Your bookmarks are still there, but Chrome’s bookmarks bar has disappeared. You can bring it back with the browser menu, a keyboard shortcut, or a setting that keeps it visible on websites. Looking for the “favorites bar”? Chrome calls it the bookmarks bar.
Show the bar from Chrome’s menu
Open Chrome on your computer. Click More, the three-dot button. Then open Bookmarks and lists and select Show bookmarks bar.
Tip: If your menu has a Bookmarks bar submenu instead, choose Always show; on Mac, those labels are Bookmarks Bar and Always Show.
Keep the bar visible on websites
Chrome’s standard visibility behavior lets the bar appear on a New Tab page even when it’s hidden on websites. To keep it visible as you browse, open More, then select Settings and choose Appearance. Turn on Show bookmarks bar.
If you see a Bookmarks bar dropdown instead, choose Always show. For a direct route to the same setting, enter chrome://settings/appearance in Chrome’s address bar. Press Enter to open it.
Use the keyboard shortcut for a quick toggle
With Chrome active on Windows, Linux, or a Chromebook, press Ctrl+Shift+B. On Mac, press Command+Shift+B. Press the shortcut once when the bar is hidden. It’s a toggle, so pressing it again hides the bar.
If the shortcut doesn’t work, select More > Bookmarks and lists > Show bookmarks bar. The visibility control under More > Settings > Appearance is another way to turn it on.
Try the View menu on Mac
Make Chrome the active application in a normal browser window. The bookmarks-bar command isn’t included in standalone web-app windows. Open View in the menu bar at the top of your screen. Enable Always Show Bookmarks Bar if it’s unchecked.
Restore the bar when other controls disappear
Full-screen mode hides an enabled bookmarks bar when it conceals Chrome’s surrounding browser controls. On Windows or Linux, press F11 to leave full screen. On Mac, press Fn+F to leave full screen.
Leaving full screen restores the browser interface. It doesn’t turn on the bookmarks-bar setting. If the bar is still hidden, open More > Settings > Appearance. Turn on Show bookmarks bar, or choose Always show from the Bookmarks bar dropdown if that control appears.
To keep the controls visible while staying in full screen on Mac, enable View > Always Show Toolbar in Full Screen. Also enable View > Always Show Bookmarks Bar.
Enable the bookmarks bar on an Android tablet
Open Chrome on your Android tablet. Tap More, the three-dot button. Open Settings, then select Appearance.
Turn on Show bookmarks bar. This control is available in supported tablet layouts. Expand Chrome’s window if the bar remains hidden. Small windows or low resolutions prevent the bar from displaying.
Tip: With an external keyboard connected to a supported Android tablet, press Ctrl+Shift+B in Chrome to toggle the bookmarks bar. When the bar is hidden, this turns it on.
Access bookmarks on phones and iPads
Chrome has no current official method for enabling a horizontal bookmarks bar on Android phones, iPhones, or iPads. The Android tablet instructions don’t apply to those devices.
Open More > Bookmarks to access your saved bookmarks. This opens your bookmarks without adding a persistent bar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t I enable the bookmarks bar on my work or school device?
An administrator can lock the bar off with the BookmarkBarEnabled policy. Ask your IT administrator to allow the bar or restore user control over its visibility.
Do I need to reset Chrome or install anything to restore the bar?
No. Chrome has built-in visibility controls. Resetting Chrome, reinstalling it, or downloading additional software isn’t required.
Why does an older tutorial tell me to open a Bookmarks menu?
Older desktop tutorials use outdated menu wording. The current menu is called Bookmarks and lists.
Does Show all bookmarks turn on the bookmarks bar?
No. Show all bookmarks, Bookmark Manager, and @bookmarks provide access to bookmarks or help you search them. They don’t control the bar’s visibility.