Chrome and Chrome support command line flags, also known as switches. They allow you to run Chrome with special options that can help you troubleshoot, enable special features, or change default features. In this article, I'll share with you some switches or command-line flags that are useful for the Chrome browser.
Chrome command line switches
Here are some Chromium switches that you can use to enable or disable features.
- -Disable-sync
- -Allumer-activate-pilot
- -ALLOW-outdated-plugins
- -incognito
- -Disable-background mode
- -Disable outdated
- Button -purge-memory
- -Start-maximized
- -Disable-gpu
- –Disable-plugins
- -Dns-prefetch-disable
1) Temporarily disable synchronization: -disable-sync
If you do not want to sync everything with your connected Google Account, start Chrome with this indicator. It disables the synchronization of browser data to a Google account.
2) Enable Night Light: -ash-enable-enable-night-light
If you have to work in a dark environment, Night light helps you reduce eye strain. I strongly suggest keeping a shortcut dedicated to this.
3) Allow the execution of obsolete plug-ins: -allow-outdated-plugins
This is useful when a plugin version is broken and you need to continue using the older version.
4) Run Chrome in Safe Mode or Incognito: -incognito
To use Chrome without extension, add-ons, themes, and account, you can use this switch. It also ensures that no one follows your profile. Useful when you want to test something without the association of your account.
5) Disable background applications: -disable-background-mode
Useful when you want to make sure that Chrome's response is faster and that none of the background applications interferes with your browsing experience.
6) Disable Google Translate: -disable-translate
When you visit a website in a different language, Chrome prompts you to translate to the default language. You may know the language and do not need translation. By using this flag, you can disable the Google Translate feature.
7) Stop Chrome from monopolizing RAM: -disaster
Chrome is known to use a lot of RAM. If you want to prevent it from grabbing RAM, enable this flag. However, this only works in the development version of Chrome.
8) Start Maximized Chrome – Optimized Start
If you still want Chrome to be fully launched, be sure to add it to your shortcut. Generally, Chrome remembers the last position on the desktop and the size of the window.
9) Disable GPU -disable-gpu acceleration
Sometimes, when Chrome is having problems while playing videos, you need to turn off hardware acceleration. Use this indicator when launching Chrome.
10) Start with disabled plugins -disable-plugins
Although you can use incognito mode to experiment with Chrome without a plug-in, but if you want to use only without plug-in, the indicator will come into effect.
11) Disable prefetch DNS -dns-prefetch-disable
When a website loads in Chrome, the IP address is stored. So, next time, when you revisit the website, the resolution of the domain name to IP does not occur. Chrome will use the already available IP address to retrieve the website.
However, IP addresses may change and the website may offer more server IP addresses, which is closer to you.
12) Restore the last session being run: -restore-last-session
Sometimes, Chrome does not open the last session in case of a crash. If this happens often, add it as a permanent option in the shortcut
How to run Chrome with flags?
First, be sure to leave Chrome completely. You can use Task Manager to check and click the main task to make sure you close all instances of Chrome that are running.
- Then create a shortcut on the desktop.
- Then right-click on it and choose Properties.
- At the end of your "Target:" line, add the command line flags. You must add a double dash before the flag.
- Now, when you run Chrome, it will look like:
chrome.exe --disable-gpu-vsync - When you launch Chrome, it will launch Chrome with this flag.
Here is a pro tip. If you do not want to continue editing the shortcut, I suggest you try the same from the command prompt or the Run prompt. It will be much easier.
You Can Find More Chromium Command Line Switches right here.