Google is working on adding a 'download later' option to Chrome for Android

Google Chrome Canary on Android device
Google Chrome Canary on Android device (Image credit: Android Central)

What you need to know

  • Google is working on adding a download scheduler for Chrome on Android.
  • The feature appears as part of an experimental flag on the latest Canary build.
  • There's no word yet on whether the desktop browser will also get the feature soon.

Google is making a really nifty quality of life change to its mobile browser. As spotted by Techdows, the latest Chrome Canary build includes an experimental flag that enables download scheduling — quite helpful for someone like me who has different data caps for different times of the day.

The new 'Enable download later' flag can be accessed by inputting "chrome://flags" in the URL bar and then searching for the flag's name. Once enabled, the flag should then show you a pop-up when initiating a download and ask you when you'd like it to start. The three available options are "Now", "On Wi-Fi", and "Pick Data & Time." You also have the option to stop the pop-up from showing up again, if you have no need for download scheduling.

At the moment, however, the feature doesn't seem to be functioning very reliably. That's to be expected, I suppose, given its experimental nature. But the feature should hopefully be ready for production soon enough — and maybe the company will even port it over to Chrome on the desktop.

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