How to change colors of address bar (omnibox) in a Chrome theme?

Question

Chrome recently got an update (at least in Canary) where you can modify Chrome themes and change the background and text colors of the address bar. However, I could not find out the syntax or key words needed to change these colors.

The following is from the manifest.json file of a theme called Just Black. I added "omnibox_background": [ 65, 65, 65 ] but it didn't change background color of address bar.

{
   "description": "Just Black: when you're feeling extra moody",
   "key": "(long random string of characters)",
   "manifest_version": 2,
   "name": "Just Black",
   "theme": {
      "colors": {
         "bookmark_text": [ 255, 255, 255 ],
         "frame": [ 0, 0, 0 ],
         "ntp_background": [ 0, 0, 0 ],
         "ntp_text": [ 125, 134, 142 ],
         "tab_background_text": [ 255, 255, 255 ],
         "tab_background_text_inactive": [ 255, 255, 255 ],
         "tab_background_text_incognito": [ 255, 255, 255 ],
         "tab_background_text_incognito_inactive": [ 255, 255, 255 ],
         "tab_text": [ 255, 255, 255 ],
         "toolbar": [ 45, 45, 45 ],
         "omnibox_background": [ 65, 65, 65 ]
      },
      "tints": {
         "buttons": [ 0.2, 0.2, 0.9 ],
         "frame_inactive": [ -1, -1, -1 ],
         "frame_incognito": [ -1, -1, -1 ],
         "frame_incognito_inactive": [ -1, -1, -1 ]
      }
   },
   "update_url": "https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx",
   "version": "2"
}

There's no such setting. You'll have to add `--force-dark-mode` command line switch in Windows. — wOxxOm, Dec 14 '19 at 12:35
Works for me and other people. Make sure you've exited all chrome.exe processes. — wOxxOm, Dec 14 '19 at 12:51
My own custom theme works with that switch so I guess there is a setting that makes the difference: https://puu.sh/EPmwC/89e53d89c5.zip — wOxxOm, Dec 14 '19 at 13:15
@wOxxOm How can I keep accent color on title bar of Explorer but not in Chrome? — EsAMe, Dec 14 '19 at 13:15
@wOxxOm As soon as I imported your theme, the omnibox turned white. — EsAMe, Dec 14 '19 at 13:21
I don't know then what's happening as it works for me both in Canary and stable. — wOxxOm, Dec 14 '19 at 13:40
@wOxxOm yeah, maybe some problem at my end. I decided to uninstall Canary lol — EsAMe, Dec 14 '19 at 16:00

kingepic84 · Answer 1 · 2020-04-23T17:39:41.220

I know I'm four months late but you actually can you were on the right track, but if you copy and paste this into the manifest, (highlight the whole manifest), then go to chrome://extensions, click Load unpacked extensions in the top right, then find the theme file and click select folder then it should work and if it doesn't, contact me by this thread again (edit: you can also change the "omnibox_background": [65, 65, 65] and "omnibox_text": [255, 255, 255] RGB values to the RGB values of your choosing)

{
   "description": "Just Black: when you're feeling extra moody",
   "key": "(long random string of characters)",
   "manifest_version": 2,
   "name": "Just Black",
   "theme": {
      "colors": {
         "bookmark_text": [ 255, 255, 255 ],
         "frame": [ 0, 0, 0 ],
         "ntp_background": [ 0, 0, 0 ],
         "ntp_text": [ 125, 134, 142 ],
         "omnibox_background": [ 65, 65, 65 ],
         "omnibox_text": [ 255, 255, 255 ],
         "tab_background_text": [ 255, 255, 255 ],
         "tab_background_text_inactive": [ 255, 255, 255 ],
         "tab_background_text_incognito": [ 255, 255, 255 ],
         "tab_background_text_incognito_inactive": [ 255, 255, 255 ],
         "tab_text": [ 255, 255, 255 ],
         "toolbar": [ 45, 45, 45 ],
      },
      "tints": {
         "buttons": [ 0.2, 0.2, 0.9 ],
         "frame_inactive": [ -1, -1, -1 ],
         "frame_incognito": [ -1, -1, -1 ],
         "frame_incognito_inactive": [ -1, -1, -1 ]
      }
   },
   "update_url": "https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx",
   "version": "2"
}

This doesn't change the Omnibox background when it's expanded during typing something — GorvGoyl, Dec 14 '22 at 16:13

How to change colors of address bar (omnibox) in a Chrome theme?

1 Answers1