Mica Design Makeover Coming to Chrome on Windows 11

Recent developments in Chromium code indicate that Google remains committed to integrating the Mica design feature from Windows 11 into the Chrome browser. However, the timeline for broader rollout remains uncertain.

The Mica design, which made its debut with Windows 11 in 2021, has gradually been adopted by various applications, including popular options like Firefox Nightly. Notably absent from this trend is Google Chrome, which still lacks Mica and other native design enhancements such as the Acrylic transparency effect.

Mica is visually appealing, especially against vibrant desktop wallpapers, and it is designed with performance in mind. Unlike many Fluent Design elements that continuously update, Mica captures the desktop wallpaper a single time, utilizing it as the background for app windows. For instance, applying a Windows 11 Bloom dark wallpaper results in a subtle blue hue in Mica-enabled apps.

Will Google Chrome Incorporate Mica on Windows 11 Soon?

Google’s exploration of implementing Mica in Chrome began in 2023, where users could activate it through an experimental flag named “Windows11-mica-titlebar.” Although this feature can still be enabled, it raises the question: What is preventing Google from officially incorporating this design into Chrome for all users?

According to Windows Latest, a recent Chromium commit revealed that the placement of Chrome’s tab strip when Mica is active depends on the X coordinate of the minimize button. Unfortunately, a bug caused this value to be incorrectly mirrored through various code paths.

This bug resulted in improper alignment of the tab strip and inaccurate window width when Mica was activated. Google, however, has not eliminated Mica from its plans; rather, they are optimizing the logic for Windows frame placement to ensure Mica windows are displayed correctly.

“In Mica mode in Windows 11, the frame retrieves the X coordinate of the minimize button to position the tab strip, ” stated Dana Fried, head of Chrome UI on Windows at Google.“This value was incorrectly mirrored numerous times based on different code paths, leading to inconsistencies. Recent updates to frame layout logic did not address these discrepancies, ” Google clarified.

In 2023, enhancements were made to how Chrome behaves when accent colors are applied to the browser. This latest patch represents a significant step forward after nearly two years of anticipation for users longing for Mica’s integration.

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