Popularized by Apple, navigation based on swiping of fingers arrives in turn on the Android version of Google Chrome. But beware, the option to unlock gesture navigation is only accessible from a hidden menu. Here is the procedure to activate it..
How gesture navigation works
Far be it from us to relaunch the war between Apple fans and Android fans, but we must admit that the gesture navigation system integrated in the iPhone X has made a strong impression on the general public. Apple never suspected it, but by launching this new mode of control, the apple brand has created a real phenomenon.
The craze is such that many manufacturers are currently working on its integration on their future smartphone models. Google has just added this new navigation system to the latest version of its mobile browser. It must be said that with the democratization of bordless screens, this device takes on its full meaning..
The main idea of this feature is to provide Internet users with a larger display area and to improve the browsing experience on mobile. Once enabled, you can easily navigate from one web page to another without going through the Chrome menus.
A simple scan is enough to return to previous sites
The gesture navigation mode is a natural and fluid way to surf the web. Forget the address bar and its tiny buttons to change and reload web pages. A simple swipe of the finger to the left or right allows you to go to the previous or next page..
Operation is much more intuitive than the old Chrome controls. As a reminder, to return to the previous page , you had to click on the Menu button to the right of the address bar and then click on the corresponding arrow. 
We regret however that the activation of the navigation mode by gestures does not make it possible to remove all the annoying elements the display of a website. We are thinking in particular of the address bar at the bottom of the window and which then no longer has any use.
In the same way, we hope that the developers will very quickly offer a two-finger scanning function to quickly switch from one tab to another. Apart from these few points, the effectiveness of this device no longer needs to be demonstrated. People with small hands will be able to surf more easily and navigate with just one inch.
How to activate gestures on Chrome
This is a feature in development. Google is still working on it before making it public. So don't bother opening Chrome settings to find the swype navigation option . You won't find anything. As is often the case with Chrome, the experimental functions are found in the hidden Flags menu.
If you are impatient to experience this new way of surfing on your smartphone, we will explain below how to activate slide navigation on your smartphone. Keep in mind, however, that this device does not work on all smartphones.
It should be emphasized that the activation of one of these experimental functions is not without risk. In some cases this can cause a browser blocking or even loss of data. If you encounter problems, you can use the Reset all defaults button located at the top of the flags home page.
- Make sure your Google Chrome browser is up to date
- Type chrome: // flags in the URL bar (without space) then click on the Enter or next button
- A warning message will inform you that the features collected on this page are not stable and may cause bugs
- Click on the search form and type Gesture Navigation
- Press the Default button
- Check the Enable box to activate the gesture navigation function
- Restart the browser by pressing the Relaunch Now button at the bottom of the window
Once the app has restarted, you can use the side swipe to move through Chrome's browsing history. Open your favorite website and click on one or two links. Then slide your finger from the left to the center of the screen.
An arrow icon will appear on your screen. Then simply lift your finger to automatically return to the previous page. Obviously if this feature does not suit you, you can disable it by repeating the procedure described below and checking the Default box. Note that not all smartphones support gesture mode in Chrome.
If you are a fan of one-handed navigation, there is no doubt that this new mode of navigation will appeal to you. For others, no need to worry. This sliding navigation system is so intuitive that you will use it without even thinking about it.