The update to Chrome 145 is reaching Android devices worldwide as we speak, bringing with it a novelty that might escape a first distracted glance but that changes the aesthetic of one of the browser’s most-used elements: the address bar.
Google has in fact decided to intervene on the Home icon, that small house-shaped symbol placed at the far left of the Omnibox, introducing a restyling that aims for greater definition and uniformity with the desktop counterpart.
Google Chrome, here is the new Home icon on Android
The new icon presents with much more defined strokes compared to the past. If the previous version was characterized by soft corners and rounded lines that suggested a stylized and almost abstract representation of the home, the new glyph adopts a more geometric and rigorous approach.
Upon closer inspection you can notice how the roof is now perfectly flush with the side walls of the structure, eliminating the protrusion that characterized the old design.
Perhaps the most curious detail is certainly the addition of a door. Where before the entrance was only suggested by the overall shape, it now appears as a defined rectangle that further reinforces the icon’s link to the physical concept of “home”.
Some users might find the previous incarnation more modern in its simplicity, but the new version boasts superior readability.
Consistency Across Platforms
This change isn’t new in Google’s ecosystem. Those who use Chrome on PC daily will probably already recognize the new symbol, since this style has been present on the desktop version for some time.
The move by Google seems thus aimed at creating a more coherent user experience, where graphical elements remain identical regardless of the device used. Aligning the mobile interface with the desktop one reduces friction for those who frequently switch from smartphone to PC, consolidating the company’s visual language.
In this Android 145 version, the Home icon tweak represents the main modification aimed directly at the end user, in an update that otherwise works a lot to improve stability and security.
