How to Get the Download Shelf Back in Google Chrome - Updated January 2024

*****January 2024 - Version 121.X no longer allows you to add "-disable-features=DownloadBubble" in Chrome's properties to revert to the download shelf. It seems we are stuck with Chrome's crappy download bubble. Boooooo! It would be nice if Google gave us access to both options and allowed the user to choose which they want to use. If anyone finds another workaround, please let us know in the comments. And if we find one we will update this article again at that point.
One more boooooo!*****

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****As of the October 31 Chrome update to version 119, Google has removed the option to disable the bubble in flags - boo!****

If you have updated to 119, don't fear. As some below have commented, thankfully, there is another workaround!

You will need to access properties through the desktop shortcut for Chrome. Also, if Chrome is pinned to the taskbar, you must unpin it, or this will not work.

In properties, go to the target field and add --disable-features=DownloadBubble to what is already there; make sure to include a space.

It should look like this: "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --disable-features=DownloadBubble

Once you have applied these changes and restarted Chrome, the shelf should be back again. When initially implemented, repinning the open session to the taskbar worked, but after shutting down and rebooting the pinned-to-the-taskbar, Chrome did not retain the shelf. You must open Chrome from the desktop shortcut with the new Target info, right-click the newly opened taskbar icon, and repin it from there. So far, so good!

Thanks to you guys who found this additional workaround!

We download a lot of apps for testing and updating here at MajorGeeks, often multiple downloads at the same time for efficiency. The Chrome download shelf at the bottom of the browser window (as shown below) is a valuable tool for knowing when a download is finished and to 'keep' or 'discard' said download without unnecessary navigation.



Us: The download shelf is valuable, and we like it!
Google: Okey dokey, we're going to remove it!

Enter the Download Bubble: The download bubble appeared for us today, coinciding with Chrome's update. It is located in the top right-hand corner of your browser and emerges with an annoying arrow animation directing you to your download. It includes all the abilities of the shelf but requires more clicks to get it done. If you download infrequently, it may not bother you at all.



If you are like us, initiating numerous downloads and hate the download bubble, don't worry; there is a fix (until Google turns it off).



Download Bubble be gone: All you need to do is go to > chrome://flags/#download-bubble > disable that highlighted experimental feature from the dropdown (it is enabled by default), and relaunch Chrome. The download shelf will be back where it belongs! For now...

Similar:

The Benefits of a Download Manager

How to Enable and Use Google Chrome Flags

How to Enable or Disable About:Flags Page in Microsoft Edge

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