Many users of smartphones based on the Android operating system encounter intrusive content when opening a mobile browser. Instead of the usual search bar or bookmarks, an endless feed of news, articles and videos appears before your eyes. This is the so-called Google Feed, which in the Russian-language segment is often filled with materials from the Yandex.Zen service. Such an abundance of information can be distracting, slow down page loading and waste mobile traffic.
Fortunately, browser developers Google Chrome have provided the ability to flexibly customize the start page. You don't have to put up with an awkward interface or look for third-party launchers. Just go to the hidden or non-obvious settings menu of the application itself. In this article, we will look in detail at how to remove Zen on Android in Chrome, returning the browser to a minimalistic look and increasing its speed.
The disabling process may vary slightly depending on the version of the installed software and the regional settings of your device. However, the general algorithm of actions remains the same for most modern gadgets. We will consider both standard methods through the menu, as well as more advanced methods for those cases when simple settings did not work.
Why does the news feed appear on the main screen
The appearance of third-party content on the browser start page often causes confusion among users who have not installed any extensions. In fact, this is a built-in function of Google Chromeitself, designed to retain the user's attention. Algorithms analyze your interests and pull up articles from various sources, including partner platforms.
In Russia and the CIS countries, the content provider for this feed is often the service Yandex.Zen. This happens due to the regional settings of your Google account or the device itself. The feed is updated in real time, which requires a constant connection to the server and loading of heavy media files.
The main reason for enabling this function by default is to monetize traffic and increase the time the user spends in the ekosystem. For the smartphone owner, this means:
- 📉 Battery consumption: constant loading of news in the background drains the battery faster.
- 📶 Waste of traffic: even with Wi-Fi, preloading videos and pictures consumes network resources.
- 🐌 Reduced performance: on budget phone models, scrolling through the feed may cause the interface to slow down.
⚠️ Attention: Disabling the news feed does not delete your Google account and does not affect the operation of other services, such as Mail or Maps. This is an exclusively cosmetic change to the browser interface.
Understanding the nature of this phenomenon helps to consciously approach setting up the device. You decide what content to see when you launch the application, and do not rely on algorithmic recommendations.
The standard way to disable it is through the browser settings
The simplest and most reliable method to remove unnecessary elements is to use the built-in configuration menu. This method works on the vast majority of devices running version 8.0 and higher. You do not need root access or installation of additional software. Android version 8.0 and higher. You don't need root access or installing additional software.
First you need to open the application Google Chrome on your smartphone. Pay attention to the three vertical dots in the upper right corner of the screen - this is the main entrance to the control menu. By clicking on them, you will see a drop-down list of options.
Next, follow a clear algorithm of actions to find the desired switch:
- In the drop-down menu, select the item
Settings. - Scroll the list down to the section
Home Screen(in some versions it may be calledGoogle Feed). - Find the switch with the caption Feed or
Show feed. - Move the toggle switch to the inactive position (it will turn gray).
☑️ Checklist for disabling the feed
After completing these steps, return to the main browser tab. The Ribbon should disappear instantly, giving way to the search field and shortcuts to frequently visited sites. If the changes are not applied immediately, try closing the application completely through the multitasking menu. and open it again.
Configuring content type and news sources
Sometimes users do not want to completely disable the news feed, but they are annoyed by a specific source, for example, low-quality articles or clickbait headlines from ZenIn this case, you can not disable the function entirely, but set up content filtering.
In the browser settings, there is a section responsible for personalizing the results. Go to the path Settings → Privacy and Security → Content settings. Here you can control which sites have the right to display notifications or pop-ups, which indirectly affects the aggressiveness of content promotion.
However, a more effective method is to train the algorithm. If you are shown an article from Zen that is not interesting to you:
- 👆 Click on the three dots next to the news title in the feed.
- 🚫 Select the option
Do not show news from this site. - 📉 Or check the box
Not interestedto adjust the recommendations.
Regularly clearing your browsing history (Settings → History → Clear history) also helps reset the news selection algorithms, making the feed less intrusive.
It is worth noting that completely replacing the content source in the standard Google feed on Android is impossible without using third-party launchers. You can only disable it or specifically hide individual domains.
Hidden settings through Chrome Flags
If the standard menu does not contain the desired switch or function. returns after the update, you can use the developer's experimental settings. This section is called Chrome Flags and allows you to manage hidden browser parameters.
Be careful when changing these settings, as they are in the testing stage. To access, enter the following command in the address bar of the browser:
chrome://flagsIn the list that opens. use the search (magnifying glass icon at the top) and enter the query NTP (New Tab Page) or Feed. You need to find the parameter responsible for displaying the news feed. Usually it is called Enable NTP Feed or Home screen feed.
| Flag name | Default value | Recommended value | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
Enable NTP Feed |
Default | Disabled | Hide the feed completely |
Feed Surface |
Enabled | Disabled | Disable the news surface |
Interest Feed V2 |
Default | Disabled | Disable the new version ribbon |
After changing the value to Disabled a blue button will appear at the bottom of the screen. Click it to restart the browser and apply the changes. The Zen ribbon should disappear permanently until you change this setting again. Relaunch. Click it to restart the browser and apply the changes. The Zen Ribbon should disappear permanently until you change this setting again.
What to do if the flags are reset?
In rare cases, after major updates, Chrome resets the flags to factory settings. If this happens, simply repeat the procedure for entering the chrome://flags command and re-set the value to Disabled.
Alternative solutions and third-party launchers
In some cases, especially on smartphones from Chinese manufacturers (Xiaomi, Huawei, Honor), the news feed may not be built into the browser, but into the system launcher. In such a situation, the settings itself Chrome will not help remove the widget from the phone's desktop.
If you see news when you swipe to the right of the main screen, it means that the function Google Discover or a similar shell of the manufacturer is active. To disable it, hold down an empty space on the desktop, go to the launcher settings and find the item Google Feed or -1 screen, then disable it.
Others a radical but effective solution is to install an alternative browser. There are many lightweight browsers that do not have built-in news aggregators:
- 🦊 Firefox: fully customizable start page.
- 🛡️ Brave: focus on privacy and the absence of unnecessary garbage.
- ⚡ DuckDuckGo: minimalistic design without recommendation feeds.
⚠️ Attention: MIUI, EMUI and OneUI shell interfaces are constantly updated. Menu items may move or change names. If you do not find the described setting, check the current documentation for your phone model.
Using a third-party browser also often gives an increase in page loading speed, since these applications do not load the system with background processes for collecting statistics for the news feed.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
Despite the simplicity of the instructions, users may encounter a number of difficulties. The most common problem is the lack of an option to disable the feed in the menu. This is typical for outdated versions of the browser or corporate builds Chromemanaged by the administrator.
First of all, check for updates. Go to Google Play Market, find the browser and click the Updatebutton. Developers regularly transfer functions from experimental flags to the main menu, making management easier.
If the update does not help, try clearing the application cache. This won't delete your bookmarks or passwords, but it will reset temporary files that may be blocking new settings from applying. Path to cleaning: Phone settings → Applications → Chrome → Storage → Clear cache.
If none of the methods helped, most likely your phone has a pre-installed browser modification from the manufacturer, where disabling the feed is blocked at the system level.
It’s also worth checking if you have any extensions installed that force the new tab to change. Although support for extensions is limited on mobile Android, some optimization applications can embed their widgets in the browser.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will the Zen feed return after updating the browser?
In most cases, your settings are saved. However, with global interface updates (major versions), Google may reset some parameters to default values. It is recommended to check the settings of the item Home screen after a major update.
Is it possible to disable Zen, but leave the weather and widgets?
Yes, when disabled Feeds in the home screen settings, the weather widget and search bar usually remain in place. It is the block with endless scrolling of news and articles that is disabled.
Why is there no “Google Feed” item in the settings?
This may be related to the region of your account or the version of Android. Try using the method via chrome://flags, which works regardless of the language settings of the interface.
Does disabling the feed affect the operation of the voice assistant?
No, the operation of Google Assistant does not depend on the visual display of the news feed in the browser. You can continue to use voice commands to search for information and control your phone.
Are chrome://flags safe to use?
It is safe to use flags as long as you only change interface-related settings (for example, disabling the ribbon). It is not recommended to change settings regarding hardware acceleration or security protocols if you are not sure of their purpose.