Pull to Refresh Comes to Chrome OS via Chrome Flag Changes

As the overlap of Android and Chrome OS continues, Google is working hard to make things more touch friendly.  This includes the browser in Chrome OS.  There are now two flags that you can change within the browser on your Chromebook that will allow you to pull to refresh the page you are viewing.  It is a handy feature, especially if you are using your Chromebook in tablet mode where you can’t easily access the refresh button.

Enabling this new pull to refresh feature is done via one or two flag changes in the browser.  The first flag is chrome://flags/#pull-to-refresh.  For a lot of users, this is the only flag you will need to change.  Once you enable it, restart the browser on your Chromebook and Bob’s your uncle.  However, if you find that you can’t get the pull to refresh to work all the time, there is a second flag you need to change.

That second flag is chrome://flags/#overscroll-history-navigation.  You need to set this to Simple and once again restart the browser.

Enabled Flags for Pull to Refresh in Chrome OS

Enabled Flags for Pull to Refresh in Chrome OS

The need to enable this second flag appears to depend on the device.  XDA Developers reported that a reader of theirs reported that on their Samsung Chromebook Pro, they had to enable the second feature.  On my Google Pixelbook, I had to enable it too.  Without the second flag, I found some sites worked, like Google Plus, but most other sites wouldn’t.

Give it a go and see which way works for you.  Remember, flags are considered experimental by Google and not supported.  If you enable these and experience odd behavior, just disable them.

Source:  XDA Developers

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