Google Chrome is reportedly engaged on a characteristic that may permit customers to shortly mute a audio-playing tab with a single click on. The characteristic is presently obtainable for customers to check out and have to be enabled manually. Users can shortly mute and unmute a particular tab with out switching to it, which might come in useful when tabs begin taking part in audio unexpectedly. The click-to-mute characteristic is being examined and should or could not make it to a future model of Chrome, in keeping with Google.

A Chrome flag that permits a characteristic permitting muting and unmuting of tabs was lately found by Reddit consumer Leopeva, and spotted by Chrome Story. The characteristic is presently obtainable within the newest nightly (unstable) model of Google Chrome, also referred to as Google Chrome Canary. Enabling the flag permits customers to shortly mute any seen tab taking part in audio. This can come in useful for tabs with web sites that auto-play video advertisements, or different undesirable media playback.

The click-to-mute characteristic in motion on Google Chrome Canary
Photo Credit: Chrome Story

Currently, Google Chrome reveals indicators on tabs to indicate media standing — a speaker icon reveals audio is taking part in, whereas a recording icon reveals a web site is utilizing the digicam or microphone. Until now, customers must right-click on a tab taking part in audio, then choose Mute Tab. With the brand new tab audio muting UI management characteristic, customers can merely click on the speaker icon to shortly mute a tab.

Users who need to check out the characteristic might want to obtain and set up the most recent model of Chrome Canary for Windows, macOS, or Linux — they’ll have the ability to use their common Chrome set up in parallel with Chrome Canary. Users might want to enter chrome://flags within the handle bar, then seek for “Tab audio muting control,” allow the flag and restart Chrome Canary. According to the flag’s description, the brand new tab audio muting controls may be examined on macOS, Windows, Linux, Chrome OS, and Fuchsia OS.

However, the characteristic which is presently obtainable for testing could not finally make its strategy to the browser. According to the Chrome flag entry, Google is evaluating using tab muting, alongside the worldwide media management part. The firm is but to disclose whether or not the characteristic will make its strategy to the tab bar, or find yourself in Chrome’s international media controls part, which additionally permits customers to manage media playback from open tabs.