Google Chrome’s address bar (or omnibox, as Google calls it), might seem simple, but you can actually do a lot more with it than just search for your favorite website. Turns out the Chrome URL bar also comes with a number of handy features baked right in. It can complete unit conversions, talk to Google Gemini, and even turn a browser tab into a blank notepad.
Drag and drop words to search
One of the most useful methods for getting the most out of the address bar is actually related to how you search. Instead of copying-and-pasting a word into the address bar, just highlight it and drag it there instead.
It’s a great feature for when your hands are full, say if you’ve got one hand on the mouse and another giving your pet some well deserved scritches. Just highlight the word, release your mouse button, and click and hold on the highlighted word to drag it around.
Talk to Gemini right from the Chrome address bar
While some of these features have been around for years, this is a new one. Gemini has its own webpage, but Google has made it possible to talk to Gemini directly in Chrome’s address bar. All you have to do is type @gemini before your query, and the browser will open Gemini’s page and answer your prompt.
This feature is slowly rolling out to Chrome users, so it might not be available for you yet. But once it is, talking to Google’s AI chatbot will be even easier.
Get a blank notepad right in your browser
This secret is exceptionally useful if you take a lot of notes. You can actually open up a blank page in your browser at any point by pasting the following into the address bar:
data:text/html,
You can even add this page as a bookmark to make getting to it even faster. Just know that whatever you write won’t be saved once you close the page.
Convert measurements and temperatures
Say you’re working on a new recipe for a cake for your significant other. The recipe calls for one measurement type, but you need to convert that unit to another. While you could Google the answer, you can also just go to Chrome and type the conversion you need right into the omnibox, which will give you the answer before you even press enter.
Just open up your Chrome browser and type in something like “forty ounces = cups” without the quotations. Chrome will spit out an answer right there under the address bar. It’s handy if you need to convert several measurements at a time. The same trick also works with temperatures, distances, and more.
Search bookmarks directly
Another useful feature is the ability to search through your bookmarks directly from the address bar. Type @bookmarks, hit space, and enter the name of the bookmark you’re searching for. It’s useful if you have a lot of bookmarks and need to find something quickly.
Search websites for something specific
To search a website for something specific, you don’t have to rely on the search function built onto the site. Instead, open up a new tab in Google Chrome and type “site:sitename query.” For instance, to find Lifehacker articles about Chrome, simply type “site:lifehacker.com chrome” and press enter. Google will pull up a ton of results for the keyword, but just from the specified site.
Search Gmail and Google Drive more easily
This feature lets you set up Gmail and Google Drive as search engines in the address bar. This can make it easier to look up specific things in your Google Drive folders, since you won’t have to navigate to them manually.
Right-click on the address bar, then click manage search engines and sites. Now, navigate to the Site Search section and click Add. For Google Drive, add http://drive.google.com/?hl=en&tab=bo#search/%s as the URL. Then, enter @drive for the shortcut (or something similar), and name it Google Drive. Press Add once more to save the shortcut. Now enter @drive in the search bar and follow it with your query to search your files.
To do this for Gmail, follow the same steps as above, but add https://mail.google.com/mail/ca/u/0/#apps/%s as the URL.
Easily search your browser history and tabs
Google Chrome’s Omnibox can also find items in your history, assuming you don’t clear it too much for it to be useful. Just type @history before your query to search sites you’ve already browsed.
Alternatively, if you have a lot of tabs open and need to find something quickly, type @tabs and then your query.
Quickly start a new email
This is helpful for serial emailers: You can start an email from your default email client by typing mailto: in the address bar. This will automatically open a new email in the client you have set, so you can start composing an email without directly navigating there.
