[Update: Enforced on Chrome 91] Google Chrome Tab Group & Grid view permanently enabled with Android 12 beta 1 update, ability to disable it removed

New updates are being added at the bottom of this story…….

Original story (published on May 20, 2021) follows:

After working out on the Chrome Tab Group feature, Google began to roll it out widely across all the platforms for which the Chrome browser is available.

Ever since its inception, a lot of users have been seeking new ways to disable both Tab Group and grid view. Each update that aired overrides the disabling option, which is annoying.

It was speculated (Update 24) that Tab Groups/grid view feature are going to make way to the stable build. With this, there will no longer be an option to disable these features.

And looks like what users were dreading is finally going to come true with the Android 12 update.

A user on Reddit who has been testing Android 12 beta 1 confirms that the flags to disable the Tab Group and grid view have disappeared.

The flags that have been a great help in getting rid of the features will no longer be there with the new version of Android.

What’s disappointing is that even with complaints in high volume and a major chunk not liking the new addition, Google chose not to pay any heed to it and is pressing these features permanently.

The long episode of disabling and re-enabling will come to a halt with this, as it can not be disabled unless Google allows you to.

On the positive side, the Android 12 update is yet to cover a long distance before becoming stable and there is still a glimmer of hope. All users seek is an option to disable them.

There are some hacks and workarounds already available if you haven’t made the transition to Android 12 Beta 1 yet.

With controversies and debates increasing with every update, we expect this saga to continue. But of course, we will be trying our best to find a workaround and update you guys as soon as we have one.

IST 03:30 pm Google is enforcing the grid view of tabs on the latest version of Chrome. And there’s no way to change it, at least, not for now.

PiunikaWeb started as purely an investigative tech journalism website with main focus on ‘breaking’ or ‘exclusive’ news. In no time, our stories got picked up by the likes of Forbes, Foxnews, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Engadget, The Verge, Macrumors, and many others. Want to know more about us? Head here.