Until recently, the only way to open a link in Chrome’s mobile browser was to leave your current page or move the link to a separate tab. Neither scenario is ideal, especially if you just want to quickly browse a link before opening it. Thankfully, Chrome now finally lets you preview hyperlinks in Android.
Google recently added the option to preview pages via a server-side update. It’s turned on for all devices by default, so you don’t have to browse your settings or install additional patches to get it working. However, some users may not be aware that it is even possible to preview links because Google added the functionality so suddenly.
To preview a link in Chrome’s Android app:
- Long press a hyperlink to open a pop-up menu
- Choose “Preview Page.”
- A smaller tab opens above the current page. You can scroll through the preview and view the content as you normally would without leaving the page you’re already on.
- If you want to load a preview page in its own tab, tap on the arrow symbol in the upper right corner. Press the “X” Icon for closing a preview window.
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Link preview is a small addition to Chrome, but a helpful one that serves multiple purposes and allows you to spot pranks or skim an article to see if that’s what you’re looking for.
However, don’t preview pages unless you know it’s a safe website. Previewing a link loads all of the content on a page – including any images, videos, and code used on the page. This includes any NSFW content you might avoid, but there are bigger threats than adult websites to worry about.
Phishing and malware scams often use spoofed URLs to steal personal information or sneak malicious software onto your devices. Previewing these pages can be just as dangerous as opening them directly. The best option is just not touching suspicious links. However, you can check a link in Chrome without opening the page or previewing it: just long tap the link to open the pop-up menu. The URL of the link is shown at the top of the menu. If you don’t see the URL or it’s obviously wrong, don’t click on it.
[9to5Google]
