I can't disable the Bookmarks Bar in the Visual Bookmarks tab

[irmod]

• Visual Bookmarks v7.4.7
• Chrome Browser 148.0.7778.97
• Windows 10

The Bookmarks Bar is disabled in Settings.
"Visual Bookmarks" is installed on a new tab.

After updating, I can't disable the Bookmarks Bar in the "Visual Bookmarks" tab.

The keyboard shortcut in the "Visual Bookmarks" tab doesn't disable the Bookmarks Bar.

Before the latest Chrome and "Visual Bookmarks" update, the Bookmarks Bar was disabled and didn't appear when opening the Home page.

The Bookmarks Bar is not displayed on tabs opened via a link, including tabs opened from the "Visual Bookmarks" tab.

[k-ivan]

Hello!

This is not an extension issue, it's a Chrome browser issue. If it's not too much trouble, please send them a bug report. I've already submitted one myself, the more of us there are, the higher the chance they'll fix it.

[k-ivan]

I won't close this for now, so that others who run into this issue are aware of it.

[Generosus]

Hey @irmod

I'm experiencing the same issue at my end with Windows 11. It started with Google Chrome Version 148. Don't expect Google to fix it anytime soon. As @k-ivan recommended, I have also submitted a bug report to Google.

Until Google fixes the issue, please know that I have identified a temporary solution (see below) that works great with no functionality nor security impact to either Google Chrome nor Visual Bookmarks. Give it a spin.

Enjoy!

---

Temporary Solution: (Windows Only)

The solution involves a Registry edit via Google Chrome's policy editor. This will cause a small note to appear in "Settings" (at the very top) that says: "Your browser is managed by your organization" which can be safely ignored.

Instructions:

Important: Make a System Restore point before continuing.

1. Close Google Chrome.

2. Press WIN+R and enter regedit to enable the Registry editor.

3. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies

4. Create a new key under Policies key and set its name as Google. (Note: This key may already exist in your Registry)

5. Create another new key under Google key and set its name as Chrome.

6. Now select Chrome key and, in the right-side pane, right-click and select New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value option.

7. Set its name as BookmarkBarEnabled and set its value as follows:

   • Set the value to 0 if you want to permanently remove and hide Bookmarks bar in Chrome including New Tab page.
   • Set the value to 1 if you want to always enable and show Bookmarks bar in Chrome including New Tab page.

[irmod]

@Generosus, thanks, your solution works so far

[Generosus]

Hey @irmod,

Glad it worked for you.

Please keep in mind that the above is ONLY a temporary solution. Google is aware of the bug (many reports submitted), so let's hope they roll out a fix soon.

Also, keep in mind that when you modify your registry per the above, temporary solution, your browser will behave as an "enterprise-level" browser. Meaning, that if you run into browser issues (e.g., login refusals, unable to access certain websites, etc.), you may need to restore your browser to its original condition by deleting the BookmarkBarEnabled DWORD from your registry. Changing the value to 1 will not help.

Cheers!

[irmod]

@Generosus, thank you for your attention!

I understood the existing features of the solution and its temporary nature

[Generosus]

Hurrah!

Today (May 20, 2026), Google released a fix for this issue. Fix: Update Google Chrome to Version 148.0.7778.179.

This ticket can be closed.

[k-ivan]

Finally! Yay!