Looking to hide the bookmark bar in Chrome to get more screen space or a cleaner look? The fastest way is with a simple keyboard shortcut. This guide will show you the shortcut and the menu option to quickly toggle your bookmarks bar on and off whenever you need.
The Fastest Method: The Keyboard Shortcut
Press Ctrl+Shift+B on your keyboard (or Cmd+Shift+B on a Mac). This single command will instantly hide your bookmarks bar. Press it again to bring it back. This is the quickest and most common way to manage its visibility.
Method 1: Hiding the Bookmarks Bar via the Chrome Menu
If you prefer using the mouse or want to see the setting, you can hide the bar through Chrome’s main menu.
- Click the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of your Chrome browser.
- Hover your cursor over the Bookmarks option in the menu.
- In the sub-menu that appears, click on Show bookmarks bar to uncheck it. The checkmark will disappear, and the bar will be hidden.
Method 2: Hiding the Bookmarks Bar by Right-Clicking
For another quick mouse-based method, you can right-click directly on the bar itself.
- Move your mouse to any empty space on the bookmarks bar.
- Right-click to open the context menu.
- Click on Show bookmarks bar to uncheck the option and hide it.
Looking for a Better Way to View Your Bookmarks?
Hiding the bar is great for a clean look, but what about when you need to actually use your bookmarks? I designed a free Chrome extension called Easy Bookmark Viewer. It transforms your new tab into a powerful, beautiful dashboard for your bookmarks, giving you the best of both worlds: a clean browser and easy access.
Pro Tip: Show Bookmarks Bar on New Tab Page Only
Some users want the bookmarks bar hidden while browsing but visible when they open a new tab. Unfortunately, Chrome removed this as a default feature. The only way to achieve this now is by using custom “New Tab Page” extensions that can be configured to show your bookmarks.
Conclusion
Hiding the Chrome bookmark bar is a simple process that can be done in seconds with the Ctrl+Shift+B shortcut. By mastering this and the menu options, you can easily control your browser’s interface to suit your needs. And when you need a more powerful way to manage your collection, tools like the Easy Bookmark Viewer are ready to help.
