When you type in the address bar, Google Chrome Browser can use a prediction service to help you complete the web addresses and search terms that you’re entering. For example, typing new york in the address bar could bring up http://www.w-i-k-i.com as a predicted site or [ w-i-k-i ] as a predicted search.
To help you differentiate between web addresses and searches, a search icon appears next to searches in the address bar menu; a suggested sites icon appears next to web addresses.
Disable the prediction service
The prediction service is typically turned on by default. Steps below to turn it off:
- Click the spanner icon on the browser toolbar.
- Select Options (Preferences on Mac and Linux; Settings on a Chromebook).
- Click the Under the Hood tab.
- In the “Privacy” section, deselect the “Use a prediction service to help complete searches and URLs typed in the address bar” checkbox.
Keep in mind that the address bar shows matches from your browsing history, in addition to predictions. If you don’t want to see matches from your browsing history, clear your browsing history.
Privacy information
When address bar predictions are enabled, Google Chrome sends the text you type in the address bar, along with your cookies and IP address, to your default search engine in order to retrieve relevant search terms and sites. The predictions are then displayed in the address bar menu.
Review your search engine’s privacy terms to learn how your information is handled. For information that’s sent to Google, Google logs a random two percent of the information to help improve the prediction service and the information is anonymized within 24 hours. However, if you use Chrome Instant, your data can be kept up to two weeks before it’s deleted.
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