Change Brave Address Bar & Menu Settings on Android

This guide shows you how to customize the address bar and menu settings in the Brave browser on your Android device. You’ll learn how to change the search engine, adjust the toolbar position, manage menu shortcuts, and more, so the browser works the way you want.

What You’ll Need

• An Android phone or tablet with the Brave browser installed (version 1.60 or newer recommended).
• The Brave browser app opened and signed in (optional, but syncs your settings).

Step-by-Step

1. Open Brave and access settings. Tap the Brave icon to launch the app. Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the screen. From the dropdown, select Settings.
2. Change the search engine. In Settings, tap Search engine. You’ll see a list of options like Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Brave Search. Tap the one you prefer. This changes the default search engine used in the address bar and the new tab page.
3. Adjust address bar position (if available). In Settings, look for Toolbar position or Address bar position (the exact name may vary by version). Choose Top or Bottom. If you don’t see this option, your Brave version may not support it yet.
4. Customize the new tab page. From Settings, tap New tab page. Here you can toggle background images, show or hide the top sites grid, and enable or disable the Brave News feed. Adjust these to your liking.
5. Manage menu shortcuts. Brave’s three-dot menu shows quick actions like New Tab, New Private Tab, History, Downloads, and Settings. To reorder or hide these, go to Settings → Menu shortcuts (or Customize menu). Drag the handle next to each item to reorder, or tap the eye icon to hide/show items.
6. Change address bar suggestions. In Settings, tap Address bar (or Search suggestions). Toggle Show search suggestions on or off. You can also enable or disable Show bookmarks suggestions and Show history suggestions.
7. Set a default download location (related to address bar behavior). While not directly an address bar setting, you can control where files from the address bar downloads go. Go to Settings → Downloads and choose a default folder or ask each time.
8. Reset settings if needed. If you want to revert to defaults, go to Settings → Reset (or Clear browsing data). Tap Reset settings to restore defaults without clearing your bookmarks.

Common Mistakes

• Looking for the address bar setting in the wrong place: The address bar position is under Settings, not on the new tab page or in the toolbar itself.
• Assuming the search engine change applies everywhere: Changing the default search engine does not change the search engine used in the new tab page’s search box if you have a separate widget. You may need to adjust the new tab page settings separately.
• Forgetting to restart the app: Some changes, especially toolbar position, may require you to close and reopen Brave to take effect.
• Confusing menu shortcuts with the address bar menu: The three-dot menu is separate from the address bar’s long-press menu. Long-pressing the address bar gives you options like copy, paste, and edit.

Tips

• Use the address bar for calculations and conversions: Brave’s address bar can do quick math (e.g., type “120*3”) and unit conversions (e.g., “50 kg in lbs”) without a separate app.
• Enable bottom toolbar for easier one-hand use: On larger phones, placing the address bar at the bottom makes it more accessible.
• Customize menu shortcuts to your most-used actions: Put New Private Tab and Downloads at the top of the menu to reduce taps.
• Turn off search suggestions for privacy: If you prefer not to send keystrokes to your search engine, disable search suggestions in the address bar settings.
• Use the “Focus” mode: Some versions have a focus mode that hides the address bar while scrolling. Look for it in Settings → Display.

Troubleshooting

• Changes don’t apply: If a setting doesn’t take effect, force-stop Brave by going to Android Settings → Apps → Brave → Force stop, then reopen the app.
• Can’t find a specific setting: The menu structure varies slightly between Brave versions. Use the search bar at the top of the Settings screen to quickly find options like “toolbar” or “search engine.”
• Address bar position option missing: This feature may not be available in your region or on your device. Check for Brave updates in the Google Play Store. If it’s still missing, it may be a server-side rollout that hasn’t reached your device yet.
• Menu shortcuts won’t reorder: Some versions lock the order of certain items. Try updating Brave or clearing the app cache (Settings → Apps → Brave → Storage → Clear Cache).
• Search engine keeps reverting: If your chosen search engine reverts to Google, you may have a third-party app overriding it. Check your Android system settings under “Default apps” to ensure Brave is set as the default browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I move the address bar to the bottom in Brave on Android? Yes, if your Brave version supports it. Go to Settings → Toolbar position and select “Bottom.” If the option is missing, update the app.
2. How do I change the default search engine from Google to something else? Open Settings → Search engine and tap the engine you want. This applies to the address bar and the new tab page search box.
3. Why does my address bar show suggestions I don’t want? You can disable search suggestions, history suggestions, and bookmark suggestions individually in Settings → Address bar.
4. Can I add or remove items from the three-dot menu? Yes, go to Settings → Menu shortcuts. You can reorder items with the drag handles and hide them with the eye icon.
5. Does changing the address bar position affect my bookmarks? No, it only moves the toolbar. Your bookmarks and other data remain unchanged.
6. How do I reset all Brave settings to default? Go to Settings → Reset → Reset settings. This restores default preferences but does not clear your bookmarks, history, or passwords.

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