Has the padlock icon returned to the Chrome address bar? (2024)

FAQs

Has the padlock icon returned to the Chrome address bar? ›

About this time a year ago, Chrome replaced the padlock icon in the address bar with the double line icon to indicate a secure connection. Following the chrome OS update yesterday, the padlock icon has reappeared today.

But that's about to change — Google Chrome has announced they will be discontinuing the padlock icon starting around September 2023. This change isn't because Google no longer thinks HTTPS is important, though — in fact, it's the opposite. Google expects every website to have HTTPS by default.

It's a Move to Make You More Secure. In response to what Google calls “over trust” in the web address lock icon to indicate that a site is authentic and its' communications are secure, they've swapped the lock out in an attempt to engage Chrome users in thinking about their own secure browsing.

Google Chrome's address bar will get an updated security icon, replacing the old lock icon, to denote a security-neutral entry point to site controls. Google will be replacing the lock icon, thought to be an indicator of a website's security, in Chrome's address bar with a new “tune” icon.

When you go to a site that has a padlock icon next to the site name, it means the site is secured with a digital certificate. This means that any information sent between your browser and the website is sent securely, and can't be intercepted and read by someone else while the information is in transit.

The lock will be replaced this fall with a "neutral indicator" designed to urge users to verify a website's security information. Users will see the new icon in September with the launch of Chrome 117.

When a site may be unsafe, Chrome changes the icon next to the site address. In Chrome, open a web page. To check a site's security, to the left of the web address, check the security status symbol: Default (Secure)

SSL is enabled, but no lock will appear

This means that these images or links can be accessed via http:// instead of https:// (mixed content). The browser will therefore indicate that your website is unprotected.

The padlock symbol on a web browser simply means that the data being sent between the web server and the user's computer is encrypted and cannot be read by others.

If you do not see a lock symbol while visiting an HTTPS website, it is recommended that you do not enter sensitive information (such as login credentials or credit card numbers) on the website, as it may not be secure. Instead, try to find an alternative website that does have a trusted SSL certificate.

What is the address bar called in Chrome? ›

Address bars are also common to file browsers, where they are used to search for files or navigate to specific directories in a computer's file system. In Google Chrome the address bar is called the omnibox.

How to restart Chrome. There are two ways we recommend to ensure your browser has been restarted. Type (without quotation marks) "chrome://restart" into Chrome's address bar and hit Enter. This will force Chrome to quit and restart while opening your previous tabs.

What Is Happening to Chrome's Padlock Icon? Starting from the Chrome 117 update in September 2023, the new tune icon will replace the padlock for both desktop and mobile users.

Chromium Blog: An Update on the Lock Icon

Replacing the lock icon with a neutral indicator prevents the misunderstanding that the lock icon is associated with the trustworthiness of a page, and emphasizes that security should be the default state in Chrome.

The lock icon is meant to be a helpful indicator to show you a site's HTTP connection is encrypted, which is also known as HTTPS.

What are the most common reasons the padlock icon would be missing on an HTTPS site? The most common reasons are an expired certificate, mixed HTTP/HTTPS content, a missing intermediate certificate in the chain, and using a self-signed certificate instead of one signed by a trusted authority.

Padlock helps you keep track of all your sensitive information by storing it in a secure, encrypted vault that is protected by a single master password.

Clicking the icon will reveal more information, including the nature of the connection, any stored cookies on the site, and the number of site visits. The exact design and positioning of the padlock with vary between browsers. However, it often appears just to the left of the URL bar before the website address starts.