mode

This feature reduces the amount of light that the eyes take in night time browsing. Chrome also lets users customize the browser with themes and colors.

Installation

Google Chrome is a fast, and free web browser with over 65% users both on mobile devices and on personal computers.

Installation Requirement

The following are requirements to install Google Chrome on your device.

1. Android Operating System must be Android 7.0 (Nougat) and up.
2. Play Store must be preinstalled on your device.
3. Email address with Google mail.

Installing Google Chrome on Android

Now that you have all the requirements for installing Google Chrome on your device, let's install the app with the below steps.

• Open the Google Play app on your Android phone.

• Search for Google Chrome. 🔍

• Select Google Chrome from the search results.
  

• Hit the Install button on the Google Chrome page.

• Google Chrome will download and finish the installation automatically.

• Hit the Open button once the installation is completed.

Google Chrome alternative

According to StatCounter in November 2022, Google Chrome will be the most widely used web browser, with 66% of the market. Though it is a widely used browser, there are alternatives on the market with almost equivalent features and design styles. Below are the list:

- Mozilla Firefox

Firefox is a free, open source web browser developed by Mozilla Foundation. Firefox was officially released in November 2004. Firefox can be used in Windows, Mac and Linus operating systems, likewise Android and iOS mobiles.

Mozilla Foundation is a nonprofit organization, therefore they are guided with sets of principles of not selling users personal data to advertising companies unlike other browsers.
Firefox is known for its security features that prevent organizations from profiling users based on their searches, softwares, and also features a pop-up blocker, anti-phishing and anti-malware warnings.

- Brave

Brave is a free privacy focused browser, was initially released 13 November 2019 (Version 1.0) Brave was developed by Brave Software, Inc. based on the Chromium open source project. Unlike other browsers Brave blocks by default the trackers & creepy ads on every website you visit.

Since most web pages are loaded with ads and cookies, it reduces the speed at which that page loads. But Brave on the other hand blocks ads and web crawlers by default enables users to view web pages faster and in turn saves data, and battery life.

- Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge was developed by Microsft, and initially release in 2015 as part windows 10 Operating System. Edge was initially built with Microsoft's own proprietary browser engine, EdgeHTML, and their Chakra JavaScript engine. Edge was rebuilt in 2018 by Microsoft, as part of open source a Chromium-based browser with Blink and V8 engines.

Edge uses Bing as its default search engine, With the new Bing, answers are just the beginning. Ask real questions. Make refinements in chat. Get comprehensive answers. Turn ideas into drafts.

Microsoft Edge security and privacy features such as Microsoft Defender Smart Screen, Password Monitor, In Private search, and Kids Mode help keep you and your loved ones protected and secure online.

How to Use Google Chrome

Now that you have installed Chrome to your device, it is time to be part of the users of the most widely used browser in the market,for free. It is time to know some basic functions of Google Chrome. Such as;

How to Search

Google Chrome uses the Google search engine as a default search engine, but this can be changed in the settings.
It’s time you carried out your first search on the app. Performing a search on Chrome can be done in different forms;

• Using your phone keyboard
• Using the microphone or camera option

Using your phone keyboard

On the search bar, type the text or web site you wish to visit and hit the enter key on your keyboard.

Use your camera & microphone

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app
• Go to a site that wants to use your microphone and camera.
• When prompted, tap Allow or Block.
  • Allowed sites: Sites can start to record when you're on the site. If you're using a different Chrome tab or a different app, a site can't start recording. Blocked sites: Some sites won't work if you block them. For example, you won't be able to join a video conference.

Check Google Chrome Help center for more information about your device.

Change a site's camera & microphone permissions

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
• To the right of the address bar, tap More (3 dot) Settings.
• Tap Site Settings under “Advance”.
• Tap Microphone or Camera.
• Tap to turn the microphone or camera on or off

Hint: If you see the site you want to use under Blocked, tap the site Access your microphone > Allow.

Use Tabs in Chrome

Tabs are like different pages of a book you can view with new contents. You can have as many tabs as possible while using Chrome.

Open a new tab.

• On your Android device, open Chrome.
• At the top right, tap the More > New tab +.

Hint: At the top of your Chrome window, you can also open a new tab when you tap [] > New tab +.

Close a tab

• On your Android device, open Chrome.
• At the top right, tap Switch tabs[] . Any open tabs will appear.
• At the top right of the tab you want to close, tap Close X.

Hint: You can also swipe to the right to close the tab.

Close all tabs

• On your Android device, open Chrome.
• At the top right, tap Switch tabs[]. Open tabs will display.
• Tap More > Close all tabs.

Switch to a new tab

• On your Android device, open Chrome.
• At the top right, tap Switch tabs[]. Any open tabs will appear.
• Tap on the tab you want to switch to.

Reorder Tabs

This option helps you to position tabs according to your preference.

• On your Android device, open Chrome.
• At the top right, tap Switch tabs[].
• Touch and hold the tab you want to move.
• Drag the tab to a different position.

Group tabs

This allows you to customize or bring related tabs together for easy switching between tabs.

• On your Android device, open Chrome.
• Tap Switch tabs[].
  • Create a tab group: Touch and hold a tab, then drag over another tab you want to group it with.
  • Add a tab to an existing group: Touch and hold the tab and drag it into the group.
  • View tabs in a group:
  • Tap Switch tabs[].
  • Select a group.
  • To remove a tab from a group:
  • Tap the tab group.
  • Touch and hold the tab you want to remove.
  • Drag the tab to the "Remove from group" area at the bottom of your screen.

Ungroup tabs

• On your Android device, open Chrome.
• At the top right, tap Switch tabs[].
• Open a tab group containing the tabs you want to ungroup.
• Touch and hold any tab, or tap More > Select tabs.
• Choose the tabs you want to ungroup.
• Tap More > Ungroup tabs.

Share tabs

• On your Android device, open Chrome.
• At the top right, tap Switch tabs[].
• Touch and hold any tab, or tap More > Select tabs.
• Choose the tabs you want to share. -Tap More > Share tabs.
• Choose where you want to share.

Google Chrome’s Features

It's time now we look round Chrome, and efficiently use its features like a pro. Below are the features of Google Chrome and guides on how to use them.

Incognito mode

Incognito mode is also known as private browsing. This is a browsing mode where the data filled in forms, browsing history, credentials, cookies, and sites visited are deleted from your device once the session is ended. Incognito, which only hides your privacy in your local device, does not hide you from the sites you visited, nor from your internet service providers(ISP).

How to use Incognito mode

• On your Android device, open Chrome.
• To the right of the address bar, tap More .
• Tap the New Incognito tab. Your browser will automatically open a new incognito tab with the incognito icon (glasses and a hat) in the top left corner.

History

As the name implies, keep a record of all web pages you have visited in the past 90 days. It does not store the web page on your device, nor keeps track of your private browsing or pages deleted from your browsing history. All your history can be synced across all devices you are signed in on Chrome if you sync your device.

Find your history

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
• To the right of the address bar, tap More > History
• To visit a site, tap** the entry**.
  • To open the site in a new tab, touch and hold the entry. At the top right, tap More > Open in a new tab.
  • To copy the site, touch and hold the entry. At the top right, tap More > Copy link.
• To find a specific site, tap the search icon 🔍 at the top right, then type the site name.

Clear history

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
• To the right of the address bar, tap More > History.
• Tap clear browsing history. -** Check** the box next to "Browsing history".
• Uncheck any other boxes you don't wish to clear.
• Tap Clear data. Hint: To clear out a part of your browsing history, Select dates next to “Time range” and All time to clear all history.

Remove a single site from History

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
• To the right of the address bar, tap** More > History**.
• Find the site, tap the X on the right side. Hint: To remove multiple sites, tap and hold, then select the sites and tap the trash bin on the right corner.

Downloads

Downloads keeps track of files (like pdf, doc, xle, and executable files), media (music, movies, etc) downloaded to your device.

Open Downloads

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
• To the right of the address bar, tap More > Download. Hint: To find a specific file or media, tap the search icon at the right of your screen

Share, Rename, and Delete Downloads

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
• To the right of the address bar, tap More > Download.
• Tap the on More to right of the file.
  • To share, tap share and select the platform or app you want to share with.
  • To Rename, tap rename and type the new name and tap Ok.
  • To Delete, tap delete and file is deleted from your device.

Change Download Location

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
• To the right of the address bar, tap More > Download.
• Tap on the settings icon at top right.
• Tap download location and select the location you want(removable media like SD card).

Bookmarks

As the name implies, it is a folder where you keep track of your favorite sites visited. This will make it easy to quickly launch sites you visit frequently with having to remember the site's URL.
Hint: If you are sync on other devices, Chrome will make available all bookmarks on your mobile device as well.

Add a bookmark

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
• Open the site you want to bookmark.
• To the right of the address bar, tap More.
• Tap *Star *⭐.

Open a bookmark

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
• To the right of the address bar, tap More , tap the bookmark.
• Find and open the bookmark you wish.

Edit, Delect, Move a bookmark to a different folder, and Rearrange

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.

• To the right of the address bar, tap More , tap the bookmark.

  • Edit: To the right of the bookmark(web site), tap More, Edit
  • Delete: To the right of the bookmark(web site), tap More , Delete. Hint: you cannot recover the bookmark you have deleted.
  • Move to a different folder:
  • To the right of the bookmark(web site), tap More , Move to.
  • Select the folder you want. Hint: If the folder is not created before, tap the + new folder, type the name
  • Rearrange:
  • To the right of the bookmark(web site), tap More .
  • Tap and hold the bookmark.
  • Move it up or down.

Share

his menu allows you to copy, or share a web page with other apps on your mobile device, such as Whatsapp, Facebook, Gmail, etc without going to the address bar to copy the URL.

How to share

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
• To the right of the address bar, tap More, Share.
• Select the app you want to use or tap copy to copy the URL

Add to Home screen

This menu also acts as a bookmark, but will rather embed the site to your mobile device home screen, for easy access to your favorite web pages.

How to add to home screen

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
• Open the web site you intend to add to your home screen.
• To the right of the address bar, tap More.
• Tap add to home screen, type the name you want.
• Tap add.

Desktop Site

This menu helps you view web pages on your mobile as though you are using a personal computer. This gives you another view of a site instead of the normal mobile view.

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
• To the right of the address bar, tap More.
• Select the box next to the Desktop site.
• Automatically the site will reload on its own.

Settings

The settings menu is one of the most important menus on the google Chrome app, where You can change your language, text appearance, and so many more.
The settings menu is divided into three sections; You and Google, Basic, and Advance.

You and Google

Sign in

This tab in settings allows you to sign in and manage the activities of your Gmail accounts.

Sync

As the name implies, once turned on, helps you to synchronize your activities on other devices you are signed in. such as bookmarks, history, passwords, open tabs, settings, payment methods, address, and more. You can choose what you allow Chrome to sync across your devices.

Google services

Google services
This tab in the settings menu gives you some advanced setups, like autocomplete searches, allowing Chrome to use your browsing statistics to improve your future search, and touch to search(when turned on, learn about topics on websites without leaving the page).

You can choose to turn on and off these setups as you choose to.

Basic

Search engine

Google is the default search engine for Chrome, but you may want to change your search engine to your preferred choice.

How to change search engine

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
• To the right of the address bar, tap More > Settings.
• Tap Search engine under “Basic”.
• Select the search engine you want as your default.

Password Manager

As the name implies, it is a tab in the menu settings that allows you to manage passwords saved on different webpages. This can be done by editing or deleting them if you think it is not safe on your device.

How to Add, Edit, and Delete passwords

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
• To the right of the address bar, tap More > Settings.
• Tap Password Manager under “Basic”.
• Add: tap the +, enter site, the username, and password, tap save.
• Edit: tap the site you want to edit, tap Edit and enter new password and username, tap save.
• Delete: tap the site you want to delete the password username, and confirm delete.

Hint: Chrome will ask for your device pin or biometrics before you can edit or delete a saved password.

Payment methods

This tab allows you to manage your payment systems such as bank debit or credit cards and E-wallets. You can add new cards and edit existing cards saved across your devices.

Add and edit, and delete cards

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
• To the right of the address bar, tap More > Settings.
• Tap Payment methods under “Basic”.
• Delete: Tap on the card you want to delete.
• At the top right, tap the trash bin.
• Edit card:Tap on the card you want to edit.
• Tap done.
• Add card: Tap + Add card and input cards details.
• Tap done.

Address and More

Filling forms online is a continuous thing one must do from time to time. The address and more tab helps you to store and add your name, organization, address, city, postal code, phone, and email you want to use to fill forms. These fields are auto filled once you are presented with any form.

How to Add, Edit and Delete

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
• To the right of the address bar, tap More > Settings.
• Tap Address and More under “Basic”.
• Add: Tap on the + Add Address.
• Fill the field, tap on Done.
• Edit: Tap on the old forms you want to edit.
• Fill the fields you want to change, tap on Done.
• Delete: Tap on the old forms you want to delete.
• At the top right, tap on the trash bin icon.

Hint: The auto fill must be enabled for new forms to be added if any of the fields change while filling a form.

Privacy and security

Chrome is not just for speed, but for your data safety, ensuring you are alerted for malware, risky extensions, and phishing or sites on Google’s list of potentially unsafe sites.

How to change your privacy and security.

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
• To the right of the address bar, tap More > Settings.
• Tap Privacy and security under “Basic”.

Safety check

Chrome can help keep you safe from breaches, unsafe websites and more. This is done by new updates of the Chrome version, password (checking weak passwords, compromised passwords, and reused passwords), and safe browsing(protection against dangerous websites, downloads, and extensions).

Once there is a password compromise, Chrome will prompt you for the breach.

How to do a safety check

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
• To the right of the address bar, tap More > Settings.
• Tap safety check under “Basic”.
• Tap Check now.

Notifications

This allows you to control the notifications Chrome and prompt or show on your device. You can turn on and off any of the sessions of notifications.

How to customize your notification

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
  • To the right of the address bar, tap More > Settings.
  • Tap Notifications under “Basic”.
  • Customize your notifications.

Theme

Themes allow you to choose how your Chrome app appears.

Choose a Theme

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
• To the right of the address bar, tap More > Settings.
• Tap Theme under “Basic”.
• Choose your style.

Advance

Home page

Home page is simply the page you open when you tap on home on the toolbar. You can choose which web page opens when you tab on the home icon.

How to set-up the Home page

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
  • To the right of the address bar, tap More > Settings.
  • Tap Home page under “Advance”.
  • Tap on the button next to Off to turn on.
  • Under “Open this page” select Chrome’s homepage or Enter custom web address.

Hint: Under enter a custom web address input the URL you want to use as a homepage.

Toolbar shortcut

As the name implies, it houses key shortcuts to basic tabs in the Settings menu.

Customize Toolbar

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
• To the right of the address bar, tap More > Settings.
• Tap Toolbar under “Advance”.
• Choose a shortcut

Accessibility

This is one the advanced settings in Chrome, that allow users to customize the appearance of sites on their device. This includes Text scaling(increase or decrease of a text size), Force enable zoom(override a website’s request to prevent zooming in), Simplified view for web pages(get notified when an article can be shown in simplified view), and Captions.

How to setup Accessibility

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
• To the right of the address bar, tap More > Settings.
• Tap Accessibility under “Advance”.
• Choose any of the accessibility you want to set up.

Site settings

The site settings tab is one of the most important tabs under Advanced Settings. This helps you customize what webpages can use, such as locations, camera, microphone, sound, and more.

How to setup site settings

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
• To the right of the address bar, tap More > Settings.
• Tap site settings under “Advance”.
• Choose any of the site settings you want to set up.

Languages

This setting gives you permission to choose your preferred language, and translation settings(this allows Chrome to translate other languages to your preferred language).

Language setup

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
• To the right of the address bar, tap More > Settings.
• Tap Language under “Advance”.
• Choose your default language.
• Tap + Add language (select from list of popup)

Hint: turn on translation settings to enable Chrome to render web pages in other languages to your preferred language.

About Chrome

This tab gives information about the Chrome version, Operating system, and legal information about the app.

How to navigate to About Chrome

• On your Android device, open the Chrome app.
• To the right of the address bar, tap More > Settings.
• Tap About Chrome under “Advance”.

Conclusion

Google Chrome is one of the most widely used free browsers today, for its simplicity and speed. Many Android Operating systems make it their default browser, due its high standard of security over the internet.

Chrome stores and protects user passwords.Users login credentials are autofill by using the autofill feature and monitors whether any have been exposed in data breaches. With this feature the user is not required to remember all passwords for every login details. The password manager is one the tabs in the Basic Settings that manages all your login credentials.

Chrome is also known for its cross platform synchronization, where users can have access to their history, bookmarks, and payment cards saved in Chrome when they use Chrome in mobile and personal computers.