How to minimize Chrome links opened from Android apps

By default, when you open a link on Chrome from an Android app, the app will hide and be replaced by the Chrome content screen. To keep the app screen intact, Google has introduced a Chrome Custom tab that allows you to open links on Chrome in the app in PiP format. This way, the app content is not hidden, but the Chrome link will be minimized. Here are instructions for minimizing Chrome links opened from Android apps.

How to minimize Chrome links that open in Android apps

Step 1:

You enter chrome://flags in the address bar on Chrome. Then you enter the keyword cct in the search bar.

Step 2:

In this new page, you find the flag Allow Custom Tabs to be minimized , you switch to Enabled and then restart the Chrome browser to apply the changes.

Step 3:

You open any Android app, such as the YouTube app, and then tap the link that appears. When the link content interface appears on Chrome, you tap the drop-down arrow icon to minimize it.

Step 4:

As a result, users will see a link thumbnail on Chrome as shown below. You can open any other application and the link thumbnail screen will still be displayed for you to access when needed.

If the user wants to open a link on Chrome , just click on the thumbnail and then click on the zoom icon .

David Pac

Update 07 February 2025