How to get 8 tiles back on the new tab page in Chrome 64

Google rolled out a change recently in Chrome 64 that uses the size of the browser window to determine the number of tiles displayed on the browser's new tab page.

Users who run the browser in low resolutions may have had the websites tiles on Chrome's new tab page reduced from 8 tiles to 6 or 4 tiles depending on the resolution.

Some users rolled back version 63 of the web browser as a consequence but that is not really a permanent option considering that new Chrome versions introduced security updates among other things regularly.

It is not recommended to downgrade Chrome.

Chrome 64: get 8 tiles back on the new tab page

So, what can affected Chrome users do so that Chrome displays eight tiles instead of four or six in Chrome 64?

You have a number of options:

• If the Chrome window is not maximized, you may maximize it so that the browser displays more tiles on the new tab page.
• If the browser is maximized already, zoom out to display them again. You can zoom by holding down the Ctrl-key and using the mouse-wheel to zoom in or out.
• Install a browser extension that restores eight tiles: New Tab Reloaded -- This extension restores the classic Chrome 32 and earlier New Tab Page. It displays tiles only and no Google search form.

It is probably only a matter of time until an extension developer will publish a new browser extension for Chrome that restores Chrome 63's new tab page.

Closing Words

One of the downsides of Google Chrome, compared to Firefox, is that Google limits the customization options. This is one of the disadvantages of Chrome in my opinion as it's sink or swim when Google makes changes. While extensions may be created that undo changes, these are fairly limiting in many regards and especially so when it comes to interface customizations.