An Update on the Lock Icon

Chrome will replace the lock icon in its address bar with a tune icon to indicate site settings. The lock icon, originally used to signal HTTPS connections, has become redundant as HTTPS has become the default. Research shows that the lock icon often misleads users into thinking it represents website trustworthiness. The tune icon, commonly associated with settings, will make site controls more accessible. Chrome will continue to alert users when connections are not secure. The new icon aims to emphasize security as the default and prevent misunderstandings. The change will be implemented in Chrome 117, releasing in early September 202The lock icon will still exist as an entry point to connection security information, but with a new top-level access point. Android and iOS will also see similar changes, with iOS removing the lock icon entirely as it is not tappable. The shift towards HTTPS and the adoption of the tune icon align with Chrome's and the security community's goal of a secure-by-default web.