In this guide, we will be sharing some potential workarounds that shall help you fix Google Chrome’s disappearing website shortcut issue on your Android device. The web browser domain is all heating up, thanks to the plethora of offerings that have made their way in recent years. However, when it comes to the smartphone domain, Chrome is still seated at the top of the throne and there doesn’t look like any worthy competitor to dethrone it.
But while it still continues to enjoy this monopoly, it also gets bugged with an issue or two that persuades users to look out for alternatives. Well, you all might have already created bookmarks for your preferred sites. This makes it quite easy to access those sites in just a few clicks. However, you will still have to first open the browser to access the bookmarked site.
To overcome this, many users prefer to directly create a Chrome shortcut for their desired sites. As a result, they could directly access it via a single tap, without the need to first launch the browser. Owing to such ease, users generally have one of their screens filled with all these website shortcuts. However, as of late, this functionality is going through a rather infuriating issue.
According to them, all their website shortcuts have suddenly disappeared or been deleted from the home screen. And this has happened without any manual action from their end. If you are also getting bugged with this issue, then this guide is here to help you out. Given hereby is a potential workaround that shall help you fix Google Chrome’s disappearing website shortcut issue. Follow along.
How to Fix Disappearing Google Chrome Website Shortcuts on Android
This issue was initially documented across the OnePlus forums as they seemed to be the first one facing this issue. But since then, various other users are also going through the same problem and have already documented their concerns over to the Google Support Forums. All in all, it seems to be a much wider and far-reaching issue. So what’s the fix? Well, there seems to be one workaround that has managed to spell out success for various users. So without further ado, let’s check it out:
- To begin with, head over to Settings on your device.
- Then go to Apps and Notifications and tap on See All Apps.
- After that, tap on Reset App Preferences.
- Finally, tap on Reset Apps in the confirmation dialog box.
- Now restart your device and the Chrome website shortcuts shall no longer disappear.
As of now, this is the only workaround that had worked for few users. Do keep in mind that this is still a user-shared fix and not an official one from Google. The only silver lining is that the Silicon Valley giants have at least acknowledged this issue, so we could hope for a patch any time soon. Until then, let’s keep our fingers crossed. Rounding off, if you have got hold of any other method to fix Google Chrome’s disappearing website shortcut issue on Android, then do share with us via the comments.
MALCOLM
Regrettably, this doesn’t work for me. Applied fix and have run for a couple of months with no problem, turned device on this morning and, kaput! All Chrome shortcuts have disappeared, again….
Lucy
Sick and tired of my shortcuts disappearing during update of anything! I have a pixel 6a. Fix it or I’m sending it back!
Paul
All my home screen web links and Google maps shortcuts disappeared two or three months ago, I thought this was a one-off glitch. Between then and now I’ve collected many more home screen web links to various browsers, and Google maps shortcuts. They’ve all disappeared again (29 July 2022). I’m using a moto g 5G Plus Android 11. it doesn’t seem to effect app shortcuts. This seems to be a widespread issue, and if Google, Android, whoever, were forced to pay for people’s wasted time they might get on and fix it!
Laura Priest
All of the save to home screen links have disappeared when it asked me to choose from home screen with separate apps or all apps on home screen.
I had all the links organized into folders.
Help!!!
Delta
My years’ worth of shortcuts to hundreds of articles, lovingly stored in various folders disappeared after I switched my phone off and on today. I’m not too impressed by technology.
Eddie
It was my out of date theme. Shortcuts would disappear after firmware upgrades and reboots. Just installed new theme and no problem for months now. Tried all other crappie advice, I.e clearing date, cache ect. None of that will work. Hope this helps all you people.
Nancy
Just one note, after the Android 12 update, specifically, is when all my “Google” webpage shortcuts to my homescreens disappeared. However, all of my saved pages from DuckDuckGo are still there and working. Why is that? Does anyone know?
Mehdi
I have same problem why !!!????
Patrice
Thanks, Sadique. We’ll see how that works out. Too bad it can’t restore my two years’ worth of deleted shortcuts, all neatly organized by screen into research categories.
I guess that’s what iPhones are for. Live and learn.
Tom
You DO realize that this is an app problem, not a os problem? You might have the same problem with ios of you use.. Oh, I forgot, there is no other browser engine other than apples. And if there’s a problem you can’t do anything. Not like with android or other mobile platforms, where you can switch your browser..