How to Use Google Discover in Chrome

Google Discover surfaces articles, videos, and news tailored to your interests without you searching for them. While Discover is a native feature of the Google app on Android and iOS, you can also access it in Chrome on desktop and mobile by setting Google.com as your homepage or new tab page. This guide walks you through the steps to get Discover working in Chrome, customize your feed, and fix common issues.

What You’ll Need

Google Chrome browser (desktop or mobile) – make sure it’s updated to the latest version.
A Google account (recommended for personalized results; you can use Discover without one, but the feed will be less relevant).
An internet connection.

Step-by-Step

Open Chrome and go to Google.com. Type google.com in the address bar and press Enter. On mobile, you’ll see the Discover feed below the search bar if you’re on the homepage. On desktop, you’ll see the classic Google homepage with the search box.
Set Google as your homepage (desktop). Click the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner, select Settings, then On startup. Choose Open a specific page or set of pages, click Add a new page, enter https://www.google.com, and save. This ensures Google opens when you launch Chrome.
Set Google as your new tab page (desktop). In the same Settings, under Appearance, enable Show Home button and set the URL to https://www.google.com. For the new tab page itself, Chrome doesn’t allow changing it natively; instead, install an extension like “Google Discover New Tab” (search the Chrome Web Store) to replace the default new tab with a Google Discover feed.
Access Discover on mobile. Open Chrome on your Android or iOS device. Tap the address bar, type google.com, and press Go. On Android, you’ll see a Discover feed with cards below the search bar. On iOS, you may need to scroll down slightly. If you don’t see cards, ensure you’re signed in and have the latest Chrome version.
Sign in to your Google account. Tap the profile icon in the top-right corner of the Google page and sign in. This allows Discover to personalize content based on your search history, YouTube activity, and location.
Customize your feed. On the Discover feed, tap the three-dot menu on any card to select Not interested or Mute to hide similar stories. To manage your interests overall, go to google.com and click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) on the top-left, then select Interests to follow topics or hide specific ones.
Use the Discover icon (if available). On some Chrome versions for Android, there’s a Discover icon (a small compass or star) in the bottom bar. Tap it to open the feed directly. If you don’t see it, check Chrome flags (see Troubleshooting).
Refresh the feed. Pull down on the Discover feed to refresh it and get new content. On desktop, simply reload the Google homepage.

Common Mistakes

Not signing in: Without a Google account, Discover shows generic content and may not display at all on some devices.
Using a different homepage: If you set a custom homepage like Bing or Yahoo, you won’t see Discover. Ensure Google.com is your homepage and new tab page.
Expecting Discover on desktop by default: Chrome for desktop does not show the Discover feed on the new tab page by default. You need an extension or must use the Google homepage directly (which on desktop still doesn’t show the feed—only mobile does).
Ignoring the three-dot menu on cards: If you don’t train the algorithm by hiding unwanted content, your feed stays irrelevant.
Outdated Chrome: Older versions may lack Discover integration. Update Chrome regularly.

Tips

Use Chrome’s built-in Discover on Android: If you’re on Android, consider using the Google app instead—it has a more polished Discover feed. In Chrome, the feed works but may be less responsive.
Bookmark Google.com: On desktop, bookmark Google.com and use that as your starting page to quickly access search and (on mobile) Discover.
Adjust interests frequently: The more you interact (tap, hide, follow), the better the recommendations become. Spend a few minutes each week pruning your interests.
Use incognito for private browsing: Discover won’t personalize in incognito mode, but you can still see a generic feed.
Check your activity controls: Go to myactivity.google.com to ensure Web & App Activity is on; otherwise, Discover won’t have data to personalize from.

Troubleshooting

Discover not showing on mobile Chrome: First, ensure you’re signed in. Then, clear Chrome’s cache: go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data > Cached images and files. Restart Chrome. If it still doesn’t appear, check if your region supports Discover (it’s available in most countries but not all).
Discover feed is blank or not loading: This is often a network issue. Try switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data. Also, disable any ad blockers or privacy extensions that might block Google’s scripts.
Cannot set Google as new tab on desktop: Chrome doesn’t allow changing the new tab page natively. Use an extension from the Chrome Web Store like “Google Discover New Tab” or “New Tab Redirect” to set a custom URL. Ensure the extension is enabled after installation.
Discover shows irrelevant content: Go to the Discover feed, tap the three-dot menu on a card and select “Not interested” to refine. Also, check your interests at google.com and remove outdated topics.
Discover icon missing on Android: Some Chrome versions have a flag for the Discover icon. Type chrome://flags in the address bar, search for “Discover” and enable any relevant flags, then restart Chrome. Be cautious with flags as they are experimental.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Google Discover available on Chrome for Windows or Mac?
A: No, the Discover feed is only available on the Google homepage in mobile browsers (including Chrome on Android/iOS). On desktop, you can only see a static Google homepage; you’d need to use the Google app or a third-party extension to get a similar feed.

Q: Do I need a Google account to use Discover in Chrome?
A: Technically, you can see a generic feed without signing in, but it won’t be personalized and may not display at all on some devices. For the full experience, sign in with a Google account.

Q: How do I turn off Discover in Chrome?
A: On mobile, you can switch to a different homepage (e.g., about:blank) or disable JavaScript for google.com (not recommended). On desktop, remove any extensions that add Discover and set your homepage to something else.

Q: Why does Discover show content in a language I don’t understand?
A: Discover uses your device language and location. Change the language in Chrome settings (Settings > Languages) and ensure your Google account language is set correctly at google.com/preferences.

Q: Can I use Discover in Chrome without the Google app?
A: Yes, on Android and iOS, you can access Discover by visiting google.com in Chrome. However, the Google app offers a smoother experience with more features like following topics directly.

Q: Does using Discover in Chrome affect my search history?
A: Yes, your interactions with Discover (clicks, hides) are stored in your Google activity and used to personalize future content. You can view and delete this activity at myactivity.google.com.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →