Chrome for Android finally gets the new tab customization desktop users have had for years

Google is rolling out a long-overdue visual upgrade to Chrome on Android: the same new tab page customization that desktop users have had since 2020 is now arriving on mobile. Version 151.0.7922.71, released July 29, 2026, adds an "Appearance" menu that lets you change colors, set wallpapers, and rotate backgrounds daily. If you've ever opened a new tab and wished it looked less sterile, this update is for you.

The new options

The Appearance menu packs in more than a basic theme picker. You can choose a color that tints Chrome's key interface elements and the Google logo, or browse preset wallpaper categories — abstract shapes, patterns, landscapes, and architecture. A daily rotation option swaps the background automatically each day, and if nothing in the library appeals, you can upload your own photo. There's also a plain default option for anyone who prefers a clean slate.

Access is straightforward: tap the pencil icon in the bottom-right corner of a new tab, or go to the three-dot menu and select "Customize new tab page." Both paths open the same Appearance panel, per Android Authority.

Android follows iOS — again

The feature was already live on Chrome for iOS before the Android rollout began, continuing Google's pattern of shipping mobile features to Apple's platform first. Desktop Chrome has had new tab customization even longer. The Android version is now catching up via a staged rollout through Google Play, meaning it may take a few days to appear on your device even after updating to v151.

The feature is free — no account upgrade or Chrome flag required. Competitors including Firefox, Edge, and Brave have offered similar theme options for some time, so this brings Chrome's mobile experience closer to parity rather than introducing anything genuinely new to the browser market.

How to get it

Update Chrome on Android to version 151.0.7922.71 or later through the Google Play Store. If the Appearance menu doesn't appear immediately, give the staged rollout a day or two. iOS users can find the same options in the current App Store version of Chrome.