Google Chrome To Replace Address Bar Padlock Icon As No One Knows Actual Meaning

For users of Google Chrome, many will be familiar with the tiny padlock icon at the left of the browser’s address bar. This symbol has been used for decades to represent that a site is loading over Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, better known as HTTPS.

However, it seems the technology giant is planning to redesign the symbol, as not many users truly know what it means. This isn’t the first change to the motif, as in 2016, the company made adjustments to the icon after research suggested it was often misunderstood.

Turns out, the change didn’t make much difference, as only 11% of users surveyed in 2021 could point to the icon’s real meaning. Most assumed it represented a secure or safe website, but it only meant the page had loaded over HTTPS.

As such, following a series of trials, Google will be replacing the padlock motif with a modified version of its tune icon—a neutral symbol that does not imply trustworthiness. Plus, the new symbol will instinctively draw users to click on it as it’s typically associated with a site’s settings.

The new icon will roll out to desktop users with the launch of Chrome 117 in September, while the Android icon will be replaced simultaneously. On iOS, the old padlock symbol will be removed entirely.

With HTTPS now the norm, @googlechrome has reevaluated the lock icon 🔒 We will emphasize that security should be the default state and instead, evolve the icon to be more of a tune-up control for site settings.https://t.co/th3FY2OHWR pic.twitter.com/hr7TKtA6nh

— Addy Osmani (@addyosmani) May 2, 2023

[via TechSpot and Android Police, images via various sources]