Google Chrome will get a different icon instead of a lock for https websites

Google gives its Chrome browser a different icon instead of the lock for https websites. Because https is now the standard on websites, the lock is no longer necessary according to the search giant. An icon for website settings would then be more obvious, the company reasons.

Chrome keeps marking http sites as unsafe, says Google. The new icon makes it clear to users that there are settings that users can adjust and no longer implies that the site can be trusted. https sites can also contain malicious content, even though the connection is secured, the company reasons.

Replacing the icon will be part of a larger refresh of the browser’s design. This will come live in Chrome 117, which should be released in September. This can already be activated with a flag. On Android, Chrome gets the same icon around the same time. The icon cannot be clicked on iOS, so Google removes the icon completely.

The old lock icon (left) and the new one